Blog Archives for 2011

While a smartphone can easily be used for navigational purposes, many people still desire one of today's stand-alone GPS devices, which are jam-packed with features. But which ones do you really need? Inside, we list what premiums you should consider springing for when making a purchase.

The dealnews Podcast proudly presents Episode 174. Our panel discusses Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, Netflix "Just For Kids", Kindle Cloud Reader, eBook price-fixing, extreme couponing, and more.

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(And don't forget to check out our Shownotes for links to the topics discussed in this week's show.)

If you need a new pair of headphones, but you can't tell the difference between your Sennheisers and your Shures, then check out our inside look at five headphone deals recently listed on the site. Audio and recording junkie Lou Carlozo details what about each pair should make you sit up and listen.

The dealnews staff writers and editors are among the site's biggest fans. (For proof, just count how many of us "like" dealnews on Facebook.) That's because we're constantly getting good deals while we work, and as a result, each of us has made at least one purchase that was so spectacular, we wanted to scream it from the rooftops. But in lieu of rooftop-hopping, we've opted to share the stories of our proudest purchases here. Got one of your own?

Buying a new smartphone shouldn't be a major expense. In fact, it shouldn't be an expense at all. Our dealnews archives show that months after a phone's release, you can snag that same handset for free (contract and data plans required). But which smartphones hit the $0 mark the fastest, and is it ever possible to get an iPhone for free? We tracked past deals on popular handsets to predict how long before some of today's hottest models are handed out for free.

Once a week, we scour the Internet looking for the latest rumors about consumer technology. (You know, iPhones, iPads, iPods, Apple ... oh, and one or two other companies, too!) The results of this search are compiled in our Rumor Roundup and made fun of with extreme snark. It's the kind of thing you've come to expect of us. Enjoy!

You want to be environmentally-savvy, but you also want to be smart with your green — the stuff in your wallet, that is. Our Green Dad columnist Lou Carlozo takes a look at five energy-saving products and determines whether they'll actually save you money in the long run.

There are two things that separate us from the animals: Opposable thumbs and the ability to laugh. (Though several times when we've visited the zoo we could swear the penguins were laughing at us.) Show your superiority to the lower beasts by reading our Friday Funnies! It's a collection of the deals from this week which we've added a dash of humor to. Enjoy!

When it comes to buying a back-to-school laptop for a college-bound kid, naturally you'll want to choose a model that will last all four years. But does splurging on a high-end system ensure that they'll have a working laptop through graduation, or can a budget option provide the same guarantee? We explore the various factors to consider when walking the delicate balance between budget-friendly deals and lasting value.

Shiny gadgets and affordable pricing rarely go hand-in-hand, which is why dealnews leaves no stone unturned in search of a great deal. But ever wonder how the Internet's tech elite find their deals? We asked some of our favorite tech editors — from Engadget, CNET, and more — to share their money-saving strategies with us.

College students are perpetually strapped for cash, but that doesn't mean your kids need to become schooled in Dumpster Diving 101 just to furnish their apartment. We've rounded up some of the best budget-friendly furniture deals from our site to keep them comfortable in their campus abodes.

Amazon just dropped the price on its refurbished Kindle 3 eBook reader, and TechCrunch believes this signals the impending release of the next generation. So should you cancel your plans for the Kindle 3 and wait for the upgraded model?

Once a week, we scour the Internet looking for the latest rumors about consumer technology. The results of that search are rounded up here, in our Rumor Roundup. To make them palatable, we throw in a dash of humor and a handful of snark. Enjoy!

Cultivating an eco-friendly life can be a massive undertaking, but sometimes it's the small improvements in our daily lives that make the greatest difference. dealnews Green Dad columnist Lou Carlozo offers six simple ways to help the environment (while saving money) by saying: Don't buy that, get this!

Some say that laughter is the best medicine. Others say that penicillin is. Who's right? The world may never know. But one thing is for certain: It doesn't hurt to laugh — except if you have Snarfitis, a rare but serious disease in which laughing causes milk to come out your nose. For the rest of you, enjoy our Friday Funnies. It's like 100cc's of fun, injected right into your eyeballs!

August marks the start of back-to-school season, and with it come dozens of sales. But when it comes to laptops — one of the most coveted back-to-school items — what sort of deals can you expect this month? dealnews broke it down by category to make your shopping experience a little easier (and less expensive).

Nobody wants bad service or (even worse) to become the victim of scammers or fraud. Sometimes it's impossible to avoid, but shoppers can always try to learn from the frustrations of others.

dealnews readers can start by reading Mitch Lipka's report on a recently-released list of the top 10 consumer complaints for 2010. And as an added bonus, Lipka details some tips on how to avoid looking like that angry gentleman to the left.

Experts are predicting that bacon prices will reach all-time highs this month, which is great for pigs — but terrible for pig-eaters. So, with tongue planted firmly in our bacon-packed cheek (jowl?), we present items to get you through the great bacon recession of 2011.

Each month, we analyze the dealnews archives from the past few years to glean information that might arm readers with useful advice on how to shop in the coming weeks. From swimwear and shoes to back-to-school deals galore, here's our guide on the best and worst things to buy in August.

We serve our readers cold, hard facts all day, so wouldn't it be nice to delve into a bit of uncertainty? (We're pretty sure we would, but we're a bit uncertain ourselves.) Well, we found a mess 'o rumors scattered throughout the Internet for just this purpose. Read our Rumor Roundup and enjoy the uncertainty of the future.

The heat can sometimes make us do illogical things, like stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open until the machinery overheats.

But instead of losing your head, check out our Green Dad columnist Lou Carlozo's list of seven eco-friendly ways to keep your cool during this endless summer. Many of his tips will save you money and give your air conditioner a much-needed rest.

From time to time, we slip a little gag, joke, or off-beat reference into our deals. (After all, all work and no play made that guy in that movie go crazy*.) Maybe you've seen one or two, but did you see them all? Double check by reading our weekly Friday Funnies!

*"Mary Poppins"

Prices on Blu-ray disc players have dropped significantly since their debut, but what's the magic price point you should look for when shopping around? We looked at every Blu-ray disc player deal we've listed in the past year to find out.

There are few things more delightful than seeing your dog's response to the question, "Wanna go for a ride?" (Said in a very high-pitched voice of course.) But an unrestrained pet in the car can be dangerous, so Tom Barlow has some tips and deals to keep Fido (or Severus, or Chewbacca... we're all nerds here, right?) safe on the road.

Last week, we adamantly advised against shopping the Borders liquidation sales, and this week we have proof that the store-closing discounts are not only mediocre — but 76% of the items we checked are priced higher than last week. Plus, we found better deals online for almost every title.

We serve our readers cold, hard facts all day, so wouldn't it be nice to delve into a bit of uncertainty? (We're pretty sure we would, but we're a bit uncertain ourselves.) Well, we found a mess 'o rumors scattered throughout the Internet for just this purpose. Read our Rumor Roundup and enjoy the uncertainty of the future.

The Borders CEO sent out a farewell to its customers last night, citing the reasons for the bookseller's demise. The note came just in time for today's liquidation sales, which take up to 40% off in-store — just as we predicted, although that's not a good thing in terms of deals. Click here to read more about the sales, as well as the CEO's email in its entirety.

In today's disposable society, it's all too easy to toss a small appliance once it's past its prime. But many of those dejected items often still have life in them! In this week's Green Dad column, Lou Carlozo gives you eight tips for finding the best deals on used small appliances.

This week, Apple set the world aflame when it released its latest Sandy Bridge–equipped Mac mini.

OK, not really. Because, honestly, who knows what to do with a mini anyway? Inside, we cast a critical eye on the tiny system, as well as posit some potential uses. (Don't read the title though if you want to be surprised by our findings.)

Throughout the week we try to sprinkle a bit of humor among our usually-serious deals. (It's like adding spice to a soup ... or fairy dust to an animated british child.) Did you see all the jokes we posted this week? If not, we've collected them all in our Friday Funnies roundup!

Apple's just-released MacBook Air and the forthcoming Samsung Series 9 Laptop are two of the sharpest-looking ultraportable notebooks around. Yet despite their similar profiles and price points, they're sporting completely different innards. Or are they? We list both systems side-by-side to find out which laptop is more deserving of your hard-earned cash.

The MacBook Air, Apple's sexiest system, has figuratively received a fresh new coat of paint. But are the spec bumps and new operating system enough to justify an upgrade? We compare last year's entry-level model with today's to find out.

Commodity prices for key items, including food, are on the rise due to increased operating expenses; Target, for example, raised prices on apparel in the spring and is set to do the same this fall. (All the more reason to turn to dealnews, eh?) Laura Heller details what consumers can expect from retailers in the coming months.

When news spread that Borders was shuttering its remaining 399 stores, opportunist shoppers likely began rubbing their hands together in eager anticipation for liquidation sales. But even though "liquidation" implies rock-bottom prices, dealnews research shows that the discounts you'll eventually see probably won't be worth your time — and in some cases, they may be higher than what Borders offered just weeks before.

LEDs have taken over as backlights for notebooks and other mobile devices, and they're now found in many LCD HDTVs. But what effect does the technology have on picture quality, energy performance, and your budget? Alfred Poor explains what the benefits are to paying for LED backlights.

We deal with cold, hard facts all day. Wouldn't it be nice to delve into uncertainty? We think so! That's why we scour the Internet for the wildest tech rumors we can find. Then we package them together and present them to you as our Rumor Roundup. So, c'mon in and leave credibility at the door!

Time for a new refrigerator? Think again before you buy brand-new. Many appliances are built to stand the test of time, so you can find yourself a bargain if you opt for used. Our Green Dad columnist Lou Carlozo talks to an expert and gives us eight tips on how to find a great deal on used large appliances.

As that guy in that movie* sang, "Make 'em laugh! Make 'em Laugh!" Well, throughout the week we try to do just that. Did you see all the jokes we posted this week in our usually serious deals? If not, we've put them all in our Friday Funnies roundup!

*The Joker in "The Dark Knight"

Many companies are quick to respond when a customer's shopping experience goes awry, but occasionally you may encounter a particularly difficult vendor. Mitch Lipka outlines the steps you need to take to escalate your customer service complaint when you're facing a merchant that's unwilling to help.

If you've ever wondered whether 240Hz is all that much better than 60Hz or 120Hz — or if you bashfully live unaware of what a Hertz is at all — then it's time you read our primer on refresh rates. Alfred Poor breaks down the technology so you know exactly what you're buying, and whether faster is always worth the extra money.

Rumors don't tell us anything important, but they sure are fun to read. For instance, are you at all interested to know about the next iPad? Or about what Facebook has planned? How about what Google is up to? If so, c'mon in and read our latest Rumor Roundup! It has the answers to these questions ... and more!

Did you know that, every now and again, we slip a little gag, joke, or off-beat reference into our otherwise "just the facts, ma'am" deal write-ups? (After all, all work and no play made that guy in that movie go crazy*.) Maybe you've seen one or two, but over the last week there were a bunch of 'em! To make sure you don't miss a single one, we've rounded them up in our weekly Friday Funnies! Now go enjoy them!

*"Free Willy"

Contrary to what a certain Muppet may tell you, sometimes being green is easy — especially if it means saving money. Eco-friendly practices don't always need to diminish your funds, and this week Green Dad columnist Lou Carlozo gives us the mow-down on how to keep your lawn looking great while minimizing its impact on both the earth and your wallet.

Not every Android phone is created equal, and with so many options to choose from, picking the right model isn't always simple. To help you differentiate your Gingerbreads from your Thunderbolts, we've looked at the hottest Android smartphones in our archives and sorted them by their feature list — with some insight on what you can expect to pay.

Think a smartphone is expensive? With all the premium features now found in the new handsets, you might actually wind up saving money in the long run by not having to buy several other gadgets. Inside, we explain why a smartphone is the one gadget to rule them all.

The trade-in value for used cars is at an all-time high, so it's the ideal time to consider selling. But before you hit the market, dealnews shows you how to squeeze even more money out of your used car with some simple detailing. Tom Barlow has all the, uh, details.

Each month, we analyze the dealnews archives from the past few years to glean information that might arm readers with useful advice on how to shop in the coming weeks. From Black Friday–themed sales to airfare discounts galore, here's our guide on what to buy in July.

Rumors don't tell us anything important, but they sure are fun to read. For instance, are you at all interested to know about the next iPad? Or about what Facebook has planned? If so, c'mon in and read our latest Rumor Roundup! It has the answer to these questions and more! Enjoy!

Did you know that, every now and again, we slip a little gag, joke, or off-beat reference into our otherwise "just the facts, ma'am" deal write-ups? (After all, all work and no play made that guy in that movie go crazy*.) Maybe you've seen one or two, but over the last week there were a bunch of 'em! To make sure you don't miss a single one, we've rounded them up in our weekly Friday Funnies! Now go enjoy them!

*"Pinocchio"