Score a 22-inch Acer LCD for $109.99--and get a three-year warranty!
(Credit: Staples)Update (10:10 a.m. PT): Looks like everything but the Dell laptop is sold out. Sorry, folks! It's worth checking back on the other items, though, as sometimes stock gets replenished.
Ah, Cyber Monday. Now this is a day of deals I can get behind. No crowded parking lots, no unruly mobs, no pushing and shoving. (What? The old lady got in my way!)
Of course, as regular visitors to The Cheapskate know, nearly every day is Cyber Monday--the deals keep coming all year 'round.
But this Monday is special, so I've rounded up four particularly sweet bargains that are good today only. And, as always, the sellout risk is high, so get your mouse-clickin' finger(s) warmed up.
1) In the market for a monitor? Staples has the Acer X213HBbd 21.5-inch LCD for $109.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). Specs include VGA/DVI (HDCP) inputs, a 5-ms response time, and a three-year warranty (score!). This is the lowest price I've seen on a new 22-inch monitor.
2) Need a desktop replacement? Dell has an Inspiron 17 laptop for $549 shipped. It sports a whopping 17.3-inch display, a Core 2 Duo processor, and Windows 7 Home Premium. You can customize just about every feature to your liking, but the base configuration is mighty solid. That's the best deal on a 17-inch lappie I've seen all year--not the lowest price, mind you, but the best bang for the buck.
3) Still shopping for the perfect portable PC? Best Buy has the Samsung N140-14R Netbook for $279.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). That's higher than other models I've posted recently, but this is a decidedly high-end Netbook. Specs include Intel's Atom N280 processor, a 10.1-inch screen, a 250GB hard drive, 802.11n, and a six-cell battery. The OS: Windows 7 Starter.
4) Here's a great stocking stuffer: Newegg has the Zune Premium Headphones for $9.99 shipped. I've had a pair for years; they're my preferred earbuds for travel. They do a great job isolating outside noise (like airplane engines), and they're extremely comfortable. Obviously you don't need a Zune to use them; they'll work with any phone or MP3 player. Microsoft sells them for $39.99, so I can't recommend this deal highly enough.
Well? See anything you like? If not, don't worry--there's always tomorrow. In the meantime, hit the comments to share your tales of Cyber Monday scores.
P.S. Anybody catch me on Good Morning America today? No worries: you can catch me daily on CNET's Holiday Help Desk at 1 p.m. PST.
On Sale Now: $379.99 - $390.99
View the latest prices for Samsung N140-14 (red)
On Sale Now: $379.99
View the latest prices for Samsung N140-14 (blue)
On Sale Now: $79.99
View the latest prices for Microsoft Zune Premium Earphones V2
The Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980.
(Credit: Toshiba)If you are in the market for an inexpensive laptop to make the jump to Windows 7, we may have just what you're looking for.
Office Depot has the Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980 15.6-inch widescreen notebook for $349.99 with free shipping, $130 off the list price and a good $100 cheaper than the closest deal we could find for this model.
Toshiba's laptop features an Intel 1.8GHz dual-core Celeron T3000, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive, a SuperMulti DVD drive, 802.11g Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Windows 7 Home Premium.
The deal includes a one-year warranty and expires Saturday.
Veterans Day bonus
With Veterans Day approaching this week, Amazon is giving away a collection of songs to honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
The e-tailer's MP3 store is offering for free download "Veterans Day Honor" by the bands and ensembles of the U.S. armed forces, a DRM-free collection of patriotic music that usually retails for $8.99 on the site ($9.99 on iTunes).
This collection of 12 songs includes "The Star Spangled Banner" by the U.S. Coast Guard Band, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by the U.S. Air Force Airmen, and "Retreat" and "Taps" by the U.S. Marine Band.
On Sale Now: $479.99
View the latest prices for Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980
You wouldn't know to look at it, but this $400 laptop is among the first to come with Windows 7.
(Credit: CompUSA)The Windows 7 systems are coming! The Windows 7 systems are coming! One if by laptop, two if by... Um. Hmm.
As you may possibly have heard by now, the new OS drops this Thursday, October 22. But starting today, you can preorder a 15.6-inch MSI A5000 laptop with Windows 7 for $399.99 shipped.
This is one of the best configurations I've seen at this price, with one small exception: the processor.
It's a 1.8GHz dual-core Celeron T3000. Normally I wouldn't go near a Celeron with a 10-foot pole, but I've seen Windows 7 run at a sprightly clip even on Atom-powered netbooks, so the A5000 should be a decent enough performer.
The rest of the specs look rock-solid: 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a SuperMulti DVD drive. It even has an HDMI port for connecting an external display, just in case the 15.6-inch, 720p LCD isn't doing it for you.
And, drum roll...Windows 7 Home Premium. I'm not as wild about the OS as some of my fellow technologists, but it's definitely an improvement over XP. That's right: XP.
Perhaps best of all, the MSI A5000 is backed by a three-year warranty--a real rarity these days. And in a $400 notebook!
CompUSA doesn't say when these "preorders" will ship, but obviously it'll be Thursday at the latest. If you're in the market for a new PC and you've been waiting for Windows 7, wait no longer.
Apple's Netbook-like iBook is on sale for just $399.99 shipped.
(Credit: Buy.com)Apple has yet to join the exploding Netbook market, right? Wrong: It joined the market nearly six years ago. It may have even pioneered it!
OK, let me explain. The Apple iBook G4, which debuted in late 2003 and has since been discontinued, has specs that remind me a lot of modern Netbooks. Pokey processor, smallish screen and hard drive, compact design, low price--sound familiar?
Buy.com has refurbished Apple iBook G4 laptops for $399.99 shipped. There are caveats, yes indeed, but this might be just the Apple Netbook you've been waiting for.
The iBook sports a 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a 12.1-inch LCD. It's perfect for the basics, right? You won't do a lot of video editing on it, but word processing, Web browsing, e-mail, and the like are fair game.
At five pounds, it's obviously heavier than most Netbooks, but there's a reason for that: the slot-loading DVD/CD-RW drive. That's definitely something you won't find in a traditional Netbook, but do you mind having one?
I'm no expert when it comes to Apple systems (CNET is--check its review of the iBook G4), and I have no hands-on experience with this model. I do know it comes with OS X 10.5, so at least you're getting (almost) the latest and greatest version of the Mac OS. (FYI, Snow Leopard, a.k.a. 10.6, will not run on PowerPC Macs.)
The only major hiccup here is the warranty: a scant 30 days (and provided by Buy.com, I'm guessing). I'm sure that'll be a deal breaker for some people, and perhaps rightly so, but think about it: The slot-loading drive is the most likely trouble spot, and if it breaks, the iBook is that much closer to a typical Netbook. (How's that for a positive spin?)
Anyway, let me know what you think of Apple's almost-Netbook. Or if you think I'm cuckoo for making the analogy.
It's not perfect, but it's still a 17-inch desktop replacement for $350!
(Credit: Toshiba)If you missed out on Walmart's recent $348 Toshiba laptop, fear not: Buy.com has an almost identical Toshiba Satellite L355-S7905 for $349.95, with free shipping.
That's a pretty jaw-dropping price, but there are a couple caveats. First, the out-the-door price is $399.95; you'll have to wait 8 weeks or so on a $50 mail-in rebate [PDF].
Second, this is a refurbished system, so the warranty expires after 90 days. You can extend it to one year for $60, but at that point you might be better off with a new model.
Finally, I don't love the Toshiba's 2.16GHz Intel Celeron processor. (Celerons are notoriously pokey.) At least the remaining specs are solid, including 3GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a SuperMulti DVD drive.
Oh, and that glorious 17-inch LCD, which has a native resolution of 1,440 x 900 (that's better than 720p, if you prefer to think in HDTV terms).
Alas, there's no Webcam, and the OS is Vista Home Basic. You can always upgrade to Windows 7 when the time comes, but there's no free upgrade included here.
So, yeah, this deal definitely has a few compromises. On the other hand, I continue to be blown away that you can get a 17-inch desktop replacement for just $350. A year ago, you'd have paid twice that.
And make no mistake, the Satellite has plenty of horsepower for everyday computing. Indeed, it's faster and way better equipped than your average Netbook, which sells for about the same price.
While you're mulling that over, keep in mind that the rebate offer expires in two days (Sunday, Sept. 6). Have a great holiday weekend, and I'll see you back here on Tuesday!
For less than $400, the business-savvy Lenovo G550 features a full-size numeric keypad.
(Credit: Lenovo)In the market for a new laptop for home, work, or school? Lenovo has the nicely appointed G550-29582CU for $399 (plus sales tax in some states) shipped.
That's after applying coupon code USPG550CU, which expires after 700 uses--but still seemed to be active as of this morning.
Whenever I find a notebook selling for under $400, I start looking for compromises: a slow processor, a short warranty, Vista Home Basic, that kind of thing.
The G550 seems pretty compromise-free. In addition to its dual-core, 2GHz Pentium T4200 processor, it sports a 250GB hard drive, a 15.6-inch LED-backlit screen, a DVD burner, and Vista Home Premium.
Other goodies include a Webcam, an HDMI output, and a six-cell battery.
Lenovo backs all that with a one-year warranty on parts and labor (including the battery). You're also eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when the time comes.
Alas, you can't customize the configuration, and I couldn't find any information on the G550's size or weight. In fact, the site has no detailed specs at all. (Seriously, Lenovo?)
With a little detective work, however, I learned that the system weighs about 5.9 pounds and measures 14.9 inches wide by 9.6 inches long by 1.4 inches thick. That extra width is to accommodate a full-size numeric keypad--good news for number-crunchers.
This model normally sells for $649, so to get out the door with it for $399 is mighty nice. Definitely worth a look!
A 17-inch laptop for under $500? Yes! Until you add shipping and sales tax, that is.
(Credit: Dell)By now you've probably heard about the $348 Toshiba 17-inch laptop that's available at Walmart starting this Sunday.
That's a pretty amazing deal, but I see two downsides. First, it requires a trip to Walmart (and possibly some throwing of elbows, as this is a Black Friday-class price). Second, that Toshiba comes with a seriously pokey Celeron processor.
If you've got a little more room in the budget and want a system that's a tad more robust, you can get a Dell Inspiron 17 dual-core laptop for $499.
In addition to a 17.3-inch LED display and 2GHz Pentium T4200 processor, the Inspiron features 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and all the other standard goodies.
In other words, it's a fine choice for students heading back to school or anyone looking for a no-frills desktop replacement.
Unfortunately, shipping will run you $29, and you may have to pay sales tax as well. Plus, the system comes with Vista Home Basic. I think it's worth spending an extra $30 for Vista Home Premium, which comes with a free Windows 7 upgrade.
By the time you get out the door, then, you may be spending closer to $600. That's still a very solid deal on a 17-inch notebook.
That said, how many of you will be lining up at Walmart Sunday morning? Mighty tempting.
Get a new, non-refurbished Acer laptop for less than $300 (before sales tax).
(Credit: OfficeMax)Update: Wow, strike two for me this week. This sold out almost immediately after I posted it. Sorry about that!
Update #2: Some readers have reported that it's still available, meaning stock is probably dependent on where you live. Click through to see if you can get one!
Having trouble finding one of those sub-$300 laptops from Best Buy and Walmart? OfficeMax has something comparable: an Acer Aspire AS5515-5187 laptop for $299.25 shipped. (Sales tax applies in most states.)
On the spec front, the Aspire compares favorably with Best Buy's Acer and Walmart's Compaq Presario. It features a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon 2650e processor (single-core, alas, but at least it's not a Sempron or Intel Celeron), 3GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a DVD burner.
All that comes wrapped around a 15.4-inch LCD with a built-in Webcam, stereo speakers, and the other usual goodies.
In short, it's more than suitably equipped for students of all stripes, from junior high to college, as well as casual users who rarely venture beyond e-mail, word processing, and Web browsing.
And it'll probably sell out in a hurry.
One important note: The product page shows a prominent "Windows 7 Upgrade Offer" link, but the Acer, which includes Windows Vista Home Basic, doesn't qualify. Bummer.
Other than that, it's hard to argue with a full-blown notebook selling at a refurbished-Netbook price. I'd be surprised if these last the day.
The refurbished Acer Aspire AS5515 is a steal at $299.99.
(Credit: CompUSA)Remember the $350 eMachines laptop from last week? If you don't mind a shorter warranty and smaller hard drive, you can scoop up a refurbished Acer Aspire AS5515 notebook for $299.99. Shipping will run you a mere $1.99.
Usually when I see notebook for under $300, it has a Celeron processor (barf), a Linux OS (fine for some, but not ideal for all), or both.
The Aspire isn't dramatically better in either respect--it has a 1.6GHz single-core AMD Athlon 2650e and Windows Vista Basic--but it should run at a decent clip thanks to its 3GB of DDR2 RAM.
Other noteworthy specs include a 160GB hard drive, 15.4-inch screen, DVD burner, and 6.2-pound travel weight.
In other words, it's an entry-level notebook. And because it's a refurb, it has a 90-day warranty.
But did I mention the $299.99 price tag? Because, seriously, that's a ridiculously good price--especially considering that your average Netbook costs about the same and does a lot less. (Yeah, I went there.)
CompUSA frequently sells out of items like this, so if you're in the market for a new lappie, I would hesitate not one bit.
Hard to believe you can buy a new, full-featured notebook for just $349.99.
(Credit: CompUSA)What's better than the $299 Dell Inspiron 15n laptop I posted a couple weeks ago? If you can scrounge up an extra 50 bucks, you'll get more bang from the $349.99 eMachines eME625-5192.
For openers, this is a new lappie, not a refurb. That's a rare find for less than $400, let alone for less than $350. No rebates, either. Shipping will run you just $1.99.
It's pretty well stocked, too, including a 1.6GHz Athlon 64 TF-20 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a DVD burner. It has a 15.6-inch screen, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, and a travel weight of about 6 pounds.
It also includes a six-cell battery; the Dell had a four-cell. The Dell also had less RAM, a smaller hard drive, and Linux as its operating system. eMachines bundles Vista Home Basic--blech, right?
My recommendation: Install the free Windows 7 Release Candidate and enjoy that until next March. Then you can decide if you want to buy the OS outright, switch to Linux, go back to Vista Home Basic, or whatever.
If this was a refurb, I'd be calling it a mighty sweet deal. Given that it's new and comes with a full, one-year warranty, forget deal: it's a steal.
