The Cheapskate

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 mammoth monitor can be yours for under $200.

(Credit: TigerDirect)

Update (7 a.m. PT): Wow, I just can't win. This item disappeared from TigerDirect's site shortly after I posted it--a very common occurrence these days. My apologies. I'm going to think long and hard before posting another item from CompUSA/TigerDirect.

I can't quite decide which is better: two smaller monitors running side by side or a single gargantuan monitor.

If you're in the latter camp, TigerDirect has a refurbished Vizio VMM26L 26-inch LCD monitor for $184.99 shipped. (That's if you use Google Checkout--otherwise the price is $189.99.)

That's the lowest price I've seen on a monitor of this size, and check out the specs: 1,900 x 1,200 resolution (i.e. slightly better than 1080p); DVI, VGA, and HDMI inputs; a 3ms response time; and a USB hub with four ports.

Because this is a refurb, however, the standard 90-day warranty applies. Also, the monitor lacks speakers, so it's not ideally suited to pairing with game consoles or Blu-ray players. (You can do it; it's just BYO speakers.)

But if you're in the market for a big, huge monitor for your PC, this could be just the ticket. If it sells out, try checking back in a couple hours or even days--TigerDirect sometimes replenishes its stock.

Backup deal: Got N? Buy.com has an Asus Wireless N Router for $20.99 shipped (after a $20 mail-in rebate). It doubles as an FTP server and triples as a printer server.

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.

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.

Sony's 46-inch KDL-46V5100

(Credit: Sony)

If you had been waiting for a low price on a midlevel LCD to make the jump to a flat-panel set, Sony may have what you are looking for.

Sony Style has a refurbished 46-inch KDL-46V5100 for $799.99 with free shipping, a good $150 cheaper than the closest low price for a new unit. This 1080p (full HD) unit has a 120Hz refresh rate and a dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000 to 1. This TV comes with plenty of connectivity, featuring four HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, and one PC input.

CNET's David Katzmaier gave this TV three and a half stars, saying that while its design was a bit pedestrian, it produces relatively deep black levels and accurate color in bright areas. "The commendable picture quality of Sony's entry-level 120Hz-equipped LCD makes it a very good value," Katzmaier wrote in his review.

The model is listed on the site at $1,379.99 but the price drops to $799.99 when you add it to your cart. It comes with a 90-day warranty.

A new 32-inch HDTV for under $300 is mighty hard to pass up.

(Credit: Walmart)

Sorry for the late post today, folks, and sorry to serve up a one-day-only deal at the same time, but that's what happens on those rare occasions when I travel.

Anyway, today only, Wal-Mart has a 32-inch Soyo LCD TV for just $298, and shipping will run you a mere $4. (You can also opt for in-store pickup, but either way you'll pay sales tax.)

The last time I found a TV that size for that price, it was a not-too-great refurb. This one's brand-new, complete with a one-year warranty.

However, I'm a little concerned by one of the user reviews on Wal-Mart's site that states Soyo is out of business. Sure enough, I can't seem to find a working Web site for the company. Just who will honor this warranty, I'm not sure.

In any case, the Soyo features a 720p/1080i display and HDMI, component, composite, and VGA inputs (one of each, apparently--the specs aren't terribly clear).

In short, it's a pretty bare-bones HDTV, but one that might be ideal for a den, dorm room, game room, or the like.

And I'm going to leave it there (discuss!), as the streets of San Francisco are calling my name. Happy shopping!