The Cheapskate

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.

A new-in-box Wii system for $175 shipped?! Get 'em while they're hot.

(Credit: Dell)

Gone are the days when if you wanted a Wii, you'd have to pay double or even triple the list price on eBay. Dell has Wii systems for just $174.99 shipped.

These are new consoles, not refurbs, and you don't have to mess around with rebates or even coupon codes. That's pretty surprising given that the Wii just got its $199.99 price cut last week.

Of course, rumor has it there's a new Wii system, or at least a new bundle, waiting in the wings, which could help explain this lowest-price-ever offer. Still, the holidays are a-comin', and if you have a kid who might react this way to a Wii under the tree (or menorah), can you really pass up $175?

While you're at it, consider grabbing the new Wii Sports Resort bundle for $59.99, which includes the game and a pair of MotionPlus controller add-ons. That's 10 bucks cheaper than if you bought the game and a second add-on.

This deal's been on Dell's site for at least a day, so I don't know how much longer it'll last (and, frankly, I'm surprised it's not sold out).

What do you think? Will this finally get you on the Wii wagon, or do you think Dell's clearing out inventory to make room for something better? Hmmm. Tough one.

Update: Dell's offer seems to have expired, but check the comments--a few eagle-eyed readers have found a similar deal at Amazon.

What's better than a brand-spankin'-new Sony PlayStation 3 Slim for $299.99? A brand-spankin'-new Sony PlayStation 3 Slim for $199.99, of course.

I suspect I'll get an earful for this, but the deal comes courtesy of our old friend, the Sony Visa card. When you make a purchase of $299 or more, you get a $100 credit in 8 to 12 weeks. Final price: $199.99.

All you do is sign up for the card, then head over to SonyStyle and drop a sweet, sweet 120GB PlayStation 3 in your cart. (I know it doesn't say "Slim" anywhere, but this is definitely the new model.) Watch CNET's video review if you want to learn more about it.

When your Visa card arrives, stick it in a drawer until the $100 credit appears on your statement. Then spend the money like you would cash. Then cut the card into pieces and burn the pieces.

Not interested in this kind of hoop-jumping just to save $100? That's cool. But think about it: This isn't much different than filling out a rebate form and waiting on a check in the mail. In fact, it's quite a bit easier overall, and you're much less likely to get burned.

Still not convinced? Then try this: Sony just lowered the price on refurbished consoles! Now you can pick up a 40GB PlayStation 3 for just $219.99 shipped. If you can live with a 90-day warranty, that's one of the best PS3 deals to date.

Of course, a new PS3 for $199.99 is even better. What do you think? Did you already pull the trigger on last week's deal (long since expired), or did your Cheapskate senses tell you something better was just around the corner?

That's a big bundle of Xbox goodies for just $199.99 shipped.

(Credit: Buy.com)

Putting nearly all previous Xbox deals to shame, Buy.com has a complete Xbox 360 Pro bundle for $199.99 shipped.

Until recently, it was fairly exciting to find the console alone for less than $200. The bundle includes not only the 360 (with a 20GB hard drive and HDMI output), but also two wireless controllers and three games. Unheard of, right?

Yes, this is a refurbished system. But before you run screaming for the hills, check it out: Microsoft is backing it with a full one-year warranty, same as new units. So you literally have nothing to lose by going the refurb route.

As I've said many times before, one of the things I like best about the Xbox 360 is that it pulls double duty as a Windows Media Center extender. And you can scarcely buy one of the standalone extenders for such a low price.

On the other hand, it's no Blu-ray player. If you'd rather have that, Dell Home has the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim for $254.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

(Search for A3018856 to find the console, then apply coupon code 6FWJ247J1P44CK at checkout.)

The Slim's on backorder right now, but it appears you can still place orders for it. Don't want to wait? The SonyStyle store still has refurbished 40GB PlayStation 3 consoles for $236.77.

Well, game fans, over to you. Both these deals are really hard to pass up. Which console will you choose?

Thanks to reader Cary for sharing the Xbox deal!

Finally, a bargain price on a PlayStation 3. Get one before they're gone.

(Credit: Sony)

If you've been waiting patiently for Sony to drop the price of the PS3, wait no longer: the Sony Style store has the refurbished 40GB PlayStation 3 for $236.77. Shipping is free, though you'll probably have to pay sales tax.

Obviously Sony is clearing out old stock to make room for the new PlayStation 3 Slim, and at this price it's a safe bet these refurbs won't last long.

Indeed, this is the lowest price I've ever seen on a PlayStation 3 (not including that crazy credit-card promotion from last month, which many of you took as proof I'd lost my mind).

Because it's a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. The good news is that you can extend that to two years for just $19.99. Of course, at that point you might as well splurge on a new 80GB PS3, which is now selling for $299.99.

On the other hand, you could just roll the dice and put that 20 bucks toward, say, a Blu-ray movie. As most of you know, the PS3 doubles as a kick-ass Blu-ray player, with full support for Profile 2.0 and all the other goodies.

Given that standalone Blu-ray players with those capabilities still sell for upward of $300, a PS3 is obviously the better deal. It's like getting a game console for free!

So, what do you think? Is this price too good to pass up? Or is the 40GB model too limited for your needs? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Finally, a deal on a Wii! But you'll have to live with a 90-day warranty.

(Credit: Jecowa (Wikipedia Commons))

Here's something you almost never see: a deal on a Wii. (Sorry for the accidental rhyme; that'll be the last time.) Newegg has recertified Nintendo Wii systems for $199.99 with free shipping. I must be tripping! (Seriously, no more.)

There's probably nothing I can tell you about the Wii you don't already know. It continues to outsell both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and with good reason: It's a blast. (Not that those other consoles aren't, but to me they're not nearly as family-friendly.)

Just in case you don't know anything about the Wii, CNET's review has plenty of details.

Curiously, Newegg's product page doesn't say exactly what's included with this recertified (i.e. refurbished) bundle, but I'd be surprised if it didn't have everything that normally comes with the Wii.

What's more, the warranty isn't mentioned anywhere, but you can bet your bottom dollar it's 90 days. You'll have to decide if saving $50 is worth that gamble. It would buy you a second controller or a couple games.

It's hard to believe the Wii is coming up on its third birthday. For the first two years you could barely get one, but now, finally, you can get a deal on one. What do you think? Will you pull the trigger?

Grab the top-of-the-line Xbox for under $200.

(Credit: Geeks.com)

Geeks.com has a ridiculously good deal on a refurbished Xbox 360 Elite: $199.99 (after applying coupon code XDEALS at checkout). Shipping will run you about $16.

For those not thoroughly versed in Xbox models, the Elite is, well, the elite. The top of the line. The Xbox that normally sells for $399.99.

Like a new unit, the refurb comes with a 120GB hard drive, an HDMI port, a wireless controller, and a headset. Unlike a new unit, the warranty expires after 90 days.

On the cabling side, the Xbox comes with only the usual component-video cable. If you plan on making an HDMI connection, you can get what you need for just a few bucks.

If the Elite is overkill for your gaming needs and/or your budget can't stretch quite that far, Geeks.com also has a refurbished Xbox 360 Pro (20GB) for $149.99.

Either way you're getting a killer game console and a damn fine media center extender (meaning it can stream music, videos, and photos from your PC).

The Xbox also lets you stream movies from Netflix, though for that you need both a Netflix membership and an Xbox Live Gold account.

OK, so what do you think? Too good to pass up? If memory serves, this is by far the lowest price I've seen on an Xbox 360 Elite. The deal is available through July 31, but something tells me it'll sell out long before that.

Switch to Sony's Visa card for a few months and get $300 back on a PlayStation 3.

(Credit: Sony)

Some deals you have to work at, like sending in a rebate form or driving to a store. Then there's the $100 Sony PlayStation 3. It's a real deal, but with three hoops you have to jump through.

Here's how it works. First, you sign up for Sony's new, no-annual-fee PlayStation Visa card (click the above link), which offers instant online approval. Next, head to SonyStyle.com and order an 80GB PlayStation 3 for $399.99.

Sometime in the next 8-12 weeks, Sony will issue you a $100 credit, bringing your net cost down to $299.99.

In the interim (i.e., within three months), if you charge another $1,500 on your PlayStation card, you'll receive another $100 credit. And by charging another $1,500 before the six-month mark, you'll get a third $100 credit.

That brings your total PlayStation 3 cost to $99.99. So ultimately, you're getting 300 bucks' worth of credits (which are as good as cash, IMHO) by using Sony's Visa card for a few months. If you typically charge at least $500 per month anyway, why not make the switch?

Like I said, some deals involve a bit of work. This is without a doubt the best price you'll ever see on a new PlayStation 3, even if does require the full amount (and then some) up front.

What do you think? Worth the effort? Or too much hoop-jumping?