The Cheapskate

A few weeks ago, CNET's Scott Stein made the case for using a dedicated e-reader instead of a tablet--for book reading, that is.

I'm inclined to agree with him, as I find that when I read on my iPad or Nook Color, I'm frequently distracted from my book. It's hard to resist the siren song of e-mail, Web browsing, Flipboard, and the like when they're just a tap or two away.

With a regular old e-reader, however, all you get is your book--and that's a good thing. Hence I'm seeing the value more

I've griped about e-book prices many times before, and I remain steadfast in my belief that publishers charge way too much for a product that requires no printing, consumables, shipping, storage (in the traditional sense), or other typical print-book expenses.

Fortunately, there's a way to squeeze a bit more value out of the e-books you do buy: lend them to someone else, then get other loaned books in return.

This is possible thanks to the publishers that allow e-book lending. Not all do, and the terms are pretty limited--each book can be loaned out only once, and for more

A big TV without big speakers is just plain criminal. Alas, you can't just buy a pair and plug them directly into your LCD or plasma; you need a receiver to act as the hub and amplify the audio.

Of course, if you've ever shopped for one, you know that receivers can cost a small fortune. But not today.

Today only, and while supplies last, Woot has the Pioneer VSX-521-K 5.1-channel A/V receiver for $134.99, plus $5 for shipping. Unlike many Woot products, this one's new, not refurbished.

The VSX-521-K is nicely equipped for more

Much as I love me a good Roku box, I still think there's value in having a Blu-ray player--especially one that can stream media from all the big-name services, just like a Roku.

Today only, and while supplies last, RedTag has the refurbished Sony BDP-BX58 3D Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi for $79, plus $1.95 for shipping.

That's one of the best prices I've seen on a name-brand player with 3D, Wi-Fi, and Roku-caliber channel support.

Needless to say, a Blu-ray player is great for those times when you want ultra-pristine video and sound. I say that more

So. Lana Del Rey. Overnight sensation. Controversial pop figure. Atrocious "Saturday Night Live" performer.

Me, I've always had a soft spot for deep, drawling female voices, and they don't get much deeper or drawl-ier than Del Rey's. So I thought I'd spring for her album and see what all the fuss was about.

Because Google's been hypercompetitive in the music market of late, I started my "Born to Die" shopping at Android Market. The price there: $11.49.

Next stop: iTunes. I don't typically buy my music there, even though I'm a heavy more

I learned a lesson last week: BlackBerry PlayBook owners are a passionate bunch! My mere suggestion that the tablet was not long for the world (along with a couple forehead-smacking factual errors) elicited a response that I can only describe as fanboy-esque.

Even a RIM rep reached out to insist, "RIM remains committed to the BlackBerry PlayBook." Time will tell, of course, but I'm glad to see the product has such a vocal fan-base. I'm going to see if I can get some hands-on time with a PlayBook so I'm better informed about it next time there'more

Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time on long drives. Audiobook prices, on the other hand, are a great way to drain your wallet.

For example, want to listen to the Steve Jobs bio? It'll cost you $29.95 at iTunes. And Stephen King's latest, the wholly engrossing "11/22/63," runs $44.95.

Fortunately, good listening material doesn't have to break the bank. Thanks to various resources and services, you can slash your monthly audiobook bill while actually increasing your consumption. Here are my five favorite options:

1. Audible
If you like audiobooks, it'more

Last summer, when HP discontinued the WebOS-powered TouchPad and fire-sold its remaining inventory, buyers went ape. Apparently a 10-inch tablet for $99 was too good to pass up--never mind the fact that app development was about to grind to a halt.

RIM's 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook is likely to suffer a similar fate, which begs the question: is it worth owning if you can get it for cheap?

Your inevitable next question: how cheap? RIM's newly slashed PlayBook prices are as follows: $199 for the 16GB model, $249 for the 32GB model, and $299 for the 64GB model.

This more

I know I've posted a lot of TV deals of late, but, hey, they're a hot category right now. And who knows if the deals will be as good after this Sunday's big game?

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Sharp LC42SV49U 42-inch LCD HDTV for $329.99, plus sales tax where applicable. You can opt for free site-to-store shipping, which, alas, takes 7-10 days, or pony up around $20 for shipping.

Two factors set this deal apart from some of the others I've shared recently. First, Sharp is a more