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Unwrapping a nice lustworthy gadget only to learn that some crucial part is sold separately can be a major drag. But exercise patience: It’s dumb to run to the first open store for HDMI cables and extra game controllers.
It’s something worth repeating every holiday season: When retailers take a hit on TVs, they often make up the difference on ridiculously overpriced extras. You may find a genuine deal or two on a big ticket item at a giant tech retailer like Best Buy, but, as far as I am concerned, you would have to be a damned fool to buy any of their extras and accessories. You know about HDMI cables, but there’s a lot more profit-driven accessorizing where that came from.
Even if you already did buy the accessories needed for your gadget gifts, go online and do some calculations before you toss out those receipts. You may want to return them when you see how much you could have saved. As for late shoppers—listen up. Getting batteries, cables, controllers, mounts and other necessities can really nickel-and-dime your holiday budget. Time may be running out to shop, but that doesn’t mean you should allow retailers to take advantage of you.
Let’s go over this again. Retailers like Best Buy are not above bending you over with sucker warranties and massively overpriced or deceptive services.
And how about those high-margin extras? For example, I selected a random low-profile wall mount from Sanus designed for HDTVs measuring 30 to 60 inches diagonal. It’s the kind of wall mount the average Joe would probably select for their new TV—a TV they may well have got a reasonable deal on. Best Buy is selling it for $169. Buy.com is selling it via Amazon for $94 with free shipping. Guess what, Best Buy—bite me. I can wait for the UPS guy if it means saving $75 or more.
So, I have to ask: Is the convenience worth spending $50 or more on that “high quality” 6-foot HDMI cable upsell in a store when you can get basically the same performance from a $3 version (shipped) from Amazon? Best Buy’s cheapest 6-foot HDMI cables will still run you $13. Even discount giant Walmart can’t get anywhere near the prices you can find online at places like Amazon and Monoprice. When you consider all of the various cables you might need to buy for your gadgets this holiday, the costs can really add up. My advice with cables is to suck it up, shop online and and wait if necessary.
For other products, you may not need to wait for an online shipment because the best price is just up the road. I don’t know why anyone would spend $50 on a wireless Xbox 360 controller and $100 on a wireless-N adapter at Best Buy when they can hop in the car and head to Walmart and get them for $38 and $83 respectively. I know shopping can be hectic, and I understand why you would just want to get it over with, but saving money is going to be worth the inconvenience. As always, it is best to do your price comparisons before heading out. And if your local store is sold out, you can always order them.
Now that you’re good and aware of the nature of this problem, let’s go over all of the things you might still need, even after Santa has left the building.
Batteries: I don’t expect you to order batteries online last minute, but the good news is that you can probably find great prices in your area. We recommend Duracell rechargeables, but if you try and pick up a basic 6-hour charger with 4 AA batteries from Best Buy, it is going to run you $28 compared to $20 at Target. Futhermore—if you already have the charger or are buying it separately—a 4-pack of extra pre-charged NiMH AAs runs you $18 at Best Buy and only $13 at Target.
Storage: Everyone who buys a new computer or even upgrades their OS suddenly finds themselves in need of a backup hard drive. Generally speaking, a big ole USB desktop unit is the best value. The going rate for a 1TB brand-name USB 2.0 drive is around $100, and while Amazon, NewEgg and Walmart all beat Best Buy on price in some ways, only Walmart, strangely enough, offers either the 1TB Seagate FreeAgent desktop drive or the 1TB WD My Book desktop drive for $99.
If you have several computers (especially with different OS platforms), you’re going to want to check out setting up a network drive or array. We really liked the Iomega’s Ix2-200 as a cheap but full-featured NAS solution. I actually ended up picking one of these up myself for about $40 off list at Amazon, but you can find a slightly (and I do mean slightly) better deal on Next Warehouse right now. NewEgg also has a great reputation for good prices on storage devices. In this case however, they come in third because of shipping charges.
Powerline Networking Kit: If you’re getting a connected Blu-ray player, TV, Roku Box, game console, HD media player or other assorted networked thingamajigs, you may want to think about a powerline adapter, like Linksys’ PLK300. It’s a simpler and usually more broadband friendly alternative to Wi-Fi. But the PLK300 sells for $155 on Best Buy and a shocking $169 at Walmart. Amazon will hook you up for $122, but if you don’t mind a little risk, NewEgg has an “open box” offer for $93.
Bags and Camera Packs: There are countless options when it comes to cases and bags for your gadgets, but one of our faves is the Timbuk2 HAL backpack. It has all of the storage you would need, and you can score it for as little as $96 on Amazon shipped. In other stores, it might cost as much as $120. eBags also has the Timbuk2 for $96 with a free 2-day air upgrade. Some cool bags aren’t as easy to find on sale—Matt loved the Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home camera bag, and we can’t really find it anywhere (respectable) for under $80.
Gadget Cases: When it comes to cases for iPhones and iPods, profit is the name of the game, so be careful about any potential screwings. Our best advice is to try doing generic searches—instead of a brand name, type in “silicone iphone case” or “rugged iphone case” and weigh your options. For the former, Amazon and NewEgg yield a huge selection of cases in the $15, while Walmart only shows just two $20 cases, and Best Buy has a similar two, for $25 a piece. A combination of thinking—and thinking ahead—is what works here.
iPhone and Smartphone Car Mounts: With many of us relying on our cellphones for GPS guidance these days, a good car mount is becoming essential. Unfortunately, those fancy iPhone docks with a GPS-boosting receiver like the TomTom and the Magellan are pretty overpriced (especially when you have GPS already built into the phone), and besides, they’re in pretty short supply, as is the official car mount for Droid phones. So where does that leave you? Well, it leaves you with a lot of basic, no-frills options that do the job just fine. For the iPhone, you could get something as dirt-ass cheap as this $6 windshield mount from DealExtreme. Here’s a secret, the Droid fits in many iPhone docks, especially ones that hold at just one end. But if you’re gonna fudge it, go cheap, or else hold out for the official dock.
In-Car Phone Chargers: Don’t ever ever ever spend money on specialized, phone-specific chargers if your phone happens to charge with USB. That’s just a con. Just take the same cord you plug your phone into your computer with—regardless of whether you have an iPhone, a Droid, a Pre, really anything “smart”—and plug it into one of these super-cheap 12V USB adapters. Griffin’s dual-USB one sells on Amazon for $7.50. With all the money you can finally save not buying proprietary car chargers, you may just want to buy a few of those, and while you’re at it, stock up on extra USB cables.
Universal Remotes: You can get cheap universal remotes anywhere, but if you want something more high end, the Logitech Harmony 900 should fit the bill. On Amazon it’s $280 shipped. How about Best Buy? Oooh, $380. See a pattern developing here?
As I mentioned in my recent article championing the HTPC, you can get something as simple as the HA-IR01SV from Mediagate to control Windows Media Center for only $25.41 shipped from Amazon. If you absolutely need it now you will have to pay a few extra bucks at Walmart.
When it comes to buying all of those extras for your holiday gadgets this year, my advice is simple: Use common sense and don’t settle. Stores like Best Buy, Staples, Office Max and Gamestop are probably not the places you want to go to score your accessories. Look at the local discount stores like Walmart and Target first—and if you can’t find a good enough price without ordering online, you’re just gonna have to wait it out. As tough as that might be with a new gadget to play with, the savings will be worth it.
And if any of you have come across any good deals of your own on stuff to make your gadgets run at 100%, just throw them into comments—with pricing and a photo, if possible.
Image via Link
Black Friday is a week away, and thousands of markdowns are already announced. Our master list of Giz-friendly deals—a hefty read—includes similar items priced differently at different stores. Keep it refreshed, cuz we’ll be updating it all week.
Check here for a breakdown of the not so great deals to avoid from Best Buy, Sears, Amazon and Walmart.
Updated November 25 – [Vizio]
Updated November 24 – [Amazon]
Updated November 23 – [WireFly], [HP], [Newegg]
Updated November 20 – [Best Buy], [Staples], [Office Depot], [Office Max], [Dell]
, [Sears], [Target], [Wal-Mart], [K-M]
Page 1 – Cell Phones, Computers, Digital Cameras, DVD Players, GPS and more
Page 2 – TVs, Video Games, Printers, Software, MP3 Players and more
Page 3 – Movies and TV Shows (DVD and Blu-ray)
Doorbuster items marked with an *
AT&T Blackberry Bold 9700 (Bold2) – Free for new activations, $29.99 for current [WireFly]
BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone – $149.99 [Amazon]
AT&T Sony Ericsson W518a – Free w/2 Year Contract * [Best Buy]
HTC Pure Windows Phone (With New AT&T Service Plan) – $0.01 [Amazon]
LG Xenon GR500 Cell Phone (With New AT&T Service Plan) – $0.01 [Amazon]
BoostMobile Motorola Clutch i465 – $59.99 [Best Buy]
DLO Jam Jacket For iPhone – $9.99 [Best Buy]
Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth Headset – $19.99 [Best Buy]
MiFi 2200 By Novatel Wireless – Free with 2 year contract [Best Buy]
Mobile Broadband Card 598U By Sierra Wireless – Free with 2 year contract [Best Buy]
Motorola S9 HD Stereo Bluetooth Headset – $49.99 [Best Buy]
Net10 Samsung T401G – $39.99 [Best Buy]
Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8330 Smart Phone – Free with 2 year contract [Best Buy]
BlackBerry Tour 9630 Phone (With New Sprint Service Plan) – $49.99 [Amazon]
Sprint Samsung Instinct S30 -Free with 2 year contract [Best Buy]
Sprint Samsung Moment – $79.99 for new activations, $99.99 for current customers [WireFly]
Samsung Moment M900 Phone (With New Sprint Service Plan) – $79.99 [Amazon]
T-Mobile Motorola Renew Phone – $7.99 [Best Buy]
Verizon Wireless DROID – $199.99 with 2 year contract [Best Buy]
Verizon Wireless Motorola Rival – Free for new activations * [Best Buy]
Verizon LG Chocolate Touch – Free with 2 year contract * [Best Buy]
Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 – Free for new activations, $29.99 for current customers [WireFly]
BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Phone (With New Verizon Service Plan) – $149.99 [Amazon]
Virgin Mobile Kyocera X-tc – $49.99 [Best Buy]
Motorola TalkAbout Earbud with Microphone for All Series – $12.05 [Amazon]
Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset – $84.99 [Amazon]
Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset – $70.00 [Amazon]
APC 450VA Battery Backup – $19.99 [Staples]
APC 550VA Battery Backup – $24.99 [Office Depot]
All Case Logic Laptop Sleeves – 50% Off [Office Depot]
Altec Lansing VS2621 PC Speakers – $19.99 [Staples]
Any Business Case, Sleeve, or Backpack – 40% Off [Staples]
Antec USB Powered Notebook Cooler – $19.82 [Amazon]
Belkin 6-Outlet Surge Protector w/Left Extension Cord Combo – $5.99 [Staples]
HP Wireless Mouse (Black) – $9.99 [Staples]
Logitech C600 Webcam – $39.99 [Staples]
Logitech QuickCam Pro Webcam – $49.99 [Office Max]
Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 – $75.99 [Amazon]
Logitech Z13 Speaker System – $29.99 [Office Max]
Logitech LX6 Cordless Optical Mouse – $7.99 [Office Depot]
Logitech V220 Optical Wireless Mouse – $9.99 * [Office Max]
Logitech V450 Wireless Laser Notebook Mouse – $14.99 [Staples]
Logitech MX 1100 Cordless Laser Mouse – $49.99 [Amazon]
Logitech G9 Gaming Mouse – $49.99 [HP]
Logitech Illuminated Keyboard – $29.99 [Staples]
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Combo – $39.99 [Office Max]
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro – $59.99 [Amazon]
Logitech Black Cordless Ergonomic Desktop Wave Keyboard/Mouse Combo $46.99 [Newegg]
Microsoft Lifecam VX-5000 Webcam – $9.99 * [Office Max]
Microsoft Mobile 300 Mouse (Pink) – $4.99 * [Office Max]
Microsoft 4000 Wireless Laser Keyboard/Mouse Set – $29.99 * [Staples]
Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 6000 – $12.99 [Office Depot]
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 USB Keyboard – $19.99 [Dell]
Microsoft VX-3000 LifeCam Webcam – $9.99 [Staples]
Height-Adjustable Mobile Laptop Cart – $17.99 [Office Depot]
Moble IT Retractable USB Hub – $4.99 [Office Depot]
Targus 208-CD/DVD Album – $9.98 [Staples]
Targus Chill Mat Notebook Fan – $9.99 [Staples]
USB Web Cam – $9.99 [Office Depot]
iHome Wired Optical Mouse – $6.99 [Office Depot]
Acer Aspire One 10.1″ Netbook w/ 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP – $149.99 * [Office Max]
Acer Aspire One Black Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) Netbook $189.99 [Newegg]
Acer Netbook 10.1″ Netbook w/Intel 1.6GHz Atom Processor N270 – $199.99 [Office Depot]
Acer Aspire 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook Computer w/AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor L310, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $379.99 [Office Depot]
Acer 17.3″ Blue Laptop w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 Premium (Online Only) – $498.00 [Wal-Mart]
ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook – $349.99 [Amazon]
Compaq Presario Dual-Core Desktop w/ 3GB RAM, 500GB HD, Windows 7 – $239.99 * [Office Max]
Compaq CQ4010F Desktop Computer w/AMD Sempron LE-1300 Processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99 [Office Depot]
Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $179.99 [Best Buy]
Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99 [Best Buy]
Compaq Presario AMD LE-1300 Desktop w/18.5″ Monitor – $329.99 [Office Depot]
Dell 10.1″ Inspiron Mini 10V Netbook w/Atom 1.6Ghz Processor N270 – $249.00 [Dell]
Dell 10.1″ Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $379.99 [Best Buy]
Dell 14″ Inspiron 14 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $599.00 [Dell]
Dell 14″ Studio XPS 13 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $999.00 [Dell]
Dell 15.6″ Inspiron 15 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $549.00 [Dell]
Dell 15.6″ Studio 15 Notebook w/Intel T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $499.00 [Dell]
Dell 15.6″ Studio Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $599.98 [Staples]
Dell 16″ Studio XPS 16 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $999.00 [Dell]
Dell 17″ Studio 17 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $749.00 [Dell]
Dell 20″ Studio XPS 8000 Desktop w/Intel i5-750 CPU, 6GB RAM, 750GB Hard Drive – $899.00 [Dell]
Dell Desktop PC w/AMD Athlon X2 215 Processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, 20-inch LCD Monitor – $499.98 [Staples]
Dell Inspiron 537s Desktop w/Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $349.00 [Dell]
Dell Inspiron 537s w/Intel E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/20″ LCD Monitor – $499.00 [Dell]
Dell Inspiron w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $499.00 [Dell]
Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel E7500 Processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor – $699.00 [Dell]
Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel Q8300 Processor, 6GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, w/20″ LCD Monitor – $749.00 [Dell]
Dell Studio Slim Desktop w/Intel E5400, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor – $599.00 [Dell]
Free Software w/Purchase of Computer – Free [Office Depot]
HP Notebook Computer G60-508US w/Intel Celeron Processor 900 – $299.99 [Office Depot]
HP Notebook Computer G71-343US With Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 – $449.99 [Office Depot]
10.1″ HP Mini 110-1037NR Pink Netbook – $339.95 [Amazon]
10.1″ HP Mini 110-1109NR White Netbook (Windows XP) – $199.99 [Amazon]
13.3″ HP Pavilion DM3-1030US Silver Laptop – $499.99 [Amazon]
13.3″ HP Pavilion dm3z AMD Neo Laptop w/4GB RAM, 320GB HD – $529.99 [HP]
15.6″ HP G60-507DX Laptop with Intel Celeron 900 MHz, Windows 7, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD – $197.00 [Best Buy]
HP 15.6″ Laptop w/Intel Celeron Processor 900, 3GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $299.98 * [Staples]
HP 15.6″ Notebook w/Intel Processor, 3GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # G60-519WM) – $298.00 * [Wal-Mart]
HP 15.6″ Laptop w/Intel Pentium Processor T4300, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $399.98 * [Staples]
HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 6GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $599.99 [Best Buy]
HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $699.99 [Best Buy]
15.6″ HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition Laptop w/i7 Processor & HD LED Display – $999.99 [HP]
HP 17″ Notebook w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # G71-329WM) – $398.00 [Wal-Mart]
HP 17.3″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $599.98 [Staples]
HP Desktop AMD X4 Quad Core, 8GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive w/20″ Monitor, HP Deskjet DJ350 Color Printer & Windows 7 Home Premium – $499.97 [Best Buy]
HP Pavilion Desktop P6229PG w/20″ Widescreen LCD Monitor – $499.99 [Office Depot]
HP Pavilion Elite e9250t w/Intel i5 Processor, 6GB RAM & 500GB HD – $799.99 [HP]
HP Pavilion p6280t Desktop w/Quad Core Processor, 6GB RAM & 640GB HD – $569.99 [HP]
HP Pavilion All-In-One 19″ Desktop w/4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, MS213 AMD – $598.00 [Wal-Mart]
HP Pavilion Desktop w/AMD Processor, 3GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, w/20″ Monitor (Model # P6243w-b) – $398.00 * [Wal-Mart]
HP Pavilion Slimline s5210t Desktop w/Dual Core Processor 640GB HD & 3GB RAM – $349.99 [HP]
HP Pavillion Slimline s5220f Desktop Computer w/Intel Pentium Processor E5300, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive – $369.99 [Office Depot]
HP Pavillion Slimline Intel E5300 Desktop w/20″ Monitor – $519.99 [Office Depot]
Macbook 13.3″ Notebook w/2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, w/$150 Gift Card – $999.99 [Best Buy]
10.1″ Samsung N110-12PBK Netbook – $326.95 [Amazon]
Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $399.99 [Best Buy]
Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, Sony Headphones, Built-In Blu-ray, Blu-ray Movie – $479.97 [Best Buy]
Sony 15.5″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $649.98 [Staples]
13.3″ Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Black Laptop – $699.99 [Amazon]
Toshiba 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual-Core Processor M500, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $469.99 [Office Depot]
Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 3GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) – $399.99 [Best Buy]
Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) w/Printer and Case – $499.97 [Best Buy]
Toshiba 17″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II M500, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $499.99 [Office Depot]
Toshiba L505-S5998 T4300 4GB RAM, 320GB HD Notebook – $399.99 [Office Max]
Wacom Intuos3 6×8″ Pen Tablet – $199.99 [Amazon]
eMachines 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Processor, 2GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive (Model # EME627) – $198.00 * [Wal-Mart]
eMachines Desktop w/AMD Athlon Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor and HP Deskjet Printer – $299.97 [Best Buy]
iBUYPOWER Gamer Extreme 938i Intel Core i7 860(2.80GHz) Desktop PC – $799.99 with Free Shipping [Newegg]
CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra 2019 Athlon II X2 245(2.9GHz) – $399.99 with Free Shipping [Newegg
Ativa Digital 1080p HD Video Camcorder 4x Optical Zoom – $89.99 [Office Depot]
Canon 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera, EOS Rebel XS – $569.99 [Sears]
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 MP Digital Camera – $149.99 [Best Buy]
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 MP Digital ELPH Camera – $149.99 [Office Depot]
Canon PowerShot A1100 12.1 MP Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom, 2.5″ LCD (Silver) – $129.99 * [Staples]
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $179.99 [Office Depot]
Canon Powershot SD780 IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $179.99 [Sears]
Canon 980IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $279.99 [Sears]
Canon Rebelx XS Digital SLR Camera & Canon EF 75-300MM Telephoto Zoom Lens – $669.98 [Sears]
Canon EOS Rebel T1i D-SLR Camera w/18-55mm IS Lens – $699.99 [Best Buy]
Canon Rebel Tli Camera w/55-250mm IS Telephoto Lens and Lowepro D-SLR Bag – $849.97 [Best Buy]
Disney Pix Micro Digital Cameras Designed For Just For Kids – $9.99 * [Sears]
Flip Ultra Camcorder w/2″ LCD – $129.99 [Staples]
Free Canon Photo Printer With Purchase Of Any Digital Camera (After Rebate) – $0.00 * [Staples]
Fuji J29 10MP 3X Zoom 2.7″ LCD Digital Camera Bundle – $89.99 * [Sears]
Fujifilm FinePix A170 10.2 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera (Silver) – $59.99 [Dell]
Fujifilm Finepix Z37 Polka Dot 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $119.99 [Best Buy]
Fujifilm Finepix Z37 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $149.97 [Best Buy]
GE A1250 12MP Digital Camera – $69.99 * [Sears]
Hi Pro Camera Kits – 50% Off * [Sears]
Insignia 720p HD Camcorder – $69.99 [Best Buy]
Insignia NS-DSC10A 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Pink) – $49.99 * [Best Buy]
Insignia NS-DSC10B 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Blue) – $49.99 * [Best Buy]
Jazz T20 4X Digtal Zoom 1.5″ LCD Camcorder – $19.99 * [Sears]
Jazz T55 Camcorder – $49.99 * [Sears]
Kodak EasyShare CD80 Digital Camera Bundle – $79.99 [Office Depot]
Kodak EasyShare C140 Digital Camera With 7″ Kodak Digital Photo Frame – $109.99 [Best Buy]
Kodak EasyShare M381 Digital Camera w/Case & Tripod – $169.99 [Office Depot]
Kodak EasyShare Z915 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $199.99 [Office Depot]
Kodak M1063 10.3MP Digital Camera – $89.99 [Sears]
Kodak 10.0 MP Digital Camera w/Memory Card And Bag – $79.99 * [Staples]
Kodak CD80 10.2 MP, 3x Zoom Digital Camera 2.4″ LCD 2GB Card And Case – $79.99 * [Sears]
Kodak EasyShare C180 10.2 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera w/Kodak P820 8″ Digital Picture Frame – $99.99 [Dell]
Kodak EasyShare C182 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $69.00 [Wal-Mart]
Kodak Z950 12 Megapixel Digital Camera – $149.99 [Office Max]
Nikon L20 10 Megapixel Digital Camera – $79.99 [Office Max]
Olympus X905 10MP Digital Camera – $49.99 * [Office Max]
Nikon COOLPIX L20 Digital Camera – $99.99 * [Sears]
Nikon CoolPix S230 10MP Digital Camera – $139.00 [Wal-Mart]
Nikon Coolpix 12MP S570 Digital Camera – $149.99 [Sears]
Nikon Coolpix S60 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Red) – $179.99 [Best Buy]
Nikon Coolpix S60 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $209.97 [Best Buy]
Nikon Coolpix L100 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/15x Optical Zoom, 3″ LCD (Black) – $199.99 * [Staples]
Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera – $299.99 [Best Buy]
Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $329.97 [Best Buy]
Nikon Coolpix S570 12.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera – $149.99 * [Staples]
Nikon Coolpix S570 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $149.99 [Office Depot]
Nikon D3000 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera – $499.99 * [Staples]
Nikon D3000DX 10.2 Megapixel D-SLR Digital Camera w/10-55mm VR Lens – $499.99 [Best Buy]
Nikon D3000DX 10.2 Megapixel D-SLR Digital Camera w/10-55mm and 55-200mm Lens and Bag – $599.97 [Best Buy]
Olympus Stylus FE 4000 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $99.99 [Sears]
Olympus Stylus FE 4000 12.1 MP Digital Camera – $99.99 * [Staples]
Samsung SL40 12.2 MP Digital Camera – $79.99 [Sears]
Samsung C10 SD 1200 Digital Zoom 10X Optical Zoom 2.7″ LCD Camcorder – $149.99 * [Sears]
Samsung Compact Full HD Camcorder – $399.99 [Sears]
Sony 4GB Camcorder – $249.99 [Sears]
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC S930 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $79.00 [Wal-Mart]
Sony Cyber-Shot W180 10.1 MP Digital Camera – $99.99 [Sears]
Sony Cyber-Shot W180 10.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) – $99.99 [Best Buy]
Sony Cyber-Shot W180 10.1 MP Digital Camera w/Flexpod and Camera Case – $119.97 [Best Buy]
Sony Cyber-Shot W220 12.1 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom – $129.99 * [Staples]
Sony Cyber-Shot W220 Digital Camera – $129.99 [Office Depot]
Sony Cyber-Shot W290 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $229.99 [Office Depot]
Sony Cyber-Shot H20 10.1 MP Digital Camera – $249.99 [Sears]
Sony DCR-SR47 60GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder – $299.99 [Sears]
Vivitar Digital Camera Bundle – $49.99 [Office Depot]
Olympus 2GB xD Memory Card – $4.99 [Office Max]
PNY 4GB Flash Drive – $9.99 [Best Buy]
PNY 4GB MicroSD HD Memory Card – $9.99 [Best Buy]
PNY 4GB SDHC Memory Card – $9.99 [Best Buy]
SanDisk 2GB SD Card – $5.99 [Sears]
SanDisk 4GB Memory Cards Or Flash Drive – $8.99 * [Sears]
SanDisk 4GB SDHC Card – $4.99 [Office Max]
SanDisk 4GB SDHC Card – $8.00 [Wal-Mart]
SanDisk 4GB Ultra II SDHC Memory Card – $12.99 [Office Depot]
SanDisk 4GB microSD Memory Card – $7.99 [Office Max]
SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $14.99 [Best Buy]
SanDisk 8GB SDHC Memory Card – $14.99 [Office Depot]
SanDisk 8GB SDHC Card – $14.99 [Sears]
SanDisk 8GB SDHC Card – $19.99 [Best Buy]
SanDisk 8GB SHDC – $19.99 [Office Max]
SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Memory Card – $24.99 [Office Depot]
SanDisk 8GB Ultra II CompactFlash Memory Card – $19.99 [Office Depot]
Sony 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $12.99 [Sears]
Sony 4GB Memory Stick – $20.00 [Wal-Mart]
Coby 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.99 [Staples]
Curtis DVD Player AR – $17.99 * [Sears]
GPX 8″ Portabe DVD Player PD808BU – $79.99 [Sears]
GPX BD707B DVD/CD Boom Box w/7″ LCD Display – $99.99 * [Sears]
Insignia Blu-ray Disc Player (Model # NS-BRDVD3) w/Superman Returns or Beetlejuice Bluray – $99.99 [Best Buy]
Memorex 1080P HDMI Upconvert DVD Player – $29.99 [K-M]
Magnavox DVD Player with VCR – $49.99 * [Sears]
Magnavox DVD Player with VCR – $49.99 [K-M]
Magnavox NB500 Blu-ray Disc Player – $78.00 * [Wal-Mart]
Memorex Compact DVD Player With Progressive Scan – $19.99 [Target]
RCA 7″ Portable DVD Player – $47.00 [Target]
RCA 7″ Dual Screen Portable DVD Player With Car Adapter – $88.00 [Target]
Samsung BD-P1590 Blu Ray Player (Saturday) – $148.00 [Wal-Mart]
Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-Ray Disc Player – $149.99 [Best Buy]
Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-Ray Disc Player- $149.99 [Sears]
Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-Ray Disc Player – $279.99 [Best Buy]
Sony DVD Player DVP-SR200P – $34.99 [Sears]
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-Ray Disc Player – $149.99 [Best Buy]
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-Ray Player with $20 Gift Card – $149.99 [Target]
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-Ray Player – $149.99 [Sears]
Sony BDP-S369 Blu-Ray Player – $148.00 [Wal-Mart]
Sylvania 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.99 * [Sears]
Sylvania 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.99 * [K-M]
1.5″ Digital Photo Frames – $7.99 [Office Depot]
2GB Pulse Smartpen w/$30 Gift Card – $169.99 [Best Buy]
4-Device Universal Remote – Free After Rebate [Staples]
AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone System with 4 Handsets – $59.99 [Sears]
AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone With Digital Answering System – $49.99 * [Staples]
All Philips HDMI Cables With Any TV Purchase – 15% Off [Sears]
Ativa 8″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99 [Office Depot]
Belkin HDTV Starter Kit – $34.99 [K-M]
Bose In-Ear Headphones – $89.99 [Best Buy]
Brother P-Touch PT-1290 Electronic Labeler – $9.99 [Office Depot]
Canon Vixia HD HF20 Camcorder – $499.99 [Best Buy]
Canon Vixia HD HF20 Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & 8″ HDMI Cable – $599.97 [Best Buy]
Casio Keyboard With Stand And Song Book – $49.99 [Target]
Cobra Radar Detector – $29.99 * [K-M]
Cobra Two Way Radio Pair – $19.99 * [K-M]
Coby 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 * [K-M]
Coby 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 * [Sears]
Coby 8″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99 [Sears]
Coby 7″ Portable Digital TV – $99.99 [Staples]
Digital Decor Color LCD Key Chain Holds 48 Pictures – $10.00 * [Target]
Dynex 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 [Best Buy]
Emerson 3-Handset DECT Phone Bundle – $39.99 [K-M]
Emerson Portable Karaoke CP398 System – $29.99 [Sears]
First Act Electronic Drum Set – $35.00 [Target]
GE 6 Foot HDMI Cable – $9.99 * [Target]
GPX 2.1 Channel DVD Home Theater System – $39.99 [K-M]
GPX Portable Karaoke Machine – $39.99 [Best Buy]
HP 8″ Digital Picture Frame 512MB Memory – $109.99 [Staples]
HP 10″ Digital Picture Frame 512MB Memory – $139.99 [Staples]
Insignia 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $44.99 [Best Buy]
Jazz VGA 4X Digital Zoom 1.5 in. LCD Screen Pocket Digital Camcorder – $19.99 [K-M]
Kodak EasyShare P720 7″ Digital Frame – $49.99 [Sears]
Logitech Harmony 510 Advanced Universal Remote – $39.99 [Best Buy]
Maxell Noise-Canceling Headphones – $20.00 [Staples]
Memorex 7″ Widescreen Portable DVD Player – $29.99 * [Office Max]
Memorex Micro Speaker System for iPod – $11.99 [Office Max]
Memorex Home Audio System For iPod – $49.99 [Target]
Memorex iPod Clock Radio – $25.00 [Staples]
Midland LXT360VP3 2-Way Radios – $24.99 [Staples]
Motorola H390 Bluetooth Headset – $9.99 * [Staples]
Omnitech 12″ Digital Picture Frame – $69.99 * [Staples]
Omnitech Bluetooth Speakerphone – $20.00 [Staples]
Omnitech Digital Photo Ornament – $10.00 [Staples]
Omnitech Mini-Speaker – $9.99 [Staples]
Panasonic DECT 6.0 Digital Cordless KX-TG9332T Phone Answering System (After Rebate) – $29.99 [Office Depot]
Panasonic DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone w/Digital Answering Machine – $49.99 [Staples]
Panasonic DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone System w/3 Handsets – $59.99 [Best Buy]
Pandigital 9″ Digital Photo Frame – $59.99 [Best Buy]
Pandigital 10″ Digital Photo Frame – $69.99 * [Sears]
Phillips 4-Device Remote Control – $9.99 [K-M]
Plantronics Explorer Bluetooth Mobile Headset 220 – $14.99 [Office Depot]
Sharp Handheld Calculator – Free After Rebate [Staples]
Skull Candy Ink’d Earbuds – $9.99 [Staples]
SmartPants 8.5″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99 [K-M]
Sony DCR-SR47 Handycam Camcorder – $249.99 [Best Buy]
Sony DCR-SR47 Handycam Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & Bag – $299.97 [Best Buy]
Sony DCR-SX40 Handycam Camcorder – $199.99 [Best Buy]
Sony DCR-SX40 Handycam Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & 8GB Memory Stick – $259.97 [Best Buy]
Sony E10 Ear Buds Headphones – $4.99 [Sears]
Sony Earbuds – $4.99 [K-M]
Sony Earbuds – $7.99 [Office Depot]
Sony Reader Pocket Edition And Cover With Light Combo – $214.98 [Staples]
Sony Reader Pocket Edition Cover With Light – $54.99 [Staples]
Sony Reader Pocket Edition With 5″ Display – $199.99 [Staples]
Sony Reader Pocket Edition w/$30 Gift Card – $199.99 [Best Buy]
Sony Reader Touch Edition With 6″ Screen – $299.99 [Staples]
Sony Reader Touch Edition And Cover With Light Combo – $319.98 [Staples]
Sony Studio Monitor Headphones – $9.99 [Best Buy]
Sony Wireless Headphones – $29.99 [Sears]
Sungale 7″ Widescreen Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 * [Office Max]
Sungale 7″ Digital Picture Frame – $29.99 * [Staples]
Uniden DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone w/5 Handsets & Digital Answering Machine – $59.99 [Staples]
VTech DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone System LS6215-2 w/2 Handsets – $44.99 [Best Buy]
Verizon 100 Cordless Phone w/ 2 Handsets – $19.99 [Office Max]
iHome Dock – $9.99 [K-M]
iHome PC Accessories – $9.99 [K-M]
iHome Portable Alarm Clock Speaker iPod Dock – $39.99 [Best Buy]
iHome Portable iPod/MP3 Speaker System – $9.99 [Sears]
Garmin GPS Friction Mount – $14.99 [Best Buy]
Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS – $89.99 * [Sears]
Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS Navigation System – $99.99 * [Best Buy]
Garmin Nuvi 255WT GPS Navigation System – $129.99 [Best Buy]
Garmin Nuvi 1200 GPS Navigation System – $119.99 [Office Depot]
Garmin Nuvi 1300 GPS Navigation System – $149.99 [Office Depot]
Garmin Nuvi 1350T GPS System – $179.00 [Target]
Lowepro Black Neoprene Sleeve – $7.99 [Best Buy]
Magellan RoadMate 1220 GPS – $84.99 * [K-M]
Magellan RoadMate 1220 GPS – $89.99 [Sears]
Magellan SE4 GPS – $89.99 [Best Buy]
Magellan RoadMate 1440 GPS – $119.99 * [Sears]
TomTom ONE 125-SE GPS – $59.00 [Wal-Mart]
TomTom ONE 130 GPS – $79.99 [Sears]
TomTom ONE 130 GPS – $77.99 [Office Depot]
TomTom ONE 130 GPS – $79.99 [K-M]
TomTom XL325 GPS – $89.00 [Wal-Mart]
TomTom XL325S GPS – $99.99 [Sears]
TomTom XL325S GPS – $99.99 [K-M]
TomTom XL 330 GPS Navigation System – $97.99 [Office Depot]
TomTom XL 340S GPS With Case – $97.00 [Target]
TomTom 540S Portable GPS Navigation System – $149.99 [Best Buy]
TomTom GO 630 GPS Navigation System – $169.99 [Office Depot]
TomTom GO 730 Portable GPS Navigation System – $174.99 [Best Buy]
LG External Slim Portable USB 2.0 DVD Drive – $49.99 [Best Buy]
Seagate FreeAgent Docking Station – $19.99 [Office Max]
Seagate 320GB Expansion External Portable Hard Drive – $59.99 [Office Depot]
Seagate 500GB Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive – $59.99 [Office Max]
Seagate 640GB FreeAgent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $119.99 [Office Depot]
Seagate 750GB Free Agent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $149.99 [Office Depot]
Seagate 1TB External Hard Drive – $69.99 * eBay [Staples]
Seagate 1TB External Hard Drive – $79.99 [Office Max]
Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5″ Internal Hard Drive $97.99 [Newegg]
Seagate 1.5TB External Hard Drive – $99.99 [Office Depot]
Seagate 1.5TB External Hard Drive – $139.99 [Staples]
Seagate 2TB FreeAgent External Hard Drive – $179.99 [Office Depot]
Verbatim 1TB External Hard Drive – $79.99 [Office Depot]
Western Digital My Passport Essential 320GB Hard Drive – $49.00 [Wal-Mart]
Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB Portable Hard Drive – $69.99 * [Staples]
Western Digital Elements 500GB Portable Hard Drive – $59.98 [Target]
Western Digital 500GB My Passport Elite Portable Hard Drive Titanium – $79.99 [Best Buy]
Western Digital 1TB 3.5″ External Hard Drive – $78.00 [Wal-Mart]
Western Digital Elements 1TB Desktop Hard Drive – $59.98 [Target]
Western Digital 1.5TB My Book Home Edition External Hard Drive – $119.99 [Best Buy]
Western Digital WDTV Media Player – $74.99 [Best Buy]
4′ Monster Cable 700 Series HDMI Cable – $49.99 [Best Buy]
Ativa Home Theater System 5.1 – $39.99 [Office Depot]
Init Cherry Wood Stand With Mount For TVs Up To 46″ – $99.99 [Best Buy]
Init Cherry Wood w/Black Glass Shelves TV Stand – $149.99 [Best Buy]
Klipsch Icon 2-Way Triple 5.25″ Floorstanding Speaker – $186.99 [Best Buy]
Klipsch Icon 2-Way Triple 6.5″ Floorstanding Speaker – $236.99 [Best Buy]
Samsung 5.1 Channel 1000W Home Theater System With Blu-ray Disc Player – $399.99 [Best Buy]
Sony Bravia DAV-HDX589W 5.1 Channel 1000W Home Theater System – $279.99 [Best Buy]
Sony STR-DH800 7.1 Channel 770-Watt A/V Receiver – $279.99 [Best Buy]
Tilting Wall Mount For 30″-56″ Flat-Panel TVs – $99.99 [Best Buy]
YAMAHA 5.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver plus Energy 5CH Home Theater Speaker System $299.99 [Newegg]
Acer 20″ HD LCD Monitor – $79.99 [Best Buy]
Dell 20″ S2009W HD LCD Monitor – $99.99 [Best Buy]
Dell 21.5″ S2209W Full HD Widescreen Monitor – $144.00 [Dell]
Compaq Q2159 21.5″ Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor – $169.99 [HP]
Dell 23″SP2309W Full HD Widescreen Monitor w/Webcam – $219.00 [Dell]
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The great thing about Dell is that you don’t need to leave the house if one of these deals takes your fancy. It looks like they’ll have specials across the board, but the notebook prices are most interesting.
The $500 Dell Inspiron 15 laptop described below usually starts at $833, and the $1000 Studio XPS 16 notebook usually starts at $1418. Not bad. [BlackFriday via CrunchGear]
Computer Accessories
• Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 USB Keyboard – $19.99
Computers
• Dell 10.1″ Inspiron Mini 10V Netbook w/Atom 1.6Ghz Processor N270 – $249.00
• Dell 14″ Inspiron 14 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $599.00
• Dell 14″ Studio XPS 13 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $999.00
• Dell 15.6″ Inspiron 15 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $549.00
• Dell 15.6″ Studio 15 Notebook w/Intel T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $499.00
• Dell 16″ Studio XPS 16 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $999.00
• Dell 17″ Studio 17 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $749.00
• Dell 20″ Studio XPS 8000 Desktop w/Intel i5-750 CPU, 6GB RAM, 750GB Hard Drive – $899.00
• Dell Inspiron 537s Desktop w/Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $349.00
• Dell Inspiron 537s w/Intel E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/20″ LCD Monitor – $499.00
• Dell Inspiron w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $499.00
• Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel E7500 Processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor – $699.00
• Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel Q8300 Processor, 6GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, w/20″ LCD Monitor – $749.00
• Dell Studio Slim Desktop w/Intel E5400, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor – $599.00
Digital Cameras
• Fujifilm FinePix A170 10.2 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera (Silver) – $59.99
• Kodak EasyShare C180 10.2 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera w/Kodak P820 8″ Digital Picture Frame – 99.99
DVD Players
• Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc Player – $149.99
GPS Navigation Systems
• Garmin Nuvi 255W Portable GPS Navigation System – $129.99
• Hard Drives
• Dell 8x DVD+/-RW External USB Drive – $59.99
Monitors
• Dell S2209W 21.5″ Full HD Widescreen Monitor – $144.00
• Dell SP2309W 23″ Full HD Widescreen Monitor w/Webcam – $219.00
• MP3 Players
• Microsoft Zune 120GB MP3 Player – $199.99
Televisions
• Sharp 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV (Model # LC42SB45UT) – $599.00
• Sony Bravia 40″ 1080p LCD HDTV (Model # KDL40V5100) – $989.00
• Vizio 55″ LCD HDTV w/Blu-ray Player Bundle – $1649.99
Tomorrow’s launch is the big day if you want to get in on Windows 7 deals, so Prof. Dealzmodo is hooking you up with a handy, up to the minute guide packed with tips on how to save money.
Once you have looked over everything Windows 7 has to offer and decided (correctly) that the upgrade is worth getting, the first thing you have to do is figure out which version is right for you. The Real Cost of Upgrading to WIndows 7 will help you answer that question along with tips on how to cheaply upgrade your hardware if necessary. You also have the option of purchasing OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copies at a significant discount if you are willing to sacrifice transferable PC keys and support. NewEgg is a great place to score OEM disks.
If you are a college student there is even better news—you can still get real deal Windows 7 on a Ramen budget with the deal Microsoft is throwing your way. If you are a student at an American university or you have a working university email, you can get Windows 7 Home Premium or Pro for only $30. Even if you don’t currently attend college, many of you might still have a valid email. Make sure and check before you go and waste money on a full price copy.
If you have decided to get your copy of Windows 7 along with some brand new hardware, launch day is a great time to hunt for deals on laptops and desktops. Here are a few great deals already coming down the pipeline:
• Best Buy will offer a HP Slimline laptop, HP mini netbook, 18.5″ LCD monitor and Netgear Wireless-G router package with Windows 7 (includes Geek Squad setup) for $1200. This is one hell of a deal—pre-orders are already being taken on Best Buy’s website.
• Customers who buy a new PC running Windows 7 Home Premium can upgrade a Windows XP or Windows Vista-based PC they already own with a discounted box copy of Windows 7. This offer will run through Jan. 2, 2010.
• Dell is offering $100 off on a Dell Studio XPS13
• The Acer AZ5610-U9072 23″ Touch All-in-One will be priced at $880
• Techdealdigger has some great deals on laptops including a 17.3-inch HP with Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD and Windows 7 Premium for $550, and a 16-inch HP with Core i7 processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD and 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium for $800.
• Check out the Windows home page tomorrow. Word on the street is that they will be showcasing several deals from retailers.
Chances are there will be deals going on everywhere you look, so make sure to shop around before you buy. If you are patient enough, the potential for a glut of Windows 7 PC inventory could translate into even better holiday deals.
Newegg has listed prices for OEM copies of Windows 7—technically intended for little computer building businesses, but there’s nothing stopping you buying them. And as long as you understand some mostly-minor limitations, you can save some serious money.
Take a look at the table—that’s not chump change. Newegg is also taking a further $5-$15 off some prices for pre-orders before October 20.
The main two caveats: OEM product keys aren’t transferrable from one PC to another, and you’ll need to install them on a formatted machine (usually the best way, anyway). Less of a concern is that you don’t get any support or packaging; just the disc. Still sounds like a bargain to me—unless you’re a college student, in which case you can pick Windows 7 up for just $30 bucks. [Newegg via ComputerWorld via ArsTechnica]
| Windows 7 | Home Premium | Professional | Ultimate |
| OEM | $110 | $140 | $190 |
| Retail Upgrade | $120 | $200 | $220 |
| Full Retail | $200 | $300 | $320 |
| Full OEM (3 Pack) | $310 | N/A | $550 |
For many of us, air conditioning results in our biggest utility expense during the summer months. Well, summer is officially here, and so is Prof. Dealzmodo to lay some tips on you for keeping cool without going broke.
Fans
At the very least a regular fan, a twin window fan that takes advantage of cool night air, room to room fan, or even a bed fan could help save a little extra money—especially if the outside temperature cools sufficiently in your area.
If you have the option of installing a ceiling fan, it can be one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to reduce energy costs in the home. The average price is around $100 per fan, they can be easily self-installed (as long as you have an existing ceiling light) and they can save you as much as 40% on your energy bills this summer. Take this example from Progress Energy:
…a 48″, 75-watt fan used 10 hours a day at half speed or less would cost $.50 to $.90 a month to operate. For a 1,500-square-foot house with air conditioning using two ceiling fans and raising the thermostat setting could save about $70 to $200 over a six-month cooling season.
This is precisely why I just ordered four new fans for my home. Three of the four will be installed upstairs in each of the bedrooms. There will be absolutely no need for A/C at night, and I expect to dramatically lower central air usage on the upper level during the day.
Window A/C Units: Who Should Have One?
The bottom line is that window units use far less electricity than central air units. For example, a typical, medium-sized window unit might use 500 to 1440 watts of electricity per hour while a 2.5 ton central system might use 3500 watts over the same span. Because central air units cool an entire home, users often waste energy in areas that are not occupied. For example, if you live in a small apartment, a 12,000 BTU window unit could effectively cool a 640 square foot space for an upfront cost of around $300. This Fridgidaire model is also Energy Star certified, meaning that it should provide at least an additional 10% savings in monthly energy costs—making it a wise investment when compared to a traditional model. In an apartment around 800 square feet, that would most likely cover the main living space and could be supplemented with something as small as a 5,000 BTU unit for a bedroom. Hell, you might even be able to get away with only a fan—after all, bedrooms see most of their use after the sun has gone down.
Things to consider when buying a window A/C unit:
• Bigger is not better. Too many on/off cycles will reduce efficiency and add result in unnecessary wear and tear. Make sure your A/C unit is sized properly for your room by matching capacity with square footage.
• Make sure your unit has at least three speeds (low, medium and high).
• Buy a model with a thermostat to fine tune your comfort level and save electicity.
• Clean your filters regularly.
• Choose a model with a timer. This gives you even greater flexibility and ensures that the unit is only running when needed.
• Consider building a unit directly into your wall to eliminate the hassle of moving it every year. You can also put an insulated / weather-stripped cover on through-the-wall units in the fall. [HVACKey]
So, to answer the question “who should have one?,” I would suggest that people living in small apartments or homes seriously consider investing in a window A/C unit or two. Even if you have central air, keeping it off in favor of à la carte cooling is going to save you some money. For those that have larger dwellings, individual A/C units might come in handy in a bedroom at night, or in rooms that you spend most of your time in.
Getting the Most Out Of Central Air
If you own a home or an upscale rental, you probably already have a central air unit. But simply tweaking the temperature dial now and then doesn’t mean you are getting all of the potential cost savings out of your system.
• Get a programmable thermostat. Those old-timey, temperature-only thermostats are a huge waste of money. Simply being able to program your thermostat to kick on when you get home, or run on 78 degrees instead of 72 degrees overnight can result in savings of around $180 per year for an average home. Also, keep in mind that each degree you set your thermostat below 78 degrees will increase your energy use by 3-4%. Plus, basic programmable thermostats can cost less than $30.
• If installing or replacing a unit, keep in mind that the higher the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating of your unit, the more energy efficient it will be. All Energy Star certified units must have a SEER rating of 13 or higher.
• Units with a thermal expansion valve and a high-temperature rating Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) greater than 11.6 will be more efficient when the weather is at its hottest.
• Units with a fan-only switch allow for nighttime ventilation to substantially reduce air-conditioning costs.
• Make sure to check filters every month. [Energy Savers]
You may also want to look into a simple misting unit like the Cool-n-Save. It attaches to your central air unit in minutes and can reduce your energy bills by as much as 30%. Plus, the whole system only sets you back $100. On the downside, it does use a significant amount of water, and it may result in a mineral buildup.
Check For Leaks
The most important step in keeping your home cool is making sure that the structure itself isn’t working against you. Obviously, if your house or apartment is leaky or poorly insulated, a lot of cash is going to fly out those holes along with the cold air. Furthermore, If you have a central air system, an average of 20% of the air moving through the duct system is lost because of leaks, holes and poor connections. Even if you can’t afford insulation upgrades or a blower test to detect leaks, a few DIY tests and some cheap fixes like weatherstripping could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long term.
Alternatives
They aren’t feasible in every situation, but there are a few cost-effective ways to cool a home that break from the norm. These methods include evaporative coolers (swamp coolers), attic fans, and geothermal systems. However, for most of us, just putting up some shades, adding a ceiling fan or two and/or a window A/C unit or programmable thermostat could result in substantially lower utility bills during the hot summer months. And, if all else fails, there is always air conditioned shirts and ice saunas.
Prof. Dealzmodo is a regular section dedicated to helping budget-minded consumers learn how to shop smarter and get the best deals on their favorite gadgets. If you have any topics you would like to see covered, send your idea to tips@gizmodo.com, with “Professor Dealzmodo” in the subject line. [Background Image via Wikimedia]
Symbian is the planet’s most popular smartphone OS—everywhere except the US, that is. It’s also arguably the most boring. In this last, most urgent installment of the cellphone revitalization series, we alleviate your Symbian shame.
Symbian’s dominance isn’t evident here in the US, as it’s driven by smartphones—like Nokia’s N series or Sony Ericsson’s P Series—that don’t really have much of a market/mindshare outside of Europe. We’ve even gone so far as to declare it too marginal to include in our smartphone OS guide.
But there are still plenty of UIQ and S60 phones around, and they all suffer from the same sense of staleness—a stagnation that’s obvious, whether it’s because of Symbian’s global popularity and fragmented nature or despite it. So what do you do to shake the feeling that you’re toting a last-gen device? Try this:
Get a new browser
Oddly enough, lots of Symbian phones actually ship with not-so-bad browsers, like S60’s, which is based on WebKit just like Mobile Safari and Mobile Chrome. Unfortunately, most of these phones also ship without touchscreens, and depend on a clunky d-pad navigation system. This makes panning around fully-rendered pages a bit of a pain—a problem not helped by the browser’s often slow performance. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives.
Opera Mobile/Mini: Opera has made an appearance in every last one of my smartphone revival stories, and with good reason. Each version offers its own advantage for Symbian: Opera Mobile brings fast-ish full-page rendering with inertial scrolling—only really a boon if you’re lucky enough to have a touchscreen handset like the XpressMusic 5900. The newer 9.5 beta, complete with Google Gears support, can be had for UIQ phones, but S60 handsets will have to settle for 8.65. Opera Mini, a Java app, will work on virtually any phone. It’s not the prettiest browser, but server-side data compression and clever formatting tricks make it a good fit for smaller-screened Symbian hardware. Bolt is another Java-based browser in the same lightweight, data-conscious vein, and it matches Opera’s app feature for feature. You know, six of one…
Skyfire: This surprising little browser takes the Opera Mini/Bolt rationale a little further, running everything through server-side compression, including Flash video. What does that mean, in a word? Hulu. Unfortunately support is limited to Nokia N and E series phones.
Work On Your Communication Skills
Out of the box, most Symbian phones take you as far as emailing. With a few downloads, though, you’ll be privy to the same range of messaging capabilities as your smug iPhone and BlackBerry-toting friends, and then some.
Fring: This isn’t your locked down, Wi-Fi tethered iPhone Fring. No, this is the real deal: Multiprotocol IMing, VoIP over 3G and Wi-Fi and most importantly, background processing. Skype is supported, sans video.
Truphone: A dedicated VoIP app that integrates rather seamlessly with your S60 handset, Truphone can save you a pretty penny on international, long-distance and even in-plan calls. By routing calls through Truphone’s network over Wi-Fi or a cell data connection, Truphone can connect you to other users for free, and connect international calls for a few cents a minute. Other perks include voicemail-to-email forwarding and Google Talk support, but discounted calls are the star of the show here.
Agile Messenger: It may lack the VoIP accouterments of the previously mentioned apps, but for straight up instant messaging you really can’t beat it. All the big protocols are here, accessible through the same simple interface. You can send videos and voice messages, but not engage in full conversations—this app is about messaging, and message it does.
And All The Rest
Once you’ve updated your browser and messaging software, you’ve edged much closer to a modern smartphone experience. Now to fill in the blanks:
Google Maps: Google’s superb maps app is as good here as it is anywhere else, with GPS integration, local search and a clean, intuitive interface. Perhaps most importantly, it’s not just for fingers; Google Maps is well-suited to d-pad navigation.
JoikuSpot Lite: It’s tethering+1: Any Wi-Fi-equipped S60 3rd Edition phone can operate as an access point with JoikuSpot. The Lite version is free, and adequate.
Qik: Qik is a cool app that can only be described in ways that sound utterly stupid. Lifecasting? Live vlogging? Either way, with the right phone, Symbian can do it well.
Nokia has some ongoing beta projects to check out, and a few of them are worthwhile. SportsTracker feeds a GPS-tracked record of your run or bike rides to a handy web interface. WidSets is a widget dashboard for a rich variety of web apps. ShareOnline provides basic portals for media uploads, whether it be photo, video or audio content.
And finally, we have Mobbler. A lovely little Last.fm radio client, Mobbler is an iffy addition to this list because Last.fm is cutting off third-party radio support at some point in the near future, so it probably won’t work for long. But it’s good, so use it while you still can.
If what you see so far isn’t overly heartening, hold on: The Ovi App Store for S40 and S60 is on its way, hopefully in May. Symbian’s laissez-faire take on the App Store, it promises a slew of applications and media downloads, installable through a handset client. This could end up two ways: As a consolidated Symbian app aggregator, collecting the above apps and others into an easy interface, or as an attraction for new developers, who’ll be drawn by the large audience and easy publishing features of the store. That latter scenario may be better, but neither is bad.
Dealzmodo Hacks are intended to help you sustain your crippling gadget addiction through tighter times. If you come across any on your own that are particularly useful, send it to our tips line (Subject: Dealzmodo Hack). Check back every other Thursday for free DIY tricks to breathe new life into hardware that you already own.
Stop being an ass and don’t pirate songs and movies. Pirate money and get legal material! Chinese hackers have cracked the algorithm that generates the iTunes Store gift cards: You can get $200 for $2.60.
According to the blog of Outdustry—a music industry consultancy firm in China—the market is getting inundated with this pirate cards, with prices falling quickly. You can find $200 iTunes Music cards in Taobao for as low as $10, and the blog is reporting prices of $2.60.
Nobody knows what this means for Apple yet. For sure, a change of the formula that generates the vouchers looks like a definitive possibility, but that won’t solve the situation of legal cards already in the market. [Outdustry and Taobao via MusicAlly]
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