Lexmark's X4650 multifunction printer works over Wi-Fi--or with the bundled USB cable.
(Credit: Wal-Mart)In the market for a new printer? Might as well get one that doubles as a scanner and copier. And one that works without wires.
Wal-Mart has the Lexmark X4650 wireless all-in-one printer for $59. Shipping will run you 97 cents, though you can skip that by opting for store pickup. Either way, plan on paying sales tax.
As most of you know, I hold Wi-Fi printers in the same high regard as chocolate-covered caramels and Jessica Alba. The X4650 connects to your Wi-Fi router for blissfully wireless printing and scanning.
Ironically, Wal-Mart bundles a 10-foot Tripp Lite gold-plated USB cable, just in case you're not planning to go the Wi-Fi route.
The X4650 offers dual-cartridge printing. If you want the best possible photo results, you can swap in a photo-ink cartridge for the black one and enjoy six-color output.
The downside is that, as with most inkjets, cartridges cost a pretty penny. Plan on dropping at least $25 for each replacement--a little less if you go the remanufactured route.
The printer supports all the latest versions of Windows and Mac OS X. Though it lacks fax capabilities, it can scan to your PC's fax modem (if it has one) and also offers a handy scan-to-e-mail option.
In short, it's a fairly basic multifunction printer, one that sold for $130 when it debuted about a year ago. CNET hasn't reviewed it, but the reviews I've seen elsewhere have been mostly positive. (The only real ding is relatively slow printing.)
In any case, $59 for a Wi-Fi-equipped all-in-one is a rare find. Definitely worth considering.
On Sale Now: $69.93 - $103.52
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Multifunction printers are insanely handy. No more running to Kinkos every time you need to make a few copies or send a fax. And right now, OfficeMax has an insanely good deal on the Epson Workforce 500 all-in-one: it's $59.99 shipped.
Now, I know the headline says $39.99, so what gives? If you're willing to sign up for a MaxPerks account (it's free), you'll get a rebate in the form of a $20 prepaid VISA card, which is more or less the same as cash.
This fully loaded multifunction printer can be yours for just $39.99 (after an automated rebate).
(Credit: Epson)The Workforce 500 (which is new, not a refurb) features a 30-sheet auto document feeder, memory card slots for all the major formats, and a 2.5-inch color LCD for previewing photos before printing.
In addition to cranking out photos and documents, the Workforce can send and receive faxes and scan and copy anything that fits on its letter-size flatbed. It also comes with OCR software--a nice perk.
My favorite feature: individual ink tanks (one each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). That cuts way down on ink waste, as you replace only those cartridges that need replacing.
The only missing ingredient is Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi connectivity. Alas, this model's USB only. (OfficeMax's product page mentions parallel as well, but that's a mistake. This isn't 1993.) See Epson's product page for full specs and details.
I haven't found many professional reviews of the Workforce 500, but the user reviews I've read have been mixed. The big complaint: The ink cartridges run out quickly.
Still, given that you're essentially getting a free multifunction printer for about the price of a set of cartridges, I think it's hard to argue with this deal. I may pick one up just so my kids can print and copy stuff.
Finally, a reasonable price for Office 2007. And it's the retail, three-license edition.
(Credit: Newegg)In case you didn't read Monday's post carefully, I'll say it again: I'm on vacation this week! But here's a little something to tide you over until I return.
A few weeks back I reminded you that Microsoft is still offering Office Ultimate 2007 for $59.95. Of course, that deal is for qualified students only, and it doesn't get you a boxed copy, only a download.
Well, good, old Newegg has the boxed, retail edition of Office Home and Student 2007 for $59.95 shipped. That's after applying coupon code EMCLWNL22 and signing up for Newegg's newsletter (if you haven't already).
Not only does this version come on a bona fide CD in a bona fide box, it also includes licenses for three PCs.
And in case you're wondering, the Home and Student edition of Office includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
Note to Microsoft: This is a reasonable price for Office. Not $149.95 or even $99.95. Hope you'll keep that in mind while figuring out how to price Office 2010. (But I doubt it.)
College students get all the breaks, don't they? Like a 91 percent discount on Office 2007 Ultimate (download version).
(Credit: Microsoft)Welcome to the Cheapskate's Greatest Hits, where I revisit past deals that are still available--and still awesome.
The list price for Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate is a whopping $679.95. The upgrade price? It's an equally whopping $539.99. For that kind of money, it had better come with Megan Fox's Tina Fey's phone number.
Believe it or not, you can score a legal and totally legitimate copy of Office 2007 Ultimate for just $59.95. What's the catch? You need to "borrow" a college student (or, you know, be one).
Microsoft's Ultimate Steal deal is for currently enrolled students who have an e-mail address ending in ".edu" or who attend one of several dozen approved institutions. (Mouse over the "Am I Eligible" link for more details.)
Assuming you qualify, this is a pretty incredible deal. In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Office Ultimate comes with OneNote, Access, Publisher, Groove, and other goodies.
There's one other small catch: Your 60 bucks buys you the download version of the suite. If you want discs, it'll cost you another $13--still a steal.
Of course, some would argue that most students (and other users) can get everything they need from OpenOffice 3.0, a full-featured office suite that costs nada (Download the Windows or Mac version here). Let me know if you're in that camp, or if you think Microsoft's offer is too good to pass up.
Update: If you'd rather have a boxed copy, Newegg is offering Office Home and Student 2007 (3-license edition) for $79.95 shipped. (Apply coupon code EMCLVNW56 to get that price.)
Cut the cord! The Brother HL-2170W is a compact Wi-Fi laser printer.
(Credit: Brother)Remember the other day when I said some deals require you to jump through a few hoops? Here's one that's definitely worth it: Staples has the refurbished Brother HL-2170W Wi-Fi laser printer for $49.99.
Now, before you post a comment telling me the product page says $69.99, let's address the hoops.
First, that $69.99 price is after a $30 mail-in rebate, which comes in the form of a $30 prepaid Visa debit card. It's more or less the same as cash, but it's still a rebate. (At least with Staples it's a pretty safe bet you'll get your money.)
Second, and here's where it gets a tad tricky, you have to add something else to your order so you can apply one of these $20-off coupon codes (provided courtesy of DealNews).
I recommend this box of 100 paper clips for 79 cents. (If you find a cheaper "filler" item, name it in the comments.)
So, to recap: You add the printer to your cart, then add a dirt-cheap item to bump your total over $100. Then you apply one of the aforementioned coupon codes, which subtracts $20 from the order. Finally, you get the $30 Visa card in 4-6 weeks.
What's that? The printer? Oh, right. I've written about the HL-2170W before, back when it was a deal at $70. So hit that link if you want the full details.
Short version: I own this printer, love this printer, and will never buy another non-Wi-Fi printer. How about you?
Look ma, no wires! The Brother HL-2170W prints wirelessly across your Wi-Fi network.
(Credit: CNET)Happiness is a wireless printer. Seriously. I just beamed a document to the Wi-Fi laser in my closet, and I've never been happier. (Says a lot about my psyche, huh?)
Anyway, Staples has the recertified Brother HL-2170W laser printer for $69.98 shipped. That's pretty fantastic, given the printer's $149.99 list price.
Two catches. First, it's a refurb. But according to the Staples product page, you get a full one-year warranty from Brother, so that's hardly a catch at all. Second, that price is after a $30 mail-in rebate, which actually comes in the form of a Visa debit card.
Me, I have no problem with that. But I know some buyers detest rebates, so I'll understand if you want to give this a pass. Before you click away, however, I gotta profess my love for this printer: the Brother HL-2170W is the very model sitting in my aforementioned closet.
Yep, I own one. (Paid way more than $70, too. Dangit!) And, as I've said here many times before, Wi-Fi printers kick butt. You can stick 'em anywhere there's an electrical outlet and a decent signal from your router.
The impressively compact HL-2170W fits nearly any nook or cranny, yet it sports a 250-sheet paper tray and churns out nearly 18 pages per minute. That's according to CNET's review of the HL-2170W, which includes about a dozen user ratings: 4 stars out of 5 on average.
Consumables? I paid about $39 for my last toner cartridge, though I've since seen them selling for as little as $30. That's about as good as it gets for any laser printer.
Maybe I'm overselling this a bit, but the HL-2170W has been a great little printer for my home office, and I'm loving it at this price (yes, even with the rebate). If you're in the market, this is hard to pass up!
The DP-301U adds some (but not all) USB printers to a home or office network.
(Credit: D-Link)One of the reasons I love Ethernet- and Wi-Fi-equipped printers is that they're easy to share between multiple PCs. But what if you have a USB printer, one that can't be networked? Are you forever doomed to leaving a PC running 24-7 just to share the printer?
Not if you plug a print server into your router, then plug the printer into the server. Then all PCs on your network can tap that inkjet or laser.
This may not sound like a major deal, but trust me: Once you've sampled this kind of setup, you can't go back to old-school printer sharing.
Buy.com has the D-Link DP-301U Printer Server for $19.99 shipped. That's half the usual price and a bargain compared with buying a new, network-compatible printer.
These are new units, not refurbs, and you don't have to deal with any rebates. The DP-301U is compatible with Windows and Mac networks; all you need is a printer that has a USB interface.
Make that a compatible printer. The DP-301U works with most Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark models--check D-Link's compatibility list (which to me looks a little out of date--I suspect there are newer printers that will also work) to make sure your model is supported.
I haven't tried this little gizmo myself, but the reviews on Buy.com are mostly positive. Again, the key issue is compatibility, so do your homework before pulling the trigger.
Here's your chance to score Office Ultimate 2007 for the unheard-of price of $60.
(Credit: Microsoft)The list price for Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate is a whopping $679.95. The upgrade price? An equally whopping $539.99. For that kind of money, it better come with Megan Fox's phone number.
Believe it or not, you can score a legal and totally legitimate copy of Office 2007 Ultimate for just $59.95. What's the catch? You need to shanghai a college student (or, you know, be one).
Microsoft's "Ultimate Steal" deal is for currently enrolled students who have an e-mail address ending in ".edu" or who attend one of several dozen approved institutions. (Mouse over the "Am I Eligible" link for more details.)
Assuming that you qualify, this is a pretty incredible deal. In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Office Ultimate comes with OneNote, Access, Publisher, Groove, and other goodies.
There's one other small catch: Your 60 bucks buys you the download version of the suite. If you want discs (which I highly recommend), it'll cost you another $13. Still a steal.
Of course, some would argue that most students (and other users) can get everything they need from OpenOffice 3.0, a full-featured office suite that costs nada. Let me know if you're in that camp, or if you think Microsoft's offer is too good to pass up.
Interestingly, each student can purchase up to four licenses, so anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit can...well, I've said too much.
Check out the wide-screen LCD on this wireless MFP.
(Credit: Buy.com)As regular readers know, I've seen sweet deals on wireless inkjets and lasers and on Ethernet-equipped multifunction printers. But I've never seen such a great price on a wireless MFP.
Built for smallish offices, the Brother MFC-490CW prints, scans, copies, and faxes, all in color. It features an unusually large (3.3-inch) wide-screen LCD, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a media-card reader, and a 15-sheet document feeder.
It also has a couple offbeat features I find cool, like the option to scan documents directly to a USB flash drive. I particularly like the four-cartridge ink system, which eliminates the ink waste associated with tri-color cartridges.
I have an older, less wireless Brother MFP I use for making copies, sending faxes, and the like, and to my thinking it's a compact champ. It's rare enough to find a network-ready MFP at a price this low, but wireless? Icing!
(Credit:
Buy.com)
In my experience, most computer users have pretty basic needs. Word processing, Web browsing, e-mail, maybe a little money management and photo organizing. The Acer Aspire Slim ASL100-ED420A has more than enough horsepower for tasks like those, yet it's priced at a mere $349.99. Free shipping, no rebates, and it's not even a refurb.
The Acer's specs include an AMD 2.2GHz 4200+ dual-core processor, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and even an 802.11b/g wireless card (fairly rare in a desktop)--all packed into a slim, stylish case. The only shortcoming I can see is the 1GB of RAM, some of which is allocated to the GeForce 6150 graphics card. Because Vista (in this case Home Premium) all but demands 1GB for decent performance, this machine could prove a little pokey. If it does, bump the RAM to 2GB and you'll be golden.
Acer provides a 1-year warranty on parts and labor. This looks like a very solid desktop deal for students, seniors, the home-office crowd, or anyone else looking for, well, a solid desktop.
