The Cheapskate

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.

The $20 802.11n router: You're not likely to find a lower price.

(Credit: Netgear)

If your wireless router doesn't have the muscle to reach all corners of the house, or you need a faster connection for copying files and streaming videos, it might be time to consider an upgrade.

Newegg has refurbished Netgear WNR2000 802.11n Draft 2.0 routers for $19.99 (shipping will run you a mere $1.99).

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the "new" Wi-Fi protocol (which seems forever destined to be known as Draft-N) delivers better range and faster throughput speeds than 802.11g.

The WNR2000 is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two internal antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Keep in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router--but you'll still enjoy better range and, based on my experiences, faster wireless connections, even if you have 802.11b/g gear. (Make sure to download the latest firmware updates from Netgear.)

CNET hasn't reviewed the WNR2000, but the user comments on Newegg's product page are mostly positive. And over at Amazon, it averages four stars out of five. That's pretty impressive, as even high-end routers often get crummy reviews.

The WNR2000 has a list price of $79.99, so you're saving quite a bit by opting for a refurbished unit. It does have only a 90-day warranty, but what is there to break? Either it works or it doesn't. I think it's a steal, and at this price, I suspect they won't last.

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?

Upgrade your desktop or laptop to 802.11n with this dirt-cheap USB adapter.

(Credit: Netgear)

Note: If this post sounds familiar, that's because it's a "rerun"--but with a lower price than when it first appeared a couple months ago.

I have an 802.11n router in my house, but not all my PCs and laptops have 802.11n adapters. Most of them run 802.11g, which drags down the overall performance of the network (it's a lowest-common-denominator kind of thing).

Cheap fix: Newegg has the Netgear RangeMax Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter WN111 for $9.99 shipped. It's a refurb, but, hey, something like this either works or it doesn't.

To get that discounted price (it's normally $24.99--and new units list for $70!), you need to apply coupon code EMCLVMV69 at checkout. You also need to be a subscriber to Newegg's newsletter.

As you may know, 802.11n Wi-Fi delivers dramatically faster performance and greater range than 802.11g. That's critical if you want to stream music and video (particularly HD video) around the house, and also for stuff like voice-over-IP and online gaming.

It's rare to find a USB adapter for under $20, especially without a rebate involved, so this was a no-brainer for me. (Too bad I paid $13.99 when I bought it a couple months ago!)

The adapter comes without software; you have to download the drivers and whatnot from Netgear (which is good, actually, as you'll be sure to have the latest versions of everything).

In my own little test lab, I had an 802.11n-equipped Netbook that was wreaking havoc on my network. I switched over to the WN111 and poof: problem solved. So it not only works, but works better than some built-in 802.11n adapters.

The 90-day warranty doesn't bother me, but Newegg has a no-refund policy on this product. That means you can return it for a replacement, but you can't get your money back if it doesn't work right or you don't like it. Just FYI.

Give your system an 802.11n shot in the arm for just $13.99.

(Credit: Netgear)

I have an 802.11n router in my house, but not all my PCs and laptops have 802.11n adapters. Most of them run 802.11g, which drags down the overall performance of the network (it's a lowest-common-denominator kind of thing).

Cheap fix: Newegg has the Netgear RangeMax Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter WN111 for $13.99 shipped. It's a refurb, but, hey, something like this either works or it doesn't.

To get that discounted price (it's normally $24.99--and new units list for $70!), you need to apply coupon code EMCLSNW25 at checkout. You also need to be a subscriber to Newegg's newsletter.

As you may know, 802.11n Wi-Fi delivers dramatically faster performance and greater range than 802.11g. That's critical if you want to stream music and video (particularly HD video) around the house, and also for stuff like voice-over-IP and online gaming.

It's rare to find a USB adapter for under $20, especially without a rebate involved, so this was a no-brainer for me. I haven't found any substantial reviews of the WN111, but I'm confident it'll do the job.

That said, based on some user comments I've read here and there, I'm going to download the latest drivers straight from Netgear rather than using the software that comes in the box. (Apparently the early drivers had some Vista compatibility issues.)

One other caveat: The 90-day warranty doesn't bother me, but Newegg has a no-refund policy on this product. That means you can return it for a replacement, but you can't get your money back if it doesn't work right or you don't like it. Not a deal-breaker for me, but I thought you should be aware.

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!

A Draft-N router for only $25? That's a rare find indeed.

(Credit: Netgear)

If your wireless router doesn't have the muscle to reach all corners of the house, or you need faster throughput for copying files and streaming videos, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Newegg has refurbished Netgear WNR2000 802.11n Draft 2.0 routers for $24.99. Use coupon code SHIPNETGEAR to get free shipping.

For those unfamiliar with it, the "new" 802.11 Wi-Fi standard (which seems forever destined to be known as Draft-N) promises better range and faster throughput. The WNR2000 is backward-compatible with older 802.11 hardware and comes with four Ethernet ports, two internal antennas, and the usual raft of security features.

Keep in mind that unless you have 802.11n adapters for the PCs in your house, you may not reap the full benefits of the router--but you'll still enjoy better range and, I suspect, faster wireless connections, even if you have 802.11b or g hardware.

CNET hasn't reviewed the WNR2000, but over at Amazon it averages four stars out of five. That's pretty impressive, as even high-end routers often get crummy reviews.

The WNR2000 has a list price of $79.99, so you're saving quite a bit by opting for a refurb. It does have only a 90-day warranty, but what is there to break? Either it works or it doesn't. Personally, I think it's a steal. And at this price, I guarantee they won't last.

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.

The Easy-N-Upgrader brings Draft-N performance to your home network.

(Credit: TrendNet)

A while ago, I replaced my 802.11g router with an 802.11n model. Much as I love the faster performance and better range, it saddens me that the old router is collecting dust on a shelf. (Yes, I'm easily saddened.)

To avoid consigning your own router to the same fate, consider an inexpensive upgrade instead of a pricey replacement. Newegg has the Trendnet Easy-N-Upgrader TEW-637AP for just $24.99 shipped.

Designed to piggyback on an existing router, the Easy-N-Upgrader bumps your network's Wi-Fi performance to Draft-N levels (up to 12 times faster than 802.11g, according to Trendnet). It also promises better range, meaning that it may help overcome Wi-Fi "dead spots" in your house.

CNET hasn't covered the Easy-N-Upgrader, but you'll definitely want to read Maximum PC's review. It's quite positive overall (as are the user reviews on Newegg), citing mediocre range as the only real shortcoming.

These are new units, not refurbs, and you don't have to deal with any rebates. If you've been pining for 802.11n performance but didn't want to spend upwards of $100 or more on a new router, this looks to be a terrific solution.