The Cheapskate

HP's "lunchbox" photo printer churns out borderless glossies as large as 5x7 inches.

(Credit: HP)

At this time of year, when the parties are nonstop and the shutterbugs are out in full force, nothing beats a photo printer. I've used one for years; they're great for churning out snapshots wherever and whenever you want.

A high-end model that normally sells for $150, HP's Photosmart A646, is on sale for $79.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code SVMY478761 once you get it into your shopping cart.

Also, that's two-day shipping, not the usual pokey 5-15 business days. Something to consider if you're scrambling for holiday gifts.

The A646 accepts SD, XD, and Memory Stick media, though you can also connect any PictBridge-compatible camera or even a USB flash drive. (It works with PCs, too, natch.)

Got Bluetooth? The A646 does, meaning you can wirelessly print photos from your phone. Sweet!

The printer sports a 3.5-inch touch screen for previewing your pix and adding creative elements like borders, clip art, and captions. It can crank out borderless prints as large as 5x7 inches.

CNET hasn't reviewed the Photosmart A646, but PC World has. They liked its versatility and feature set, but were less wild about the print quality. (I tend to find that very subjective.)

Ultimately, printers like these are just plain fun. Do keep in mind the ink costs, however: HP's 110 tricolor cartridges list for $23.99, but you can find them for as low as $19--less if you're willing to go the remanufactured route.

Backup deal: Today only, Staples has Norton Internet Security 2010 (one-user) for $9.99 shipped. It's normally $49.99. There's a mail-in rebate involved, and it nets you a prepaid Visa card, not a check. (I like the cards better, frankly.) In my experience, Staples' "easy rebates" do live up to their name.

Is that a printer in your pocket, or are you just happy to see the $29 price tag?

Happy Black Friday, everyone! As promised, I spent the morning avoiding retail stores, though I did see a few advertised items that were mighty tempting. Anybody brave the cold, the crowds, the 4 a.m. alarm clock?

Anyway, remember the Dell Wasabi pocket printer from a couple months back? It was a killer deal at $29 shipped, but it sold out quickly.

Amazon is offering the Wasabi's kissing cousin, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer, for $29.99 shipped.

This is one of those zero-ink (a.k.a. ZINK) printers that made headlines last year. That means it uses, duh, zero ink, instead heating the crystals embedded in special photo paper (like this $8.67 30-pack, which is worth tossing in the cart).

Consequently, the printer itself is tiny, measuring just 0.9 inch thick by 4.7 inches long by 2.8 inches wide and weighing a mere 8 ounces (with its rechargeable battery installed).

So the PoGo can literally ride around in a pocket and churn out prints on-demand. Prints from where? Any PictBridge-compatible camera or, better yet, most Bluetooth-equipped camera phones.

I bought that virtually identical Dell Wasabi back in September, and while the reviewers are right that print quality is only so-so, I gotta say I love the little thing. (Just wish I could print via Bluetooth from my iPhone!).

Because the paper has peel-and-stick backing, my whole family is having fun pasting little photos all over the place.

Consequently, I think this makes a great gift. And it's available in black or red (oooh, red!) for that same price.

Like just about everything I've posted this week, it'll probably sell out fast (grrr), so if you want one, hurry up and get clicking.

I can't imagine this deal will last long, so I'm going to make it quick: the Dell Wasabi PZ310 pocket printer is on sale for $29 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

This is a Dell-branded version of one of those zero-ink (aka ZINK) printers that made headlines last year. That means it uses, duh, zero ink; instead heating the crystals embedded in special photo paper.

Consequently, the printer itself is tiny, measuring just 0.9 inch thick by 4.8 inches long by 2.9 inches wide and weighing a mere eight ounces (with its rechargeable battery installed).

So the Wasabi can literally ride around in a pocket and churn out prints on-demand. Prints from where? Any PictBridge-compatible camera or, better yet, most Bluetooth-equipped camera phones. (See Dell's PZ310 product page for information on Bluetooth printing.)

Alas, the iPhone doesn't seem to be supported, at least according to the FAQ page, but I'm hoping there's a workaround. Why? Because I just ordered the PZ310. Had to: it was selling for $149 just a few months ago!

Also, I've seen the Polaroid version of this printer in action, and while the 2x3-inch prints aren't spectacular, it's just crazy-cool.

Again, I have a feeling this deal won't last the morning, so if you want in on the pocket-printing action, act fast! (By the way, the PZ130 is also available in blue and pink.)

The Tritton AX BlueStream stereo Bluetooth headset isn't completely wireless.

In honor of today's release of iPhone OS 3.0, which promises to add stereo Bluetooth capabilities to iPhones and iPod Touches, here's a selection of headsets to pair with your soon-to-be wire-free devices:

Buy.com has the Tritton AX BlueStream Bluetooth headset for $28.99 shipped.

Bear in mind that this is a headset, meaning it includes an inline microphone and an OLED display that shows volume, Caller ID, and music-playback status. Unfortunately, that means it involves wires, which some might say defeats the purpose of stereo Bluetooth.

For those folks, Buy.com has the Motorola S805 Bluetooth stereo headphones for $29.99 shipped. These are more-traditional, over-the-ear 'phones, suitable for kicking back in your favorite chair.

The Motorola S805 Bluetooth headphones are perfect for kicking back--but not for phone calls.

In between the two lies the Bluetrek ST1 Bluetooth stereo headset ($34 shipped from TigerDirect), which combines earbuds with a slightly dorky-looking behind-the-neck frame. Could be good for jogging, the gym, etc.

Though there's no immediate evidence of a microphone, the ST1 does indeed have one, so you can use it to make and take calls. In fact, its feature list is pretty extensive, making this the headset to beat of the three.

Of course, all the models should work with any stereo Bluetooth-compatible device. Which style suits you best?

The MoGo Mouse BT stows away in a PC Card slot for easy carrying and charging.

(Credit: Newton Peripherals)

Show of hands: who likes notebook touch pads? Thought so. That's why a mouse is essential gear. Of course, it's one more thing to remember to bring along, one more thing taking up space in your bag, and one more thing with batteries to die at the most inopportune times.

Enter the ingenious MoGo Mouse BT, which operates wirelessly via Bluetooth and docks inside your notebook's PC Card slot--where it also recharges. How smart is that?

Buy.com has the MoGo Mouse BT for $29.99 shipped, a pretty substantial savings over the $79.99 list price. It's new, too--not a refurb.

CNET hasn't reviewed the MoGo, but a dozen-plus Buy.com buyers rated it 4.5 stars on average. Just keep in mind that it lacks both a scroll wheel and a middle button, and it doesn't come with a Bluetooth adapter for those notebooks that lack integrated Bluetooth.

If you can live with those limitations and have a PC Card (aka PCMCIA) slot sitting around doing nothing, this looks like an ideal way to fill it.

Thanks to reader Mike for recommending the MoGo!

Cut the cord between your iPhone and your head.

(Credit: Kensington)

Stereo Bluetooth is coming! Stereo Bluetooth is coming! Straight from the What-Took-You-So-Long Department, Apple announced plans to bring stereo Bluetooth (aka A2DP) support to iPhone OS 3.0. (It's coming to the iPod Touch, too.)

Translation: You'll be able to enjoy tunes, videos, games, and other aural delights over wireless headphones. And trust me: once you cut that cord, you'll never love a wire again.

Buy.com has a Kensington Bluetooth Stereo Headset for $23.49 shipped. That's pretty impressive, given the headset's $79.99 list price.

These are old-school, over-the-ear headphones, ideal for folks who don't like the feel of earbuds. They have play, pause, and skip controls that double as answer or ignore controls when a call comes in.

Kensington promises a wireless range of up to 66 feet and up to 23 hours of music or 19 hours of talk time from the rechargeable battery. The headset comes with a two-year warranty.

CNET hasn't reviewed this product, but there are two very favorable user reviews at Buy.com. Just one caveat: I can't guarantee that this will work with the iPhone and iPod Touch, as Bluetooth device compatibility can be hit-and-miss, but there's no reason I can think of that it shouldn't.

Personally, I'm even more excited about stereo Bluetooth than I am about the cut-and-paste functions. 'Bout time, Apple!

Most techno-weenies like myself will tell you that the Jawbone 2 is the gold standard for Bluetooth headsets. Sure, it has a couple design quirks, but in terms of sound quality and noise-cancellation features, it has no equal.

But the $129.99 price tag? Ouch! Fortunately, CellHut has refurbished Jawbone 2 headsets on sale for $49.99 shipped. (Make sure to use coupon code D2BALPJW2D.)

As you can see in the above video, CNET liked the Jawbone 2 a lot, ultimately awarding it the coveted Editors' Choice.

I'll second that. (Cheapskates' Choice? Hmmm...sounds too much like a bad brand of coffee.) Of all the headsets I've tried, the Jawbone 2 is definitely my favorite. The lack of decent volume control is a hassle, but the superb fit and sound quality more than make up for it.

Thus, if you're in the market for a headset and don't mind a refurbished unit (I can't find any details on the warranty, so assume 90 days), this is the deal to beat.

Agree? Disagree? What's your preference when it comes to headsets? I'll admit that there are times when I think a wired one is the way to go. Share your thoughts below.

Update: It's already out of stock, slowpokes, but have no fear: An outfit called N1wireless also has the Jawbone 2 (with one-year warranty) for $49.99. But shipping will run you $9, dangit.

Many folks regard the Aliph Jawbone to be one of the best Bluetooth headsets on the planet. I tend to agree, which is why I'm excited that eCost is offering the Jawbone for just $29.99 (after a $6 mail-in rebate).

Alas, that rebate (PDF) doesn't quite cover eCost's ridiculous $9.50 shipping charge, but even the final price of $39.49 is well below what you'll find elsewhere.

Renowned for its fashionable design and unparalleled noise-canceling capabilities, the Jawbone earned an four-star rating from CNET.

Users were a bit less enthusiastic, mostly due to the awkward fit and difficulty pressing the buttons. I use a Jawbone myself and agree with the criticisms, but also think that once you've managed to wiggle the sucker onto your ear, there's no better headset in terms of audio quality.

I know eCost has a less-than-stellar reputation, but I've purchased from them many times without incident. (Actually, there was one incident, but they resolved it quickly.) If you want a top-rated Bluetooth headset on the cheap, this is the deal to beat.

When you hit the gym, the treadmill, the bike trail, or whatever, the last thing you want is a headphone cord flopping around and getting tangled in stuff. Alas, iPods and most other MP3 players lack Bluetooth, so cordless listening is out.

Or not: Logitech's FreePulse Wireless Headphones combine a universally compatible Bluetooth adapter with a lightweight, rugged set of headphones (or neckphones, if you want to get technical). ClubMac has the Logitech FreePulse for $29.87 shipped. Price just about everywhere else: $80 and up.

Happily, these are new 'phones, not refurbs, and you don't have to wait on a rebate. However, before you pull the trigger on cutting the cord, be sure to watch the above video and read CNET's review--especially the user reviews at the bottom. Apparently many buyers found the headphones uncomfortable to wear, though I have a set similar to these and find them A-OK (even with my glasses on).

My complaint is with the bulky, ugly Bluetooth adapter, which compromises an MP3 player's pocketability (to say nothing of its aesthetics).

On the other hand, once you've experienced cord-free headphones, it's hard to go back. If you routinely use an MP3 player while exercising (or know someone who does--it's gift-giving season, after all), I think you'll be pretty happy with these. And you gotta love the price tag.

Thanks to reader Mike for sharing this deal!