Get a 2nd-gen iPod Touch for $149
Looking to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping? Here's a can't-miss gift: Apple has the refurbished 2nd-generation iPod Touch (8GB) for $149 with free shipping.
It wasn't too long ago that first-gen refurbs were selling for more than that, so this is a decidedly sweet deal.
What can I tell you about the Touch you don't already know? It's an iPhone without the phone--though if you plug in a headset and use an app like Fring or Skype, it can do a damn fine impression of one.
As I've mentioned before, Apple's refurbs are usually indistinguishable from new units, right down to the same bundled accessories and one-year warranty. The only real difference: They come in a brown cardboard box instead of the flashy plastic one.
My daughter has this exact Touch, and she looooves it. And what's not to love? Music, videos, games, apps, Internet--no wonder CNET awarded it 4.5 stars out of 5 and an Editors' Choice.
The Apple Store has been known to sell out of certain refurbished models, so if you want one of these, I'd act fast.
Bonus deal: Need an HDMI cable? Buy.com has a Belkin 12-footer for $7.99 after rebate--plus the awesome, awesome "Planet Earth Vol. 1" on Blu-ray.
Bonus deal #2: What's better than a Nintendo Wii for $199? How about a Wii for $199 and a free game? That's the deal over at eToys, where you'll get the console and "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" for $199.99 shipped. (Add the Wii to your cart; the game gets added automatically.)
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
@rick. If you are going for apps and utils, then the touch is king. There is no denying this. Different people have different tastes. The iPod touch has more apps available, but the main reason to pick a Zune is that it produces higher sound quality (don't take my word, check for yourself) and has features that others may want :
Wifi streaming of any song in the Zune Pass library. Automated DJs that produce stations from the huge streaming library that is far superior to Pandora's (again check the reviews for yourself),
Subscription music for $15pm that includes 10 DRM free songs,
HD video that can be viewed at 720p on a TV through the home dock, and
HD Radio. Which I just recently experienced with a high end car audio system a friend installed. Very nice!
If the IPod finally allows subscription and streaming from their library (not a pandora app) and improves their sound quality they would probably destroy the little bit of the market the Zune has for now, but unfortunately that would kill what little competition IPod has now and prices would go up. Nothing is better for the consumer to improve quality and lower prices than competition.
@wedsdg. Seek and ye shall find discount coupons at DELL. BTW its $187 not $189 after coupon
also, back to the main discussion, I think when it comes time to upgrade, if the iTouch and Zune are still the 2 relevant decisions, I wil have a hard time deciding between the apps for the iTouch and the ZUNE because of the zune pass which is like my rhaposy BUT I also get the free 10 downloads a month. may be based on personal use - I use mine 99% for the music, so I could see me leaning towards zune. may be a few years though so but then who knows what will be out there
-Gapless playback
-crossfades, fade-in\out
-Bookmarking (great for audio books)
-dozens and dozens of themes and skins to customize the player.
-The audio recorder can record MP3 now instead of just WAV (so can the Radio recorder, which is not crippled with quality loss like the sansa software).
-The audio recorder in Rockbox has volume level thresholds to turn recording off and on (great for recording classes etc)
-dozens of games and apps
I do like the gapless music and I am starting to download more and more audiobooks from my library to sansa and I hate how it doesn't have bookmarking. something I am surprised to find so few players have
N4ZVL$MQSSFGT8 (Ends 09/30)
( http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0764619&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10495476-1371119- )
It's as big as a house and made out of glass?
- by slubilliken31 September 29, 2009 11:19 AM PDT
- Thanks Rick! Just ordered my refurbished Itouch!
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