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Welcome to the Hot Deals Club, a collection of websites and RSS feeds built by deal seekers. Unlike other sites that claim advertisements to be "deals" so they can make a quick buck, our goal is to only show the hottest deals available because we love hot deals. We only post deals that we truly feel are hot deals, which is why our users call us the most trusted deals portal site on the Internet. Each deal can expire anytime after post and without notice, and most comments are based on years of experience. If you wish to send an email or submit a hot-deal to the Hot Deals Maniac, use

Friday, September 3, 2010 last update: 3:04am (EDT)

DeepDiscount.com - Buy 1 Blu-Ray, Get 1 Blu-Ray Free, code: LABORBD
Select two of the 300 Blu-Ray titles from the list, apply code LABORBD in the cart, and the Blu-Ray of equal or lesser value will be free. Free shipping as well.

Some notable Blu-Ray titles before applying the buy-1-get-1 coupon:
- 20 Million Miles to Earth, Earth vs. Flying Saucers, It Came from Beneath the Sea, and 7th Voyage of Sinbad for $79.
- Spiderman 1,2,3 for $68. Usually sells elsewhere for around $65, without a buy-1-get-1 promotion
- Starship Troopers 1,2,3 for $66
- Rescue Me Season 3 for $58
- Shawshank Redemption (digibook) for $29
- Dirty Harry (digibook) for $29
- The Matrix (10th Anniversary Edition) for $29
- The Fifth Element for $22
- Men In Black for $22
- Donnie Brasco for $22
- The Pursuit of Happyness for $22
- Casino Royale for $22
- Bad Boys for $19.50
- Leon, The Professional for $19.50
- Charlie's Angels for $14.50
- Run Lola Run for $14.50
Most of these prices are about 40% higher than other stores' prices individually, but you still come out ahead with the buy-1-get-1-free coupon. For example, The Pursuit of Happyness and The Fifth Element Blu-Rays each go for around $15 at other stores, which would cost $30 together. The Deepdiscount deal is $22 total for both of those, after applying the coupon.

Code cannot apply toward 2 of the same title.

Code can also apply toward a list of buy-1-get-1 CDs.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Dell.com - Western Digital Portable 1TB Drive for $100
Western Digital Elements SE Portable 1TB USB Drive for $100 with coupon J5ZCPL58QC3P06

Newegg.com - Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse for $30
Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse for $30 with free shipping. Usually sells for $50.

Amazon.com - Corsair Performance 128GB Solid State Drive for $250
(expired: price raised)

(repost)

Just like Newegg did yesterday, today Amazon put the Corsair (CMFSSD-128GBG2D P128) 128GB Performance Solid State Drive up for $250 ($1.95/GB) with free shipping.

Amazon.com - Vizio M220VA 22" LED-edgelit LCD 1080p HDTV $239
Vizio M220VA 22" LED-edgelit LCD 1080p HDTV for $239 with free shipping.

It's currently on backorder for a few weeks. If you need it sooner, Walmart sells it for the same price plus $10 shipping ($249).

The M220VA had its price reduced because newer Vizio 22" models have been released, one with Internet apps, and another with LED-backlit LCD.

MLB.com - At Bat 2010 for $7
MLB's At Bat 2010 program for iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry are on sale for $7 through Sep 7. Their program provides a live, computer-generated image of the playing field and live radio broadcasts of any regular season MLB game. Works over wifi and over AT&T's wireless network, even when traveling. Does not include the postseason, which begins Oct 4.

NFL Sunday Ticket Available to All Online: According to a news report, NFL fans will be able to get live video of any NFL game, even if they do not have DirecTV. This is good news for people who travel, or are living in a city far away from their favorite NFL team. The bad news is the price: $350 for the season. Far, far from any hot deal, but from we can tell, it's the only way someone can get their favorite team's games at home while living in a far away place.

NFL Sunday Ticket To-Go will be available for $350 starting Sep 8, and will include a flash-based app for watching games on your computer, and apps for watching live video from an iPhone, iPad, and select Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile devices.

The other, and far more economical options are to find a local sports bar and watch your favorite team's games from there at no charge, or get a Slingbox installed in your home team's territory and tune in remotely.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Newegg.com - Jetway Ion Mini PC & 60GB SSD & $20 Visa Card for $339 after rebate
A bundle of a Jetway Book-size Mini-Top Dual-Core D525 Barebones PC and a OCZ Vertex 60GB Solid State Drive for $339. A $20 Visa Prepaid Card is also available by rebate from OCZ, but be aware the rebate must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase. Reviews seem decent.

Inside the mini-PC is an Intel Atom Dual-Core D525 CPU, Nvidia Ion 2 graphics card, Wifi support, 1 HDMI output (to 1080p), 1 DVI output, 1 eSATA/USB combo port, 1 S/PDIF optical audio output, memory card reader, and includes a media center remote control. Also includes a VESA Mount for installing on the back of an LCD monitor.

Note it does not appear to include a keyboard, mouse, and RAM. The "512MB DDR3" mentioned in Newegg's title refers to the memory on the Nvidia Ion 2 graphics card. You must purchase and install 1 or 2 SO-DIMM (laptop) DDR2 667 or 800 MHz memory modules. It does not include an operating system either, so you will be on your own to install an OS through a USB drive, a USB CD/DVD drive, or a memory card and install appropriate drivers. They provide an instruction video showing how to install memory and an SSD, as well as using the included VESA plate to mount the Jetway on the back of an LCD monitor. More product details can be seen on JetwayComputer.com.

The Jetway Mini-Top is a brand new product, with little reviews except the ones on Newegg. It looks really nice for someone with an LCD monitor who wants to hook up a computer for media and video watching.

Note it has a S/PDIF output, but according to the diagram on page 5 of their user manual, it's not a standard S/PDIF optical. The audio within the the HDMI seems like the best way to get audio from the Jetway. Since it includes a VESA mounting bracket, this device definitely seems best when used with a LCD HDTV with built-in speakers, or with a HDTV/Receiver combo which can separate the audio & video from the HDMI.

One minor flaw we anticipate however is the remote control which may be line of sight dependent, and possibly a problem if you mount the Jetway to the back side of the TV.

No other mini book-size PC seems to have both the Ion 2 graphics card and a Atom 525 or better processor. Some benchmarks were done with an Asus Eee Notebook with Ion 2 graphics and a slightly slower Atom N450 processor.

Logitech.com - deals today
- Logitech MX1100 Cordless Laser Mouse for $34.14 with coupon logi_mx1100_9110 and after shipping fee. Usually sells for $60.
- Logitech LX3 Gray/Black Wired Optical Mouse for $15 after coupon logi_lx3_9110 and after shipping fee.
- Logitech QuickCam Communicate 1.3-megapixel Webcam for $21 after coupon logi_qcmp_9110 and after shipping fee.
Above prices do factor in an average shipping fee of $6 for orders under $75. Be sure to enter the coupon codes in all lowercase, without any extra spaces before & after the code. These 3 products are new, but their boxes may suffer from cosmetic damage.

CowBoom.com - Audio Technica ATH-AD300 Headphone for $35
(expired)

Audio Technica (ATH-AD300) Open-Air Dynamic Headphone for $30 plus $5 shipping ($35). It's new, not refurbished. Most stores sell it for around $60. The reviews are pretty good, and seem like a great value for $35.

CowBoom was acquired by Best Buy about 2 years ago, and is their liquidation site. Their products have a 30-day money back guarantee.

Dell.com - Iomega Portable 1TB USB Drive for $100
Iomega (34866) 1TB USB Portable Hard Drive for $100 with coupon R47WBGPT466T2$ . Usually sells for $130, and has pretty good reviews.

Newegg.com - deals today
- Corsair Performance P128 (CMFSSD-128GBG2D) 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive for $250 today only ($1.95/GB). It usually sells for around $320. Does not include a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter. The Corsair SSD's were recently mentioned in our SSD Article. The P128 is nice, but if you're going to spend $250, we recommend also looking at the Crucial C300 128GB for $260 after coupon HELLO from eWiz.com ($2.03/GB), or select the eWiz's bundle of the C300 with a Highpoint Rocket 620 SATA3 PCIe Card for $275 after coupon HELLO . According to HardDriveBenchmark.net, their Disk PassMark shows the Crucial C300-CTFDDAC128MAG has better overall performance numbers than the Corsair CMFSSD-128GBG2D.
- OCZ Diesel 8GB USB Flash Drive for $24
- Gigabyte Geforce GTX 460 768MB Video Card & OCZ ModXStream Pro 600-Watt PC Power Supply for $210. The card usually sells for $200, and the power supply $60. Also two Visa Prepaid Cards are available by mail-in rebate, totaling $30.
- Intel Gigabit PCIe Network Adapter for $27. Most stores sell this highly rated gigabit adapter for $35, and seems like a good value for someone who needs an additional gigabit network port on their desktop computer.
- Energizer Extended Battery for iPhone 3G/3GS for $15. Extends and/or charges an iPhone 3G/3GS up to 70% of its internal battery, and can be worn while talking on the phone.

SuperMediaStore.com - 16GB Class-10 Secure Digital SDHC Memory Card $32
RiData 16GB SDHC Lightning Series Class-10 Memory Card for $32 with coupon F6F7367C . Usually sells for around $38.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

v3.co.uk - AVG AntiVirus Software for Windows for free
(expired)
1. Click here and press "more info" under the free AVG Anti-Virus
2. Sign up for an account with your email address.
3. Receive the email and click the verification link
4. Re-click here to go back to the AVG Anti-Virus page, and download the software for free.

Dell.com - McAfee Total Protection software for Windows $7
(expired)

McAfee Total Protection 2010 3-PC License and 1 year subscription for $7.

Newegg.com - deals today
- LG Purple Deco (E2250T-PN) 21.5" LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $153 with coupon LCDBTSPROMO
- Samsung Glossy Black (EX2220X) 21.5" LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $162 with coupon LCDBTSPROMO

Gap.com - 30% off, code: SAVENOW
(expired)

Code valid today only (Eastern Time). Add about $7 for shipping.

eWiz.com - 1.5TB Hard Drive $68
(repost)

Samsung Ecogreen F2 (HD154UI) 1.5TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $75, and coupon HELLO gives $7.50 off in the cart. At $67.50 it prices out to about 4.5 cents per GB. Most other stores sell it for around $95, and it has very good reviews. Benchmarks reported to be between 60 and 90 MBytes/sec.

Note, eWiz limits each of their coupons to one use per household.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Newegg.com - Rosewill 5-Bay Hard Drive eSATA Enclosure for $166
(repost)

Back again is the Rosewill eSATA 5-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure. Price is $166 after starting at $200, coupon ROSEWILL826 gives $50 off, and shipping adds $16.

It's an external hard drive bay, to let you add a bunch of Serial-ATA (SATA) disks individually (JBOD) or as a RAID array. Since the drive bay works through a single eSATA port from you computer, the port must be a "multi-port eSATA" capable of supporting 5 drives from a single eSATA cable. They did throw in a PCIe x1 card with two eSATA ports each capable of multi-port. The unit has very good reviews.

Dell.com - deals today
- Dell E2310H 23" LCD Monitor for $169.
- Dell ST2410 24" LCD Monitor for $200.
- Dell P2211H 21.5" LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $189.
Electronics:
- Vizio (M221NV) 22" LED-backlit LCD 1080p HDTV with Internet Apps for $210 with coupon DB6XV?3B5CP1TN
- Vizio RazorLED (M420NV) 42" LED-backlit LCD 1080p HDTV for $630 with coupon X5X5CTXVSS07SZ . Most stores sell it for around $800.
- Sony (VPL-BW7) LCD 720p Home Theater Projector for $400 with coupon 8MHZ2TGW8206LC . Usually sells for around $630.

eWiz.com - Intel X25-M 160GB 2.5" SSD for $370
Intel X25-M 160GB Gen2 2.5" Solid State Drive for $400 with free shipping, and coupon LION330 gives $30 off in the cart.

This is a bare drive only, and does not include a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for desktop/tower computers like the retail version does, but you can buy a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter from Newegg or Amazon if you need one.

Also available:
- Kingston SSDNow V-Series 30GB Solid State Drive for $76.50 with coupon HELLO ($2.55/GB) from eWiz.com. Usually sells for $90.

Amazon.com - McAfee Antivirus Plus software for Windows for $10
For today only, McAfee Antivirus Plus 3-PC License for $10. Includes a one year subscription for virus definition updates, afterward fees are required to maintain the subscription.

Newegg.com - USB Slim Portable CD/DVD Burner for $37
Rosewill 8x CD/DVD Burner Drive for $37 today. Last week a similar portable drive with Lightscribe was available for $40, so this is a very similar deal in comparison, but portable CD/DVD drives usually go for $50. It's a portable drive, and powers items through the supplied USB data cable. It's mainly useful for laptop/netbook computers which do not already have a built-in CD/DVD drive, but can also be used with any computer.

ChiefValue.com - HOT! - EVGA Geforce GTX-460 768MB Video Card for $156
(expired)
1. Click here to see a EVGA Geforce GTX-460 768MB PCIe Video Card for $210.
2. Scroll down and select a "combo" of an Nvidia Gift, which drops the price to $156.
3. Scroll back to the top and press "add to cart".
Price is $156. This video card usually sells for at least $200, and has great user reviews and a professional review. You will likely need at least a very good quality 500-watt power supply in your PC, or a 600-watt is preferred.

The above is for a 763MHz Core Clock version of the card. If it is sold out, a similar deal is available on a 675MHz Core Clock version for $10 less, which is also a hot deal.

This deal will likely expire sometime early this morning.

Update: The 763MHz Clock card is sold out. The 675MHz EVGA GTX 460 768MB is available.

Update (1pm EDT): Both are now sold out.

Staples - Logitech V220 Wireless Mini Mouse for $10
Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Laptop/Notebook Computers for $10 online and in-store. Free online delivery with a $50+ order, or choose in-store pickup. The V220 usually goes for between $20 and $25.

Amazon.com - deals on some Logitech products
Some Logitech products are 30% off, which are around 15% less that what most other stores sell them for. Deals include:
- Logitech G500 Mouse for $50. Sold for $56 last week.
- Logitech Z523 2.1 Speakers for $70. Sells elsewhere for $85.
- Logitech DiNovo Mini Home Theater PC Keyboard for $110. Usually sells for around $150.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

BestBuy.com - deals on Blu-Ray movies
Lots of Blu-Ray movies are on sale for $8 and $10. $8 titles include Terminator 3, Deliverance, Under Siege, Reservoir Dogs, and Blazing Saddles. $10 titles include Ghostbusters, Starship Troopers, and Brokeback Mountain.

Amazon.com - 16GB Retractable USB Flash Drive for $24
(expired)

Transcend 16GB JetFlash 500 USB Flash Drive for $24 today. Free shipping with a $25+ order. One good review.

Newegg.com - 2-Outlet Power Inverter for $20
(expired)

Rosewill (RCP-511A) DC to AC Power Inverter for $20 today.

eWiz.com - Crucial C300 128GB SSD for $240, or with SATA3 Controller $255
(expired)

(repost)

This deal expires today, and is a great deal for someone looking for one of the best SSD's on the market today. It's a crucial C300 128GB Solid State Drive for $270, and coupon SHINE2630 gives $30 off in the cart. At $240 for 128GB, it prices out to about $1.88 per GB, a great value for a high performing, highly rated, very reliable SSD.

You can also get a Highpoint Rocket 620 SATA3 Controller Card for desktop/tower PC's for $15 more. Click here but do not add the C300 to your cart, instead scroll down to the combo deal that includes the SATA3 Controller, and press "Add To Cart" next to it. The bundle comes up as $285, then apply coupon SHINE2630 to get $30 off making it $255. The Highpoint Rocket 620 usually goes for around $35, and is not to be confused with a "Highpoint RocketRaid 620".

Connecting the C300 SSD to a regular SATA port can give around 280 MBytes/sec reads, but according to this review, connecting it to the Rocket 620 can achieve 370 MBytes/sec reads. However there are user reviews who reported no speed increase, and even some speed loss when connecting their SSD to the Rocket 620. This is likely because they installed the card into a PCIe x1 slot with a 250 MBytes/sec limitation. According to this Crucial forum, some people had success installing the Rocket 620 into a PCIe x4 or x16 slot to achieve 378 MBytes/sec reads on the C300. At only $15 it card may be worth a try to see how it works in your desktop PC, but don't be surprised if it becomes more hassle than it's worth.

The C300 is 2.5" form factor so it can fit inside a laptop computer, and includes a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for installing inside a desktop/tower computer.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Newegg.com - deals today
- Western Digital 2TB USB Desktop/External Hard Drive for $100 with coupon EMCYTZT118 .
- A-Data 16GB Secure Digital SDHC Memory Card for $28. Most 16GB SDHC Cards go for around $33, and this one has mostly good reviews. When using in a digital camera, depending on camera type, settings, and photo quality, roughly 350 to 550 photos can be stored per GB, so this 16 GB card can store somewhere around 5,600 to 8,800 photos.
- Samsung 18.5" LCD Monitor for $105 with coupon EMCYTZT120
- Asus Radeon HD 5750 PCIe x16 Video Card for $120 and a $20 Prepaid Visa Card is available by mail-in rebate. Most other Radeon HD 5750 cards go for around $150 before any rebate.
- Canon Vixia HF R10 Flash Memory Camcorder for $350 with coupon CAM827B . It has 20x image stabilized optical zoom and decent reviews.
Also FYI on future deals available.

Tomorrow this deal will be available:
- Rosewill 2-outlet DC to AC Power Inverter for $20.
The following deals will be available on Monday morning:
- OCZ Vertex 2 90GB Solid State Drive for $225 ($2.50/GB) and a $25 Visa Prepaid Card will be available by mail-in rebate.
- XFX 750-Watt PC Power Supply for $105, and a some kind of rebate valued at $20 will be available.
- MSI (P55-GD85) PC Motherboard for Intel Core i7 for $180 and some kind of rebate valued at $30 will be available.
- Rosewill 7-Port USB Hub for $16.

Amazon.com - DJ Hero with Turntable for $40
(expired)

The game "DJ Hero" with a Turntable controller for $40 today only, available for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii. BestBuy also sells them for $40 (in-store and online), and most other stores sell the games for $50.

eWiz.com - 1.5TB Hard Drive $70, Windows 7 Home $92
(repost)
- Samsung Ecogreen F2 (HD154UI) 1.5TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $70 with coupon HIGH5 . At $70 it prices out to about 4.7 cents per GB. Most other stores sell it for around $95, and it has very good reviews.
- Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit for $92 with coupon HIGH5 .
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit for $92 with coupon HIGH5
The above Windows 7 are the same full OEM ones sold by Newegg for $100. Unless you really need to have more than 4GB of RAM in your computer, stick with the 32bit to avoid some software compatibility problems. For example, Google Chrome, a 32bit app, actually caused some infamous "blue screen of death" crashes on our Windows 7 64bit. 64bit browsers did not have basic features like Flash and basic plugin support. Our Windows 7 32bit computer runs stable and works with everything we throw at it.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 60GB Solid State Drive, $25 Visa Card for $125 after rebate
(expired)

OCZ Agility Series (OCZSSD2-1AGT60G) 2.5" 60GB SSD for $125, which is about $25 less than normal price. They also have a $25 Visa Prepaid Card available by mail-in rebate. The purchase price and rebate are valid for purchases through 11:59pm Pacific Time today.

Note, there are some reports of drive failures in their user reviews. If you're looking for a more reliable SSD for $100, check out a Intel X25-V 40GB.

Newegg.com - G.Skill Phoenix Pro 60GB SSD for $144
G.Skill Phoenix Pro (FM-25S2S-60GBP2) 60GB Solid State Drive for $144 when using coupon EMCYWNV32 ($2.40/GB). Pricey, but highly rated and one of the best performing drives on the market.

Solid State Drives: Our policy has always been recommending deals on products that seem to be a great value, and until now, SSD's have been difficult to recommend because of their high cost. Now SSD's are beginning to be more affordable, and are worth looking at.

We will start off showing the difference between hard drives and SSD's, followed by some specific SSD's we recommend.

It's no secret that SSD's are faster than hard drives, and cost more per GB. But selecting which SSD drive is right for you, and how to use an SSD is a little more complicated than a hard drive.

For example, here are some differences between SSD and hard drives, and where the advantage lies.

Hard Drive	Solid State Drive
1.8" & 2.5" drives transfer data around 20-40 MBytes/sec 3.5" drives transfer data around 40-100 MBytes/sec	(advantage) 1.8", 2.5", 3.5" drives transfer around 75-385 MBytes/sec
(advantage) Cost around $0.04 to $0.06 per GB for a 5400rpm or 7200rpm drive, with most recent hot deals around $0.04/GB.	Cost around $1.75 to $2.75 per GB, with recent hot deals around $1.75 to $2.15 per GB.
Has moving parts, so they are susceptible to skips caused by bumpy conditions.	(advantage) No moving parts. Some Youtube videos show someone throwing an SSD from the roof of a 3 story building, plugging it back in, and working fine.
Depending on the hard drive's spindle rotation speeds, they consume about 4 to 8 watts of power and can get very hot.	(advantage) SSD's use less than 1 watt power, and do not get hot.
In Windows filesystems, hard drives benefit from occasional defragmentation to avoid the drive having to spend time finding the data across all areas of the disk, similar to a CD player jumping ahead and back to different tracks just to play a single song.	(advantage) SSD's do not benefit from defragmentation, because SSD's can theoretically access any data on its drive at the same speed. In fact, you should disable defragmentation when using an SSD in Windows, to improve the longevity of your SSD by reducing the amount of unnecessary writes.
(advantage) Hard drives do not degrade in performance as data is written to the drive. Hard drives running a Windows filesystem can become fragmented, especially when they fill up, but can be defragmented.	SSD's can degrade in performance over time as data is written, deleted, then later overwritten. Degradation can begin as early as when the SSD is filled to capacity. A new TRIM feature for Windows and Linux helps slow the rate of degradation. Mac supposedly will release TRIM compatibility soon, but we heard Windows filesystems benefit more from TRIM than Mac by the way they store data on the drive. As described on WindowsITPro.com, TRIM only helps slow the rate of degradation, and does not eliminate it. This is why SSD's probably should only be purchased in brand new condition, to avoid drives which already suffer from degraded performance. Formatting SSD's do not help bring back the performance. There are some SSD-specific "secure erase" or "wipe" or "Sanity Erase" utilities which can restore the SSD back to peak performance by erasing all data blocks on the SSD. Wiping degraded SSD's is great if your SSD contains data that can be easily backed up first then later restored, but not so easy when your SSD contains your operating system.
(slight advantage) Partition and use the entire drive if you want, but keeping hard drives from exceeding 85% capacity will help keep the performance optimal. Drives on Windows can be defragmented to help keep the performance optimal as the drive fills up. If your drive reaches capacity, just delete some data, defragment, and the drive should perform at or near peak performance.	Leaving 10% to 20% free at all times should help reduce the rate of performance degradation. Some people even recommend leaving 10% to 20% unpartitioned, so the SSD will internally use the unallocated space as extra free blocks useful when the drive writes and deletes a lot of data. Check the SSD's specs for its true memory size, as some SSD's have already factored in an automatic 10% to 20% of space which cannot be partitioned. Intel's have about 5% reserved, while Vertex 2's already have about 20% of space reserved. So if you buy an Intel X25-M 80GB to hold your operating system and all your programs, you might want to consider leaving 5GB to 15GB unallocated, unpartitioned, and therefore unusable by you.
Comparing the performance of different hard drives is relatively simple. They spin at either around 5400rpm, 7200rpm, 10,000rpm, or 15,000rpm, where the faster spindle speeds mean faster access to your data.	Comparing SSD performance requires reading reviews and viewing benchmark comparisons.
Can be used safely with most operating systems, even older ones such as Windows XP	Best if used on a newer operating system with TRIM support, or a Mac
(advantage) Friendly to all RAID levels, those with redundancy (RAID 1), those with striping (RAID 0), and those with both (RAID 5,6,10). Double the performance of one disk by striping it across another disk of equal specs.	Most SSD's are not so RAID friendly in Windows yet. Intel came out with Windows 7 TRIM drivers for RAID, but it's new. Also putting SSD on a hardware RAID card with in a stripe set (RAID 0) configuration may not give much benefit unless the RAID card supports speeds faster than the SSDs can perform.

So as a buyer, don't think you need to choose between old clunky technology (hard drives) and new super-fast technology (SSD). As you can see there are many advantages and disadvantages of each. While an SSD can be 2 to 8 times faster than a hard drive (with a bigger boost in performance in laptops than desktops), it really all depends on what you're looking for.

Because SSD's can degrade in performance when doing lots of writes over a period of time, they are usually best when loaded once with something (like the operating system and programs) and limit the amount of changes/writes to your SSD. For this reason, when comparing SSD performance, you probably should focus more on the SSD's sequential reads and random reads than the writes.

Because SSD's can degrade by doing lots of writes, and because of the SSD's high cost, these are reasons why some desktop computer users are buying an SSD for their operating system & programs, but also keeping a hard drive in their computer to store all their music, movies, temporary files, and swap space.

Desktop users who want an SSD for a super-fast "scratch space" drive separate from the operating system should be prepared to wipe the SSD and reload the files when it eventually runs very slowly.

What to Look For in an SSD:
Since SSD's seem best when used for the operating system, you probably want one that's reliable as well as fast. Here are the three things we will focus on:

Reliability - Nobody wants to pay money for something that causes failure/return/RMA hassles
Performance - obviously you want the best bang for your buck
Support & ease of installing firmware upgrades - SSD is a rapidly changing technology. When new enhancements come out, you want to know the manufacturer provides an easy way to upgrade the drive's firmware.

Reviews of drive failures are the best way to determine a drive's reliability.

Based solely on Newegg's user reviews as of 8/26/2010, the most reliable consumer SSD's today, available in 50GB to 160GB capacity with a cost of around $1.50 to $2.50 per GB appear to be:

Intel X25 (G2 models) - Released a long time ago with almost no reported drive failures or issues since, good support, and good toolkit software for Windows.
Crucial C300 - Almost no reported drive failures or issues since firmware fixes in June. All new drives purchased from a reputable vendor do have updated firmware.
Kingston SSDNow V Series and G.Skill Phoenix Pro - Few reports of failures/issues, their support seem decent, and their existing firmware update tools seem okay.
Corsair Performance and Corsair Force - Few reports of failures/issues, but some reported their firmware update tool was a little difficult to use.
OCZ Vertex 2 - Unfortunately, several reported drive failures & reliability issues recently.
Patriot - Lots of failures.

Technically, the lowest read/write performing SSD above is the Intel X25-M however it does have better random seek times than most of the other drives. This means the overall real-world performance of the Intel's should be just about as good as the newer SSD's which are priced similarly, especially with operating system and application tasks.

For games and bootup times, sequential read speeds are more important. Some resources to compare SSD performance are Anandtech and StorageReview. You will find a drive like the C300 and Vertex 2 series will have some of the fastest transfer rates and quickest bootup times, but if you plan on using this drive for your bootup/operating system, also keep in mind the other factors stated above: reliability & support.

Considering reliability, performance, software, and support, our recommendations for today's best values depend on how much you want to spend, and what you will use the SSD for:

Looking to spend around $100 for the OS and some Programs	Intel X25-V 40GB SSD
Looking to spend around $125 for Apps & Games	Kingston SSDNow V-Series 64GB
Looking to spend around $150 for OS, Apps, Games	G.Skill Phoenix Pro Series 60GB SSD
Looking to spend around $200 for OS, Apps, Games	Intel X25-M G2 80GB SSD
Looking to spend around $250 for OS, Apps, Games	Crucial C300 128GB SSD
Looking to spend around $400 for OS, Apps, Games	Intel X25-M G2 160GB SSD
Just looking for the fastest write speeds	OCZ Vertex 2
If your motherboard supports SATA3	any 2.5" Crucial C300 SSD
If your ultra-portable Laptop/Netbook needs a Micro-SATA 1.8" drive	Crucial C300 1.8" or a Intel X18-M
Use on a non-TRIM supported OS, or in a multi-disk RAID	G.Skill Phoenix Pro or OCZ Vertex 2

Note, our recommendations will change often as prices fluctuate, deals become available, and new drives come out. These are only suggestions, and we recommend you do your own research before making any decision on which is the best for you. If you're using an SSD for the operating system (OS), it is recommended the OS freshly installed on the SSD from scratch, although transferring from an existing hard drive should work fine if you are technically savvy.

If you have a laptop computer or netbook and are unsure whether you need a 2.5" or 1.8" SSD, use Crucial's Storage Advisor. Enter your laptop/netbook's make and model, and it will display compatible SSD's in either 2.5" or 1.8" form factor, telling you which size your portable computer is compatible with.

Most retail versions of SSD's include a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for installing inside a desktop/tower computer. The OCZ Vertex 2 and the Corsair P128 do not include an adapter.

see other recent information involving: computer hardware, data storage
see more information on this deal. Email this deal to a friend.

eWiz.com - Crucial C300 128GB Solid State Drive for $240
This is a really good deal for someone who has not yet replaced their computer's boot drive with an SSD. It's a Crucial C300 128GB SSD for $270, and coupon SHINE2630 gives $30 off in the cart. At $240 for 128GB, it prices out to about $1.88 per GB. Most SSD's go for around $2.10 to $2.50 per GB, and this one is rated one of the best on the market today in terms of performance and reliability.

It is 2.5" form factor so it can fit inside a laptop computer, and includes a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for installing inside a desktop/tower computer.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Dell.com - Creative Vado Pocket HD Video Camcorder for $70
Creative Vado Pocket HD Camcorder with 8GB storage for $70 with free shipping. Most other stores sell it for around $100, and it has pretty good reviews considering the price.

Newegg.com - deals today
- Energizer Extended Battery for iPhone 3G/3GS for $15. Also includes a free iPhone case with purchase, which is interesting because the case and extended battery might not fit on the iPhone at the same time.
- Western Digital Black 1TB Hard Drive for $80 with coupon EMCYWNT33
- Rosewill Computer Tool Kit for $15
- LG CD/DVD Burner Drive with Lightscribe for $20. This is meant for desktop/tower computers with an available 5.25" drive bay.
- Rosewill USB Portable CD/DVD Burner for $40. Meant for laptops and netbooks which have no built-in CD/DVD drive.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Newegg.com - Rosewill 4-Bay Hard Drive eSATA Enclosure for $100
(expired)

This looks like a great deal, and very similar to a recent deal on a Rosewill 5-Bay Enclosure.

This is a Rosewill eSATA 4-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure for $100, valid through this evening only. It is meant for adding up to 4 Serial-ATA (SATA) disks to your computer as a bunch of disks, or as a RAID array. Includes a PCIe x1 card capable of multi-port eSATA (Port Multiplying eSATA), works with Windows and Linux, and has very good reviews. You must use a multi-port eSATA such as the one on the included card, because your motherboard's SATA and eSATA ports will not connect to all 4 drives from a single port.

The 4-bay enclosure itself will work with Linux and Windows, and can work with any other operating system such as Mac and Solaris, as long as you find a compatible eSATA Port Multiplier card and drivers.

The disks can appear as either a bunch of separate drives, or used in a software RAID configuration. Software RAID requires the operating system to boot and set up its drivers before recognizing the RAID array. If you lose the operating system, you risk losing the entire RAID array. If you want RAID and your data really is important to you, replace the included PCIe card with a hardware RAID card capable of eSATA Port Multiplying, such as a Highpoint RocketRAID 622 PCIe Card.

Dell.com - deals today
- Planar (PX2710MW) 27-inch LCD Monitor for $290 today. Has built-in speakers and includes a VGA cable, DVI cable, and a 3 year manufacturer's warranty. One good review, and most other stores sell it for around $450.
- Creative Inspire T3130 2.1 Speakers for $36. Sells for around $49 elsewhere.
- Sony Bravia (KDL46EX700) 46" LED-backlit LCD 1080p HDTV for $950 with coupon LJTG8$S9BR?KSH . Most stores sell it for around $1150.
Free shipping on these.

Computers:
- Inspiron 570 Mini-Tower PC with 18.5" Monitor for $468 with coupon 5TK?LC9VJ5F$33 . When configuring, de-select a Logitech X-140 Stereo Speaker System which takes $28 off. Base configuration includes a Athlon II X2 2.8GHz processor, 3GB memory, 500GB Hard Drive, and CD/DVD Burner. It prices to $562, or $449.60 after coupon 5TK?LC9VJ5F$33 plus $19 shipping.

Dell.com - Windows 7 Home Upgrade for $70
Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $70, which is $30 to $40 less than what it normally costs. To use the upgrade, you must already have a valid license of Windows Vista, XP, or 2000 on your computer. Windows Vista users can do an in-place upgrade (retaining all programs and settings) whereas XP and 2000 users will be forced to do a clean install. During the upgrade, you can choose either 32bit or 64bit. 32bit has better compatibility with existing programs, but 64 bit allows using memory (RAM) sizes above 4GB. If you are concerned about stability of your computer and software, we recommend 32bit.

If you are looking for a full version of Windows 7 without a previous version requirement, eWiz.com is selling Windows 7 Home OEM 32bit or 64bit for $92 with coupon HIGH5 .

If you are a college student or someone with an email address ending in ".edu" then you can get a Windows 7 Professional Upgrade for $30 direct from Microsoft (Windows upgrade link in lower-right of that page).

Newegg.com - deals today
- Iomega 320GB Portable USB Drive for $45 with coupon EMCYTZT115 . A similar drive has pretty good reviews.
- Western Digital Black 750GB Hard Drive for $60. Usually sells for $70.
- OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD for $155 ($2.58/GB). Also a $20 Visa Prepaid Card is available by mail-in rebate.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Dell.com - Vostro 230 Slim Tower PC, 18.5" Monitor for $407
Vostro 230 Slim Tower PC with Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz processor, 2GB memory, DVD-ROM drive, 250GB hard drive, 18.5" LCD Monitor for $399 plus $8 shipping. Just a basic desktop computer & monitor.

Amazon.com - Corsair Performance 128GB Solid State Drive for $280
(expired)

(repost)

For today only, Corsair (CMFSSD-128GBG2D P128) 128GB Performance Solid State Drive for $280 ($2.19/GB) with free shipping. Most stores sell it for around $320. It does not include a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for mounting inside a desktop/tower computer.

If 80GB is enough for your operating system, apps, and a couple games, look at a Intel X25-M 80GB SSD for $200. It's rated slightly higher than the Corsair, the OCZs, and the Crucials despite slower sequential read/writes. The X25-M might be a better operating system drive because its performance reportedly does not degrade over time like most other SSDs.

Note that SSD drives should not be defragmented in the operating system. Instead, you should run an SSD with a TRIM compatible operating system. SSDs work differently that hard drives, and for further detail of SSD degradation and how TRIM can help, see this Anandtech article.

Restaurant.com - 80% off of dining certificates, code: CLEARANCE
(repost)

New code CLEARANCE gives 80% off of their prices for restaurant certificates. They run this 80% off promotion during the last week of every month.
- a $10 restaurant certificate for $4, which comes to $0.80 after applying the coupon.
- a $25 restaurant certificate priced at $10 comes to $2 after coupon.
- a $50 restaurant certificate priced at $20 comes to $4 after the coupon.
Apply the coupon in the cart.

When at the restaurant, present the coupon while ordering food. When you receive the final bill, it's appropriate practice to factor gratuity against the full pre-certificate amount.

Dell.com - Wireless Shower Speaker for $40
Cables Unlimited Wireless Shower Speaker for $40 with free shipping. Plug the base station to a power outlet and hook up to an MP3 player or other audio source, and it wirelessly transmits the audio to a water-resistant speaker. While it's really meant for the shower, it can also be used it other places such as poolside. The wireless speaker uses 6 AA batteries, which are not included.

Most other stores sell it for around $71.

Newegg.com - deals today
- Western Digital (WD10EALS) 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive for $60 with coupon EMCYWNR48
- Western Digital (WD20EARS) 2TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $100 with coupon EMCYWNR47
- Toshiba Portable 1TB USB Drive for $100 with coupon EMCYWNR49
- HDHomerun Dual HDTV Tuner with Networking for $100. Allows watching of up to 2 digital channels at once on your computers, or use with Tivo-like software to also record. Works with over-the-air (ATSC) antennas, and also works on unscrambled channels on conventional digital coax cable systems. Will not work with satellite, ethernet-based, and DSL-based cable systems such as DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse, and Verizon Fios.
- Lite-On 24x CD/DVD Burner Drive for $18.
- Lite-On 24x CD/DVD Burner Drive with Lightscribe for $20
- LG Blu-Ray Reader, CD/DVD Burner Drive with Lightscribe for $90

Monday, August 23, 2010

Newegg.com - Black Cuisine 4-Slice Toaster Oven for $18
$18 when using code TOASTER823 in the cart.

eWiz.com - Samsung 1.5TB Hard Drive for $70
(repost)

Samsung Ecogreen F2 (HD154UI) 1.5TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $75 with free shipping, and coupon HIGH5 gives $5 off in the cart. At $70 it prices out to about 4.7 cents per GB. Most other stores sell it for around $95.

Dell.com - Samsung 23.6" LCD Monitor for $160
(repost)

Samsung (2494LW) 23.6" LCD Monitor for $160 today.

Buy.com - Corsair Performance 128GB Solid State Drive for $319
Corsair (CMFSSD-128GBG2D P128) 128GB Performance Solid State Drive for $319 with free shipping. Pricey at $2.49 per GB, but most other stores sell it for around $355 and it has stellar reviews.

Its per-GB price is the same as a very popular Intel X25-M 160GB which can be found for $400. To compare the two,

Intel X25-M 160GB SSD	Corsair 128GB Performance SSD
2.5" laptop form factor, includes 2.5" to 3.5" bay adapter for desktop computers	2.5" laptop form factor, but desktop users will need to buy an adapter separately
Reads at around 175 MBytes/sec Writes at around 100 MBytes/sec	Reads at around 175 MBytes/sec Writes at around 175 MBytes/sec
3 year warranty	2 year warranty
Comes with latest firmware supporting TRIM, and easy to burn & install future firmware updates	Comes with latest firmware supporting TRIM, but looking at past firmware update, it could be more difficult to install future updates
$400 ($2.5/GB), reviews	$319 ($2.49/GB), reviews

Buy.com also has a $10 off $200 coupon valid only for first-time Buy.com customers only. They look at the purchaser's credit card number and login account to determine if they really are a first-time Buy.com customer.

Also OCZ recently released a brand new line of Vertex 2 SSD's, some 2.5" (for laptops) and some 3.5" (for desktops). At Newegg:

OCZ Vertex 2 2.5" 60GB SSD is $169 ($2.83/GB).
OCZ Vertex 2 2.5" 100GB SSD is $319 ($3.19/GB).
OCZ Vertex 2 3.5" 120GB SSD is $320 ($2.66/GB)
OCZ Vertex 2 3.5" 180GB SSD is $449 ($2.49/GB).

Some of these have a Visa Prepaid Card available by mail-in rebate. The OCZ Vertex 2 reportedly perform faster than the Intel and Corsair SSDs, at around 250 MBytes/sec reads & writes. 3.5" form factor only work in desktop computers (not laptops). OCZ seems to have a pretty good firmware update tool.

SSD technology is changing so rapidly, that it's probably a good idea to wait for better drives and better deals if you can. Those who want an SSD today really should look at each drive's firmware installation instructions, since buying one today may eventually need firmware updates to keep it on the leading edge of this rapidly changing technology.

Update (8/24): For today only, Amazon.com is selling the Corsair P128 Performance 128GB SSD for $280.

see other recent deals involving: Buy.com, Corsair, Intel, computer hardware, data storage
see more information on this deal. Email this deal to a friend.

Buy.com - Brother QL-570 Label Printer for $36
(repost)

Brother QL-570 Label Printer is back at $36 with free shipping, which is about half what it normally costs. It has superb reviews on Buy.com, and mixed reviews on other sites. Reviews on other sites could be bad simply because those sites charge $75 to $100 for this. Seems like a much better value at $36.

Newegg.com - deals today
- Auria 24" LCD 1080p HDTV for $230 with coupon EMCYTZT113
- OCZ Vertex 120GB Solid State Drive for $250 with coupon EMCYTZT111 . A $40 Visa Prepaid Card is also available by mail-in rebate.
- Toshiba Canvio 640GB Portable USB Drive for $70 with coupon EMCYTZT109
- Zalman Home Theater PC Case for $220 with coupon EMCYTZT108
- Western Digital Mini Media Player & Portable 120GB USB Drive for $60.
- TrendNet Wireless Adapter for Game Console & Blu-Ray Systems for $28. Connects to an Ethernet network port on the device, and wirelessly relays the signal to your wireless router. Requires an ethernet network port on your game console system or Blu-Ray player.
Free shipping.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Lenovo.com - Multimedia Remote Keyboard & Trackball $30
(repost)

Lenovo Multimedia Remote Mini Keyboard & Trackball for $60 with free shipping, and coupon code USPCAG36336 gives 50% off in the cart.

Includes a 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle. Its range will be about 15-20 feet. It has only fair reviews, and could be handy device for some people to play, pause, and queue movies & music on the PC in your home theater room.

Walmart.com - Mechanical Analog Bath Scale for $6
$6 with free shipping.

Sears.com - Craftsman Air Tool Set for $50
10-piece set includes 3/8in ratchet wrench, 1/2in impact wrench, air hammer, and 3/8in air hose plus accessories.

Dell.com - Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for $25
Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for $25 with free shipping. Usually sells for around $35.

OfficeDepot.com - deals today
- Seagate 1TB External/Desktop USB Hard Drive for $70
- Toshiba (C655D-S5048) 15.6" Laptop Computer for $400. Athlon II Dual-Core P320 processor, 3GB memory, 320GB hard drive, CD/DVD Burner Drive, Secure Digital Memory Card Reader, Windows 7.
- Epson Stylus NX305 Printer/Scanner/Fax for $40. Usually sells for $70.
Free shipping with a $50+ order.

Newegg.com - deals today
- Western Digital 150GB 10,000rpm Serial-ATA Hard Drive for $100 ($0.67/GB). 10,000rpm drives are meant for increased performance. Note that some SSD drives give better read/write performance than a pair of 10,000rpm drives in RAID-0, so despite SSDs going for around $1.50 to $2.00 per GB, 10,000rpm drives are less desired items than they were just a few months ago.
And available later this afternoon:
- refurbished Fuji F72EXR Compact Digital Camera for $120 (10x image stabilized optical zoom). Despite being refurbished (not new), it has good reviews and new ones do cost about $100 more.
As a note, an OCZ 120GB MLC SSD will be on sale for $249 on Monday morning ($1.66/GB), and will have a $40 Visa Prepaid Card available by rebate.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Meijer.com - Maximo In-Ear Headphones for $14
Maximo IM-490 iMetal Isolation In-Ear Headphone for $14 with free shipping. Deal is displayed on the right side of their page, labeled as the "Big Steal".

Mixed reviews, but seems like an excellent value for the price. Most other stores sell this for around $25 to $40.

Newegg.com - 10% off of Samsung HDTVs, code: EMCYTZT114
10% off of all Samsung brand LCD HDTVs, LED-LCD HDTVs, and Plasma HDTVs when applying code EMCYTZT114 in the shopping cart. Once applied, the 10% discount will appear on the final checkout page. Shipping fees may apply to some of the available HDTVs, and the 10% does not apply toward shipping fees. After applying the coupon, most of their Samsung HDTV deals are better than most other stores.

Coupon expires tomorrow. Sales tax only for deliveries to NJ, TN, and CA.

Walmart.com - Portable 120GB USB Drive for $30
Western Digital Elements 120GB Portable USB Drive for $29 plus $1 for standard shipping.

Also for today only, Amazon.com is selling a Western Digital Elements 500GB Portable USB Drive for $60.

The best value on portable USB drives are 1TB portable drives which can sometimes be found for $95 to $100. Dell had such a deal yesterday, but has expired. If you are patient, some other similar deals on portable 1TB USB drives should be available real soon.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Newegg.com - LG 32" LCD 1080p HDTV for $400
(expired: sold out)

LG (32LD450) 32" LCD 1080p HDTV for $400 with coupon EMCYWNY25 . Only 2 HDMI inputs but pretty good reviews, and most other stores sell this and other 32" 1080p HDTVs for around $425.

Newegg charges appropriate sales tax for orders shiped to CA, NJ, and TN.

Dell.com - deals today
- Dell (ST2410) 24" LCD Monitor for $200.
- Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 for Windows for $20. 3-User, 1-Year license.
- Sony Alpha A330 SLR Camera for $380 with coupon 2WZNK53ZKDG7W0 . Usually sells for around $430.

Reebok.com - 40% off of shorts and t-shirts, code: TSHORT40
Add around $5 for shipping.

Note that some retail stores, such as Kohl's, will have similar deals on Reebok shorts and shirts.

Newegg.com - 16GB USB Flash Drive for $29
OCZ Diesel 16GB USB Flash Drive for $29. Good reviews.

A couple other 16GB USB Flash Drives which are a little smaller:
- Memorex Mini TravelDrive 16GB for $30
- Mushkin Mulholland 16GB USB Flash Drive for $36

Newegg.com - Samsung SMX-F40 Flash Memory Camcorder for $104
Samsung SMX-F40 Black Camcorder with image stabilized 52x optical zoom for $169, coupon EMCYWNY28 gives $70 off in the cart, and add $5 for shipping.

It uses Secure Digital (SDHC) memory cards, and according to one very good review, it requires about 1GB for every 23 minutes of film time and SDHC cards must be formatted from the camcorder to avoid read/write problems.

It records video at 720x480, and the battery lasts about 4 hours on a single charge. Note that some newer mobile phones have similar video recording resolution. The main reason to buy a camcorder like this is for the anti-shake 52x optical zoom, which no mobile phone can do.

VitaminShoppe.com - 10% off, code: 7868
(expired)

One of the best online stores for health, vitamin, and protein products. Enter coupon 7868 on the final checkout page, after entering your credit card number, and before pressing "submit order". This is a rare coupon.

Free shipping with a $99+ order, by selecting free saver shipping during checkout on the final checkout page, the same page where you enter the coupon code. Unlike most other stores' "free saver shipping," such as Amazon and Buy.com, they don't wait 2-3 days to ship your order. Most in-stock orders we placed with them before 1pm Eastern were shipped the same-day. Orders are shipped from NJ, so sales tax will apply for NJ customers, and it could take as much as 5 business days for deliveries to the west coast.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Logitech.com - Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers for $83
Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers for $83 with coupon logi_z2300_81910 . Most stores sell it for over $100, and it has good reviews.

Dell.com - 2TB External/Desktop USB Hard Drive for $110
Western Digital Elements 2TB External/Desktop USB Hard Drive for $110 with free shipping. It's a regular desktop USB drive which connects to a computer with a USB cable, and to a power outlet. It transfers data at about 32 MBytes/sec, or around 2GB per minute, and is good for personal backups and off-system data storage.

Newegg.com - 700VA UPS for $85
APC Back-UPS 700VA UPS for $85 with free shipping. Usually sells for around $100.

They also have an older model 750VA UPS for $87.

Buy.com - Sennheiser MX400 In-Ear Headphone for $8
Sennheiser MX400 In-Ear Headphone for $8 with free shipping. We have a bunch of these, and are actually pretty good headphones for the price. Our biggest complaints are the foam earbud covers are easy to fall off and lose and the sound is not loud enough for use on an airplane, but for cheap/spare headphones for workouts, it is a good value at $8. Here are some reviews.

Amazon.com - iPod/iPhone Speaker deals
Amazon is selling some iPod/iPhone/MP3 Player speakers and speaker docking stations at up to 40% off, but most deals on that page appear to actually be about 20% off of what they normally cost. A Cyber Acoustics Portable iPod Speaker Dock for $28 and a iHome HDP66 2.1 Harley-Davisdon Headlight Speaker Dock for $70 are about 20% less than normal price.

Dell.com - Toshiba 1TB Portable USB Drive for $95
(expired)

Toshiba Canvio Plus 1TB USB Portable Drive for $95 today. Pretty good reviews. Most stores sell portable 1TB USB Portable drives for around $120, with an occasional deal at $100, so $95 is a hot deal.

This is a portable drive, powers itself only with its included USB data cable. The unit is small enough to fit in a pocket or a front pouch of a laptop bag. The trade-off of the very small size is performance, as these drives only read/write at around 15 MBytes/sec, which is about 900 MBytes per minute, or about 54 GB per hour. If you expect to fill the entire 1TB drive in one sitting, expect it to take 18 hours. One plus side is these are great way to transfer a lot of data between work and home, store in a safety deposit box, and copy files to friends by postal mail where the Internet speeds are too impractical to transfer so much data.

BuyDig.com - Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS for $150
To get the deal, add one to the cart at its regular price of $185, view the cart, half way down the left side of the page you will find "Special Offer Codes". Enter code c20107182520 to change the price to $150. Most other stores sell this GPS for around $185, and it has decent reviews.

Groupon.com - $50 worth of apparel at Gap for $25
(expired)

All Groupon locations in the US have the same deal today. Pay $25 and get a $50 certificate valid on apparel at Gap stores in the US and Canada. Once purchased, it must be used by November 19 (one week prior to Black Friday). The certificate must be used on a single $50+ purchase, so you cannot apply some of it this week and the rest next week. Not valid online and not valid at their outlet locations.

Purchasing will put you on the Groupon mailing list for the location shown at the top. To the right of the Groupon logo near the top, press "Visit More Cities" and press a city near you before purchasing. You can always remove yourself from their email list later, if no specific city's deals interest you.

Michael's - 40% off in-store
Printable coupon gives 40% off any one regular price items in-store. Lots of exclusions, including clearance and custom-made things. Michael's stores sell indoor & outdoor home decor such as fake plants and light.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Gamestop.com - buy 1 game, get 1 40% off with code SAVE40
Add two new or used in-stock games to your cart, then apply code SAVE40 to get 40% off the least expensive game. Not valid on Madden NFL 11, systems, accessories, limited editions, and collector editions. Does work on PC, Wii, Xbox360, Playstation3, PSP games including new releases.

eWiz.com - Super Talent 32GB USB Flash Drive for $40
Super Talent Swivel 32GB USB Flash Drive for $60 with free shipping, and coupon DONUT1120 gives $20 off in the cart. Most 32GB USB Flash Drives go for around $55 to $70.

Newegg.com - 23.6" 3D 120Hz LCD Monitor for $300
(expired)

Acer (GD235HZbid) 23.6" 3D LCD Monitor for $300 today. Every other store sells it for at least $360.

It is designed to work with Nvidia 3D Vision Kit, and has great reviews.

Restaurant.com - 70% off of dining certificates, code: STEAK
New code STEAK gives 70% off of their prices. The code is valid on all their restaurant certificates, not just steak restaurants.
- $10 value certificate for $4, or $1.20 after 70% coupon code.
- $25 value certificate for $10, or $3 after 70% coupon code.
- $50 value certificate for $20, or $6 after 70% coupon code.
Be sure to read the usage criteria on each promotional certificate, since some can only be used for certain meals and may require a minimum purchase or certain number of people at your table. Present the coupon before they print your bill.

Be sure to factor gratuity against what the total bill would be had you not applied any certificate. Also be sure to look at the final bill to see if they already factored in the gratuity, which some places do when a Restaurant.com certificate is used.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Amazon.com - Dexter seasons 1,2,3 DVD $49, or Blu-Ray $70
(expired)

SteamPowered.com - Borderlands game for PC $10
(expired)

Borderlands for PC is on sale for $10.19 available through the Steam system. Pretty good reviews on the game. Also available on that page is all 3 downloadable content for the Borderlands games, all 3 for $10.17. The "Four Pack" is just four licenses of Borderlands meant for giving away as gifts to friends.

Steam lets you purchase & download games online, and play them locally on your computer. The Steam application is required to be running on your computer.

Dell.com - deals today
- Iomega 1TB USB External/Desktop Hard Drive for $60 with coupon VN16W1W1JC2$MR . This is a regular desktop 1TB drive, not the mini portable ones which can sometimes be found for $100 for a 1TB.
- Sony Cybershot DSC-S2100 Compact Digital Ccamera, Silver for $85 with coupon CHMZN05MQC7JFN . Supports both Memory Stick and Secure Digital media. Most stores sell it for around $100.
Computer Monitors:
- Dell (S1709W) 17" LCD Monitor for $80. Includes a 3-year advance exchange warranty.
- Samsung (2494LW) 23.6" LCD Monitor for $170 with coupon $1PRQNRRD0LB0?
Printers:
- Dell (P513W) Wifi Inkjet Printer/Scanner for $80.
- Dell 1320c Network Color Laser Printer for $220

Mobba.com - 4 AMC Movie Theater Tickets for $26
Four AMC Silver Experience Tickets for $26 with free shipping. Tickets valid at any AMC Theater location, valid any day, and no expiration date. Tickets valid only for films 2 weekends after their original release date. Surcharge for using the tickets at IMAX is $6, and a 3D theater is $4.50.

Newegg.com - deals today
Hard Drives:
- Western Digital Blue (WD6400AAKS) 640GB 7200rpm Hard Drive for $50 with coupon EMCYWZV45
- Western Digital Green (WD10EARS) 1TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $60 with coupon EMCYWZV44
- Western Digital Green (WD15EARS) 1.5TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $75 with coupon EMCYWZV46
- Western Digital Black (WD1002FAEX) 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive for $85
Electronics:
- Yamaha RX-V765 7.2-Channel A/V Receiver for $320 with coupon EMCYWZV69 . Most other stores sell it for around $400.
- LG (BD570) Blu-Ray Disk Player with Wifi for $177. It connects to the Internet through a wired Ethernet connection, or to a wireless router via wifi, and can stream Netflix, Youtube, BD-Live, and other streaming video sources.
- Rosewill 6-foot HDMI Cable for $10
Networking:
- TrendNet 8-Port Gigabit Switch for $30.
Computer Parts:
- 2x2GB Corsair XMS3 DHX DDR3-1333 Dual-Channel 4GB Memory for $85
- 2x2GB G,Skill DDR3-1600 Dual-Channel 4GB Memory for $87 with coupon EMCYWZV53
- Lite-On Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Burner Drive for $130. Also includes a free 10-pack of blank Blu-Ray BD-R 25GB discs.
- TrendNet 4-Port KVM Switch for $21 with coupon EMCYWZV49 . Shares one USB keyboard, USB mouse, and VGA monitor across 4 computers.

JetBlue.com - All You Can Jet from Sep 7 to Oct 6 for $499 or $699
(expired: 8/19 3pm EDT, sold out)

(repost)

All You Can Jet is back for the 2nd year! This is an amazing deal if you have flexible travel plans in the next few weeks.

For $499, travel anywhere on any Jet Blue flight, as many times you want, except Fridays and Sundays, from Sept 7 through Oct 6. Includes 3,000 TrueBlue Points.
For $699, travel anywhere on any Jet Blue flight, as many times you want, from Sept 7 through Oct 6. Includes 4,200 TrueBlue Points.

This is for unlimited travel on any flight in their fleet within the 30-day period.

This is essentially the same deal as last year, with a few differences:

Last Year's All You Can Jet	This Year's All You Can Jet
$599 for unlimited travel during the 30-day period	• $699 for unlimited travel during the 30-day period • $499 for unlimited travel, except Fridays and Sundays, during the 30-day period
Passes available for sale for 7 days (Aug 12-19, 2009)	Passes available for sale only 4 days (Aug 17-20, 2010)
Using the pass to book travel or change flights required calling Jet Blue	Thankfully, this year you can use the pass to book travel or change flights online at www.jetblue.com/aycj
Anyone who had already purchased travel which happened to be during the Pass period could call Jet Blue and apply those credits (without penalty) toward an All You Can Jet Pass	This year, someone who already purchased travel during the Pass period cannot apply them as credit toward an All You Can Jet Pass. If you choose, you can cancel your existing flights and hold the credits (minus change fees) for future travel up to 1 year
	News, events, and promotions for All-You-Can-Jet Pass holders can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aycj

Check to see where JetBlue flies to see if this is a good deal for you. This is an especially hot deal for people in Boston and New York City (out of JFK) where JetBlue has nonstop flights to a lot of cities in the US (especially cross-country flights) and the Caribbean.

Once purchased, find any JetBlue flight (one-way or roundtrip) and book it using your pass code. If there is any seat available on the plane, even the last seat on the plane, it is yours at no additional cost. If you decide to make changes to cancel a flight, just call or make those changes online. No taxes or fees for travel within the US. For travel outside the US, such as to the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda, international taxes do apply which can be as much as $90 round trip. Keep the International tax fees in mind, which will increase the cost of this deal for you if you plan to use it for a Caribbean, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, or Costa Rica vacation.

Just like last year, each flight must be booked 3 days prior to the flight's departure. For example if your desired flight departs on a Friday, you must reserve the flight no later than the previous Tuesday night (3 days prior to the flight). If you miss a flight, you will incur a $100 fee or risk forfeiting all future travel with the All You Can Jet pass.

You can change your reservations (flights and travel dates) as many times as you want, up to 3 days prior to the flight's departure. Changes within 3 days of your departure will incur a $50 change fee.

Consider that one cross-country roundtrip flight will normally cost around $350, and a trip to the Caribbean will normally cost around $450. If you already planned on doing both, just buy the All-You-Can-Jet pass and get unlimited travel and the freedom to change your flights up to 3 days prior to the departure.

Summary of dates for this year's deal:

All-You-Can-Jet passes available for sale: August 17-20
Book travel using the pass: August 23 to October 3
Valid for unlimited travel: September 7 through October 6

The pass is valid for one person only, and cannot be used by anyone else. You can purchase a pass for someone else, regardless of their age, but you need to know their TrueBlue account number and the email address tied to their account. Unaccompanied minors incur their $85 each-way fee, even if they are a All-You-Can-Jet pass holder.

While a little extreme, serious adventure seekers who have lots of free time can hit as many as 30 cities in 30 days, just like last year's 12 Hours In A City duo. Most people we heard who did this deal used it over weekends to visit around 4 to 7 cities. The main reasons someone will want to buy this are:

You already want to fly at least twice during over the next few weeks
You are planning at least one trip to the Caribbean over the next few weeks which already costs around the same
You would like the flexibility to change your travel dates without penalty (at least 3 days prior to travel) as many times as you want over the next few weeks.

If you are wondering why Jet Blue is doing this deal, the slowest time of year for all airlines and hotels is the period between Labor Day and Columbus Day. So between Labor Day and Columbus Day,

Hotels should have heavily discounted rates because fewer people travel during that period
Other airlines should also have good deals during this period, for the same reason.

The main reason why few people generally travel during this period is schools. Kids begin busy classes around Labor Day, with Columbus Day being the first school day off.

see other recent deals involving: JetBlue Airways, travel
see more information on this deal. Email this deal to a friend.

Walmart.com - 2 Cooking Skillets for $9
Mainstays 2-Piece 8" & 12" Skillet Set for $9 with free shipping.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Meritline.com - Laptop Carrying Case for $6
15.4" Grey Laptop Bag with carry handle, shoulder belt, and 3 accessory pockets for $6. Don't expect much quality out of a $6 bag, but could be a good value for someone who just needs a carry-on bag.

Amazon.com - RAD Cycle Ceiling Mount Bike Hoist for $9
(expired: sold out)

RAD Cycle Ceiling Mount Bike Hoist for $9, and very good reviews. Free shipping with a $25+ order.

Devices like this are designed for apartments and garages, where parking a bike can take up too much space. Hoisting the bike to the ceiling gives a much more organized and spacious look.

Newegg.com - Rosewill 5-Bay Hard Drive eSATA Enclosure for $150
(expired)

(repost)

Rosewill eSATA 5-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure for $150 with coupon EMCYWZY85 . This is meant for adding a bunch of Serial-ATA (SATA) disks or a RAID array to your computer. Includes a PCIe x1 card capable of multi-port eSATA (Port Multiplying eSATA), works with Windows and Linux, and has very good reviews. Regular eSATA ports, such as the ones included on your computer's motherboard, will not connect to all 5 drives. The 5-bay enclosure itself will work with Linux and Windows, and can work with any other operating system such as Mac and Solaris, as long as you find a compatible eSATA Port Multiplier card and drivers.

The disks can appear as a bunch of regular drives, or used in a software RAID configuration. Software RAID requires the operating system to boot and set up its drivers before recognizing the RAID array. If you lose the operating system, you risk losing the entire RAID array. If you want RAID and your data really is important to you, replace the included PCIe card with a hardware RAID card capable of eSATA Port Multiplying, such as a Highpoint RocketRAID 622 PCIe Card.

Amazon.com - HOT! - 2TB Hard Drive for $92
(expired: 3:30pm EDT, sold out)

Western Digital Green (WD20EARS) 2TB Serial-ATA Hard Drive for $102 with free shipping, and coupon GXTPOFES gives 10% off during checkout.

The coupon will apply toward one or many drives in a single order, but there could be a limit of 4 of these drives per person. The coupon code is limited to one use per account, so once used to order one drive, you may have trouble ordering another with the same coupon code.

At $91.80 each, it prices out to 4.6 cents per GB, and the drive has good reviews.

This deal will likely expire soon.

Dell.com - Vizio 32" LED-edgelit LCD 1080p HDTV for $450
Vizio RazorLED 32-inch LED-edgelit LCD 1080p HDTV for $450 with free shipping. Specs are 5ms response time, 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 178-degree viewing angle, 3 HDMI inputs, 1 VGA input, 1 Component Video input, USB input for viewing jpeg images only, ATSC/QAM Tuners.

In terms of value, Vizio is one of three LCD HDTV vendors we recommend today (LG and Samsung being the other two). Vizio HDTVs are rarely discounted, and this one usually sells for around $525.

Newegg.com - 23" LCD Monitor for $180
LG W2353VP-PF Glossy-black 23" LCD Monitor for $180 with coupon EMCYTZT99 today only. It has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 70,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 1920x1080 resolution (1080p), and HDMI/DVI/VGA inputs.

BuyDig.com - Olympus SP-800UZ Digital Camera for $265
(expired)

Olympus SP-800UZ 14-Megapixel, 30x Optical Zoom Digital Camera for $265 with free shipping. Most other stores sell it for $280 to $315.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Meijer.com - Waring Blender for $80
Waring 60th Anniversary Blender for $80 today, with free shipping. Deal is displayed on the right side of their page, labeled as the "Big Steal". Most other stores sell it for around $110.

Coupon code RAIN is available for $15 off $100, however shipping fees may apply to other items in the cart.

eWiz.com - Samsung 1.5TB Hard Drive for $68.40
(repost)

Samsung Ecogreen F2 (HD154UI) 1.5TB 5400rpm Hard Drive for $76 with free shipping, and coupon PREPPY gives $7.60 off in the cart. That prices out to about 4.6 cents per GB. Most other stores sell it for around $95.

This deal likely expires some time today.

Walgreens.com - 8x10 Photo Print for free, up to 25 4x6 Photo Prints free too
For today only, you can get a 8x10 photo print for free with in-store pickup, or $1 for home delivery. To get the deal:
1. Click here to see the promotion details.
2. Click the Redeem Now button. Assuming you are not already signed-in to Walgreens.com, use the sign-in on the right side or create a new account.
3. Once signed in, click here to go to the Walgreens Photo home page.
4. Under Get Started on the right, press "Upload Photos". Press "Select Photos" to pick a photo from your computer to upload.
5. Once uploaded, click "View Photos" or go back to the Photo home page and press "My Photos" at the top. Click the photo, and press "Order This Print" on the right.
6. Zero out the pre-selected 4x6 print, and add 1 of the 8x10 prints. Scroll down and press "Update Total" under the price. Once the page refreshes, press the same "Update Total" again, and the price should change to $0.00.
7. If you are a brand new Walgreens Photo customer, you may see "25 free 4x6 credits" on the cart. If so, you can also add up to 25 of 4x6 photo prints with this photo, or upload more photos and select up to 25 4x6 prints. All will be free during checkout.
8. During checkout, select either in-store pickup or delivery. In-store pickup is free for the one 8x10 print, and up to 25 of 4x6 prints if you selected those too. If you choose delivery, price will be $1 for just one 8x10 print, and around $2.50 if you also selected up to 25 of 4x6 prints.
The free 8x10 expires today. A credit card is required, even if your order is free.

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