The Cheapskate

This TV tuner-DVR in a box is a steal at $29.99 shipped.

(Credit: Meritline)

Update (Dec. 22, 4 p.m. PT): Sorry, folks, the tuner is sold out--at least for now.

For several years I've relied on free over-the-air digital signals to bring high-definition TV into my house. And I've paired those signals with Windows Media Center for free DVR goodness.

The key bit of hardware in that equation is a TV tuner, and right now Meritline has the deal to beat: a Mygica U6012 Hybrid USB TV tuner for $29.99 shipped.

Because this is a "hybrid" tuner, it can pull in the aforementioned over-the-air HD signals (aka ATSC), Clear QAM (digital signals delivered via cable), or analog channels (aka NTSC, also delivered via cable).

Notice I said "or." I think many people mistakenly believe a tuner like this lets them view all of these sources simultaneously (and some of the negative reviews reflect that), but that's not the case.

What you can do, however, at least with software like Windows Media Center, is connect multiple tuners. Thus, you could have one devoted to, say, analog cable, another pulling down ATSC HD, and so on. That's what I do.

And it works beautifully, though over-the-air signal quality depends in large part on where you live and what kind of antenna you use. The Mygica tuner comes with a small set of rabbit ears, which should pull in at least a few local channels--but you may need something bigger or stronger. Read the FAQ on the product page for more details.

Also, be sure to read the info about updated and forthcoming drivers. I'm happy to see that there's one in the works that will allow the bundled remote to work with Windows 7.

In short, if you've been thinking of dipping a toe into the wonderful world of TV on your PC, this is a seriously affordable pool pass. Other hybrid tuners I've seen sell for upwards of $100.

Backup deal: A site called GameBay.com has Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda for Xbox 360 for $13.49 shipped. That's a mighty sweet pair of games for the price.

The 40-inch 1080p Samsung LCD HDTV.

(Credit: Samsung)

If you have been waiting on a great deal to make the leap to an LCD HDTV and Blu-ray player, your wait is over.

Best Buy is bundling a 40-inch 1080p Samsung LCD HD television with a BD-P1600 Blu-ray disc player for $755 with $1 shipping. That's almost $200 off the list price for the TV, and you get for free a Netflix-ready Blu-ray player that retails for $200. Just add each item to your shopping cart to get the discounts.

Best Buy's deal isn't limited to the 40-inch model; the company offers other Blu-ray bundling deals on Samsung 46- and 52-inch LCD TVs, as well as a 46-inch 120Hz LCD HDTV.

Backup deal
If you are looking for a second LCD for the bedroom or garage and don't want to spend 1080p money, Amazon.com is offering a 26-inch 720p Samsung LCD TV for $286. You have to add the TV to your shopping cart to see the deal price. Shipping is free.

This $78 Magnavox Blu-ray player has no front-panel display, but it does have an SDHC card slot.

Proof positive that camping out all night to score Black Friday deals is a waste of time, Wal-Mart is offering the same $78 Magnavox MB500MG1F Blu-ray player on its Web site that was previously an in-store-only, fight-the-crowds-to-get-it deal.

Its shipping will run you a measly 97 cents, though you'll probably have to add sales tax as well.

As you might expect, the MB500MG1F is about as no-frills as Blu-ray players come. There's no front-panel LED display, and it definitely won't do BD-Live, Netflix, or anything like that.

Actually, there is one frill: an SDHC slot, meaning you can pop in the memory card from your camera for an onscreen photo slideshows.

Other than that, the player offers the usual 1080p output, video upscaling, remote control, power cord, box, and so on.

I haven't seen any reviews of this model, but there are plenty of favorable user comments over at the Blu-ray Forum.

Well, what say you, fellow cheapskates? Is this price low enough for you to pull the Blu-ray trigger? Might you actually be considering a second player for your home? Personally, I say pair one of these with Planet Earth on Blu-ray and enjoy one seriously eyeball-pleasing holiday.

Backup deal: You know online backups should be part of your overall backup regimen, right? Well, here's a rare chance to get in cheap: Carbonite is offering 50 percent off annual subscription plans (with coupon code CUST50). You can get one year for $27.47, two years for $49.97, or three years for $64.97. This awesome offer's good until the end of December.

Got a spare PC lying around? Turn it into a sweet DVR with this TiVo-in-a-box package.

(Credit: Nero)

Update #2 (1:30 p.m PT): Sorry, folks, looks like the LiquidTV is sold out. It's worth checking back periodically, though, just in case Nero releases more stock.

Update: Use coupon code AP-4210-BJ6C to get an extra $4 off! Thanks to reader ThaBigGuy for the heads-up.

My unofficial motto: cheap things come to those who wait. Witness the Nero LiquidTV TiVo PC, currently on sale for just $39.99 shipped. Just two months ago, it seemed like a bargain at $69.99. And it originally sold for $199.99!

In case you're not familiar with it, TiVo PC is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of hardware and software that turns your computer into a TiVo.

Specifically, the retail package includes the Windows-based TiVo software, a TiVo remote, a USB IR receiver, a one-year subscription to the TiVo service, and a high-end USB tuner.

The software probably needs no introduction--it's nearly identical to what you'd find on a TiVo set-top box, complete with Season Pass and KidZone features (but without extras like music and photos).

The tuner is a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950Q, a top-rated model that, purchased separately, would cost you $99. So even if you toss out the software, you're getting a seriously good deal on the tuner.

It can pull down over-the-air digital signals (a small antenna is included, but you might need something larger), QAM channels, or analog channels. The remote is the same one that comes with the TiVo HD.

I reviewed a LiquidTV about a year ago, and while I encountered a few setup wrinkles, overall it did a fine job duplicating the TiVo experience. Just keep in mind that after the first year, a TiVo subscription will cost you $99 annually. That's cheaper than set-top box rates, but still--ouch.

CNET hasn't covered the product, but check out Maximum PC's LiquidTV review. Verdict: "Our new favorite PVR software solution for the PC." 'Nuff said.

Backup deal: Cell-phone reseller Wirefly has teamed up with Bing to offer $50 cash back on any phone Wirefly offers. For example, you can get the Verizon Droid Eris for $9.99 (with new service), then walk away with $40.01 in Bing Cashback cash. Definitely worth a look!

I hope this goes without saying by now, but under no circumstances should you spend more than $100 on a Blu-ray player.

I mean, for months we've seen no-frills and lame-brand models selling for $99 or less. And now you can pick up a Sony BDP-S360 with BD-Live for $99.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

(Note: The $99.99 price will appear once you get to the checkout. First commenter to tell me the product page shows $119.99 gets a virtual noogie.)

It's a refurb, meaning the warranty expires after 90 days. If that doesn't sit well with you, here's another option (and a fall-back in case the Sony sells out): Dell Home has the Vizio VBR100 Blu-ray player with BD-Live for $104.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). That's a new model, meaning you get a full one-year warranty.

Indeed, I'd argue that the Vizio is the better buy, if only for the extra coverage 5 bucks buys you. Both models rock the whole BD-Live thing (and, hey, if you're pulling the Blu-ray trigger, you might as well enjoy a frill or two). Alas, neither one supports Netflix streaming or the like.

CNET's editors had mostly positive things to say about the BDP-S360, particularly about its audio and video quality. As for the Vizio, you'll have to rely on Dell's customer ratings: all 10 of them, each one awarding five stars.

So I guess I should amend my original statement: under no circumstances should you spend more than around $100 on a Blu-ray player. And mark my words: it won't be long before you can get BD-Live and Netflix for that price.

Backup deal: Need cables to connect your new player(s) to your HDTV? Meritline has a three-pack of 6-foot HDMI cables for $6.99 shipped (with coupon code MLC1933503120733N--it's $10.99 without). Hard to beat!

This 25-inch LCD sports a pair of HDMI inputs and an impossibly low price tag.

(Credit: CompUSA)

Update: Unsurprisingly, this is sold out. Sorry if you missed it! Killer deals like this rarely last long.

You all know my motto by now: "Cheap things come to those who wait." The last time I posted a 25-inch LCD monitor was in July. The price back then: $199.99.

Today, CompUSA is offering a 25-inch I-Inc LCD monitor for $149.99 shipped.

D'oh! Wasn't it just yesterday that a 24-inch Synaps was selling for $159.99? (Yes, yes it was.)

So, to amend my motto, cheap things come to those who wait--a whole entire day. The I-Inc is not only $10 cheaper and one inch larger (diagonally speaking) than the Synaps, it also comes with an HDMI input. Two of them, actually.

That means if it's not destined for PC duty, you can pair it with a game console and a Blu-ray player. It also has built-in speakers, natch, though don't expect room-filling volume or Dolby-quality sound.

Other noteworthy specs include 1,920 x 1,080 resolution (aka 1080p), a 2ms response time (faster than most), and a one-year warranty (this is new, not a refurb).

Without putting too fine a point on it, this is the best monitor deal I've ever posted. Consequently, it'll probably sell out seconds after I click Publish, and then everyone will be mad at me (and I wouldn't blame them--even though it's not my fault :).

On the other hand, maybe we'll all get lucky and CompUSA will have enough supply to last the day--because I guarantee you these will sell like hotcakes. And rightly so.

The 720p-shooting Kodak Zi6 is on sale for just $99.

(Credit: CNET)

The deals are coming fast and furious this week, to the point where I couldn't pick just one for today. Instead I've rounded up a little cheapskate trifecta. (Note: All have a high sellout risk!) Take a look:

1) CompUSA has a 24-inch Synaps LCD monitor for $159.99 shipped. It's a 1080p display with VGA and DVI inputs (no HDMI, alas), built-in speakers, and a 5ms response time. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive. And this is almost an all-time low for a 24-inch monitor.

2) Amazon is offering the Kodak Zi6 HD pocket camcorder for $99 shipped. It can record 720p video on inexpensive SD/SDHC cards (here's an 8GB card for just $15.45). CNET liked its "solid video quality" (read the full review here), and Amazon customers collectively rated it 4 stars out of 5.

3) At US Appliance you can score a new LG BD270 Blu-ray player for $94, plus $5.99 for shipping. (Use coupon code welcome10 to get that price.) That's not the best Blu-ray deal I've seen, as this model doesn't do BD-Live or Netflix, but it's definitely rare to see an LG for under $100. CNET hasn't reviewed it, but user reviews on Amazon are very high.

Anything strike your fancy? If not, be sure to check out Five Black Friday deals you shouldn't miss (if you haven't already). And if you spot anything awesome that I've missed, by all means post it in the comments or shoot me an e-mail. Happy shopping!

This sub-$300 32-inch LCD features tons of inputs.

(Credit: Best Buy)

Sorry to hit you with TV deals two days in a row, but Wednesday's 26-inch Mag sold out so quickly, it seemed like the right thing to do.

Likewise, Wal-Mart's recent 32-inch HDTV for $298 barely lasted the day, so hopefully this offer will stick around a bit longer.

Best Buy has a Dynex 32-inch LCD HDTV for $299.99. It's a new unit, not a refurb, and you can save around $44 in shipping charges by opting for in-store pickup. (You'll still have to pay sales tax, though.)

Dynex is definitely not a household brand, but based on the 4-stars-out-of-5 review average on Best Buy's site, the DX-L32-10A is a pretty decent TV.

As you might expect, it offers 1,366x768-pixel resolution (720p, which is fine for a set of this size). Less expected: an impressive three HDMI inputs, plus two component, two composite, and one PC. You can plug everything you've got into this baby!

I'm glad to see 32-inch TVs starting to settle into the $300 range. Hopefully the larger models (42- and 46-inchers, for example) will follow suit, as their prices have barely budged in the past year.

Think you'll grab one of these for the den, bedroom, game room, or somewhere else? Or are you holding out for an even better Black Friday deal?

Mag's 26-inch LCD HDTV can double as a PC monitor, albeit a fairly low-res one.

Update: I'm afraid this is sold out already, as I predicted. Sorry if you missed it!

Update #2: And now it's back in stock. Moral of the story: If something sells out, check again in an hour, a couple hours, or even the next day. You never know when the vendor will replenish its stock.

It's not even Black Friday yet, and already I'm seeing one of the best deals of 2009. CompUSA has a Mag 26-inch LCD HDTV for $199.99 shipped.

To put that in perspective, the last time I saw anything close was back in July: a 25-inch monitor (not TV) for $199.99 plus shipping.

The Mag Innovision UF261 sports a 26-inch screen, an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, 720p output (or 1,366 x 768 if you're thinking in computer terms), and all the inputs you're likely to need: HDMI, component, composite, and VGA.

To my surprise, this is a new unit, not a refurb, and it's backed by a full one-year warranty. (Curiously, however, coverage is provided by Columbus Capital Corp., not Mag proper. Not sure if that's important, just FYI.)

I think the UF261 would make a great TV for a den or bedroom, and it would pair nicely with a game console.

You could also use it as a mammoth PC monitor, but the limited resolution might limit your enjoyment. (In comparison, a typical 22-inch monitor runs at 1,680 x 1,050.) Also, I haven't found any reviews of this model, save for the handful on CompUSA's site (they're mostly positive).

Still, as I said, this is perhaps the best HDTV/monitor deal I've seen this year, and consequently I'll be shocked if it doesn't sell out by the end of the day. Act fast if you want in.