The Cheapskate

Much as I love seeing an iPod Shuffle for $29, here's an MP3 deal that's even better: Creative has refurbished 2GB Zen V Plus players for just $19.99. Shipping will run you 5 bucks, but that's still an amazing deal on a player that does video as well as audio.

Yep, you read right: The Zen V Plus features a 1.5-inch OLED screen and support for uncompressed AVI and software-transcoded videos. Granted, 2GB of storage isn't enough to hold much, but it's nice to have the option if you want it.

Of course, … Read more

How low can GPS prices go? I thought the refurbished Magellan from a few weeks ago was amazing at $60 (after rebate), but now Buy.com has the MyGuide PND 2150 GPS for an impossible $49.99.

This is a new unit, not a refurb, and that $50 price tag is out-the-door: no rebates; Buy.com picks up the shipping.

As you might expect, this is a strictly no-frills navigation system, offering a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a suction-cup windshield mount, and an impressive 4 million points of interest.

That's fine: Not everybody needs frills. But there are red flags … Read more

Tired of running out of juice when you're on the run? The Tekkeon TekCharge MP1800 is a rechargeable portable battery pack that supplies power to phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets, and other mobile devices.

It normally sells for around $45, but Amazon is selling the Tekkeon TekCharge for $28.99 with free shipping.

The charger comes with seven adapter tips for use with most kinds of mobile phones, but you can also use the USB cable that came with your iPod, Zune, or other device. In other words, it's almost universally compatible, provided that your gizmo can be … Read more

As an semiregular jogger, I'm gonna make a bold statement: The iPod Shuffle is the single best MP3 player for runners. I'll explain why in a minute, but for now, here's the deal: Apple has refurbished iPod Shuffles for $29 shipped.

That's for the 1GB silver model only. A blue one will run you $39, which has been the price on these refurbs for as long as I can remember.

The Shuffle comes with earphones, a dock, and everything else you'd find in a brand-new model--including Apple's one-year warranty. (The only thing you don'… Read more

Got a sawbuck to spare? For no more than 10 smackers, you can walk away with any of these five goodies. The only challenge is deciding which one to get.

Here's a little something for business users: PDF Converter can turn any PDF into a Word document while keeping all text, images, and formatting intact. Normally, it sells for $59.95, but it's available free on Monday from Giveaway of the Day.

The catch? You must download and install the program today, March 2. That's how Giveaway of the Day works: The site offers a new commercial-software freebie each day of the week, with the only requisite being that you act on it within that 24-hour window. Hardly a catch at all, in my book.

In addition … Read more

Holy massive storage, Batman! I thought a 1-terabyte external drive for $99 was a killer deal, but Dell is offering a 1.5TB Seagate FreeAgent USB drive for $112.49. No rebates, free shipping, smokin' bargain.

To get that price, you'll need to enter coupon code T4346M$Q6GRJB$ at checkout. The code is good until April 4, assuming that the drive doesn't sell out before then.

The FreeAgent incorporates a 7,200rpm drive and a USB 2.0 interface. Alas, no eSata, but I've seen few PCs that have that kind of interface, anyway. Seagate backs the … Read more

Looking for an easy way to share photos, videos, and other files with your friends and family? GigaTribe for Windows creates private peer-to-peer networks so you can swap to your heart's content.

The basic service is free, but Cheapskate readers can get a three-month subscription to GigaTribe Ultimate.

Just click the preceding link, and follow the instructions. Once you've created your username, use this promo code: P3MCHS.

Presto! You've got a GigaTribe Ultimate account that's good for 90 days. If you want to keep it going after that, it'll cost you $4.99 monthly or $… Read more

On Monday, I posted an 8GB flash drive for $16.99. Sorry to do this, but Newegg has an even better deal (with one catch): it's an 8GB Corsair Flash Voyager drive for $9.99 shipped.

What's the catch? You have to pay $24.99 up front, then wait on a $15 mail-in rebate (PDF).

If you don't mind that, this is far and away the best deal I've seen on an 8GB drive. And it has a 10-year warranty, twice that of Monday's Kingston drive.

In the looks department, I'll give the nod … Read more