The Cheapskate

A $699 camcorder may not seem like a bargain, but hear me out. The Canon HV20 captures stunning high-def video (so says CNET) and includes high-end features like HDMI output (so you can connect it directly to your HDTV), instant auto-focus, and a "hot" accessory shoe. Normally it sells for around $799, but Dell has it on sale for $699.99 shipped.

If you're still shooting in standard-def, do yourself a favor and upgrade to an HD camcorder like this one. The difference is just jaw-dropping. The HV20 stumbles a bit in low-light environments, but that's … Read more

If you liked the sound of yesterday's $399 Dell Vostro desktop but wanted something a little more portable, here's your answer: For just $30 more, you can snag the Dell Vostro 1000 notebook.

This well-stocked, 6.25-pound laptop features a dual-core AMD Athlon TK-57 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a 15.4-inch screen. You also get a discrete graphics processor (ATI's Radeon Xpress 1150) with its own 256MB of RAM, so you could actually fire up a few games on this baby.

Dell provides a 1-year warranty and free shipping. You can order … Read more

Most $399 desktops (particularly those from Dell) saddle you with a crappy processor and insufficient RAM. Not so the Dell Vostro 200, which features a dual-core Pentium E2160 and 1GB of RAM. Granted, that wouldn't be enough memory to keep Windows Vista running smoothly, but this system comes with Windows XP Home (bonus!).

Despite the "Home" OS, this is actually a business-minded desktop. It includes a 160GB hard drive, a 19-inch widescreen LCD, and integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics (no Call of Duty 4 for you). It doesn't come with a modem, speakers, or any preinstalled … Read more

An iPod nano for under $100?! Sign me up. Buy.com has the 4GB silver model for $99 shipped. No rebates, either! So what's the catch? These are reconditioned units with a 60-day warranty. If that doesn't square with you, the Apple store currently has the same refurb nano for $129 with a 1-year warranty.

Of course, nanos have few mechanical parts, so there's little opportunity for something to break. I do wish you could choose from colors other than silver, but that's a minor quibble. The 3rd-gen nano is a wafer-thin thing of beauty, and … Read more

If you've been thinking about saving money on phone service by switching to voice over IP, allow ViaTalk to entice you: Sign up now for the standard $199-per-year rate, which includes unlimited local and long-distance calling, and you'll get a second year free.

In case you're unfamiliar with them, VoIP services leverage your broadband Internet connection to let you make and receive phone calls. The experience is virtually identical to using a landline, and in most cases you can keep your existing number.

ViaTalk provides a boatload of calling features as part of their "vt_unlimited" … Read more

Sound familiar? CompUSA.com has the Logitech iPod AudioStation on sale for $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. (Plan on about $14 for shipping.) The last time I posted about this product, it was $50 after rebate!

The AudioStation is an iPod speaker dock that also has an AM/FM tuner. It features a wireless remote, an audio input jack (for connecting non-iPod players), and composite and S-Video outputs (for watching iPod videos on a TV). It also charges your iPod, of course, and cranks out 80 watts' worth of audio goodness. CNET's very favorable AudioStation review awarded … Read more

The last time Dell had a deal on the Canon Digital Rebel digital-SLR camera, it was the 8-megapixel XT model for $382. Now you can get the 10-megapixel Digital Rebel XTi for just $319, in your choice of black or silver. Woo!

That price is for the body only; an extra $100 buys you Canon's 18-55mm lens. Like the XT and the original Rebel before it, the XTi is an extremely popular camera, as evidenced by CNET's review. I promise you Dell will sell out of these in no time, so if you want in on digital-SLR goodness … Read more

In the market for a new smartphone? Consider the T-Mobile Dash, a quad-band handset that compares favorably with the Motorola Q. LetsTalk.com has a pretty sweet deal going:

T-Mobile Dash: Free.

1GB microSD card: Free.

Shipping: Free.

Rebates: Up to $100.

Specifically, you automatically qualify for a $50 mail-in rebate on the phone, but you can get another $50 if you sign up for a $39.99-monthly (or higher) service plan and a $19.99-monthly data plan (fairly standard items for smartphone users anyway).

CNET and CNET readers alike had generally good things to say about the Dash, rating … Read more

I've long been a fan of Casio's Exilim line of digital cameras, as I think they offer mucho bang for the buck. Buy.com has the 7-megapixel Exilim EX-Z75 on sale for $109.99, shipped, after a $20 mail-in rebate.

But wait, there's more! When you buy the Exilim (or any digital camera), you're also eligible for a $70 mail-in rebate on various Epson printers, including the Epson Stylus CX7400 multifunction. It's a color printer, copier, and scanner. And for all intents and purposes, it's free (okay, $4) when you buy the camera. Free … Read more