This Aspire One Netbook sports a roomy 11.6-inch screen.
(Credit: Buy.com)Quick note before I dive into today's deal: Because so many items sell out so quickly these days, I'm adding a "backup deal" to each post. Seems only logical, right? You'll find it at the bottom.
But don't skip ahead just yet. For the next 7 seconds or so (I'm guessing), Buy.com has the refurbished Acer Aspire One AO751H-1948 Netbook for $249.99 shipped.
What's the big deal? The big screen: whereas most Netbooks in this price range sport a 10-inch LCD, this One packs a 12-incher. (Actually, an 11.6-incher; in the computer biz they round up.)
Needless to say, that makes for a much more comfortable computing experience, in part thanks to the higher screen resolution (1,366x768 pixels). The 10-inch Netbook I use is livable, but definitely cramped.
The rest of the specs offer no surprises: an Intel Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home.
The battery's a three-cell, so don't expect more than 3 to 4 hours of runtime. Also, because this is a refurb, the warranty expires at the 90-day mark. These aren't showstoppers in my opinion, just limitations worth considering.
Also, while CNET hasn't reviewed this exact configuration, the almost identical AO751h-1545 scored 3.5 stars. The big ding: slow performance. (News flash: All Netbooks are slow.)
At least you don't have to pay sales tax (unless you live wherever Buy.com is located) or deal with rebates. Bottom line: this is a mighty sweet deal on a spacious, comfy Netbook.
Backup deal: From now until December 15, Digiarty Software is offering WinX HD Video Converter absolutely free (it's normally $39.99). This Windows app can convert nearly any video format (including high-def formats) to nearly any other video format.
Drm-Removal strips that eee-vil copy protection from most kinds of video and audio files.
My good buddy (and self-described Cheapskate fan) James is looking over my shoulder today, so I need an outta-the-park deal. And here it is: a Tiffen 52mm UV Protection Glass Filter for $4.99 shipped!
No, no, I'm kidding. Today's deal is literally a today-only deal: Freebie-software site Giveaway of the Day is offering Drm-Removal, which promises to strip the DRM from audio and video files alike.
Specifically, the utility claims to remove all copy protection from AAC, WMA, WMV, iTunes AVI, and other commonly DRM-infested files. And based on some quick tests I ran, it works.
Of course, now that DRM is largely a thing of the past, at least for music, this may not be something you need. On the other hand, if you have some old, protected content cluttering up your hard drive, here's the perfect chance to liberate it.
Similarly, if you've purchased videos from, say, Amazon or iTunes and want to watch them on the device of your choice, Drm-Removal will convert them to an unprotected format.
That being said, I don't condone the use of this or any other utility for piracy. I do, however, believe that if I purchase a song, movie, or whatever, I should be allowed to watch it where and how I please. This program makes that possible.
As with all Giveaway of the Day deals, this one must be downloaded and installed before midnight tonight (July 22). Make sure to follow the registration/activation instructions in the readme file, which are simple and straightforward.
One final note: This is one seriously ugly-looking app, and it will automatically start converting any selected media unless you first venture into the settings and disable "Start conversion automatically." But it does seem to work, and you can't beat the price.
Today only, freebie-software site Giveaway of the Day is offering Wondershare Music Converter, normally $29.95, free.
True to its name, the program converts music files from one format to another--great if you have, say, some WMAs you want to turn into MP3s. But it can also remove the DRM protection from AAC, WMA, and other popular protected formats.
Wondershare Music Converter can strip the DRM from just about any audio file.
(Credit: Rick Broida)Now that stores like Amazon, Rhapsody, and even iTunes sell DRM-free music, this is less of a big deal than it used to be. But if you still have DRM-infested tracks in your library, here's your chance to liberate them once and for all.
Wondershare is an admirably easy program to use: Just queue up the tracks you want to convert, choose an output format and destination, and click Start. For DRM strip-jobs, you'll first need to point the program to the folders containing your protected files, and then use the DRM Finder option to add them to the queue.
Wondershare can also extract the audio from DRM-protected video files: M4V, WMV, and so on. I used it to turn Weird Al Yankovic's "White & Nerdy" video, which I bought from iTunes, into an MP3. It worked like a charm!
In case you're unfamiliar with Giveaway of the Day, the only catch is time: You must download and install the software before the day is out. Other than that, it's a bona fide freebie for life (or at least until you move to a new PC).
You supply the government coupon; Meritline serves up the converter box and a free HDMI cable to boot.
(Credit: Airlink101)Still haven't picked up a converter box for your old non-digital TV? Meritline has a deal that's hard to beat: if you've got your coupon from Uncle Sam, you can get an AirLink ATVC102 digital-to-analog converter box for free. Really!
Also free: shipping. Also also free: a 6-foot HDMI cable. And if all that's not good enough, you can double up on this deal: two boxes, two cables, and still free shipping.
I haven't found any reviews of this particular box, which is one of the few that's actually priced under $40 (which is the redeemable value of each coupon--how else did you think Meritline was swinging this deal?).
But it looks like it has everything you need to bring an analog TV into the Digital Age: an electronic program guide, an analog pass-through, a remote, and a one-year warranty.
To get the deal, you simply need to enter the 16-digit DTV coupon number(s) and supply your credit card info. I'm not sure when the deal expires, but I have a sneaking suspicion Meritline will sell out quickly. So if you've been sitting on your coupon(s), now's the time to act!
PDF Converter retains all formatting when converting PDFs to Word documents.
(Credit: Rick Broida)Here's a little something for business users: PDF Converter can turn any PDF into a Word document while keeping all text, images, and formatting intact. Normally, it sells for $59.95, but it's available free on Monday from Giveaway of the Day.
The catch? You must download and install the program today, March 2. That's how Giveaway of the Day works: The site offers a new commercial-software freebie each day of the week, with the only requisite being that you act on it within that 24-hour window. Hardly a catch at all, in my book.
In addition to Word, PDF Converter supports output to HTML, JPEG, TIFF, and even plain text. It offers batch conversion, drag-and-drop file selection, and a command-line mode. The program runs on Windows 95 and later.
If you miss out on the deal, there's a new Web service that offers similar capabilities: PDF-to-Word Converter. It's in closed beta right now, but I know where you can score an invite.
Make sure that you check out the "readme" file in the download and follow the instructions; otherwise you might have trouble activating the program.
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