The ToyBox

July 3rd, 2009

Gadget Gal's daily deals: 60 GB Apple iPod, 250 GB Archos 5, Logitech keyboard and mouse combo

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 9:47 am

Categories: Apple, Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, Keyboards and mice, Logitech, MP3 & portable media players, iPod classic

Tags:

An Archos 5 media tablet, a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse combo, and a refurbished Apple iPod. Here are your daily deals for Friday, July 3, straight from the Gadget Gal:

1. Amazon’s deal of the day is the Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet. Originally selling for $449.99, you can get the Archos for $279.99 today. It has a high-resolution 4.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen, can play up to 22 hours of music or seven hours of video on a single charge, and can hold up to 300 movies, 2.5 million photos, or 145,000 songs.

[read the review] [find the deal]

2.Get the Logitech Wireless Desktop EX 110 Keyboard & Mouse Combo for just $18.99 after coupon code logi_ex110_7109. This particular EX 110 is a “dented box” item, which means its outer box has been damaged somewhat, but the product itself is guaranteed to be in brand new condition and fully warranted. The deal is valid until July 9, 2009.

[read the review] [find the deal]

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July 2nd, 2009

Gadget Gal's daily deals: Star Wars bobble heads, Lenovo ThinkPad, Asus monitor, Magellan Maestro GPS

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 7:50 am

Categories: Asus, Cars and Automobiles, Computers, Desktops, GPS navigation, Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, Hardware, Laptops, Lenovo, Toybox Highlights

Tags: ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Monitor, Star Wars, Lenovo Group Ltd., Monitors & Displays, Hardware, Components, Jennifer Bergen

An Asus 24-inch monitor, a Lenovo ThinkPad 14-inch notebook, a Magellan Maestro GPS receiver, and a sale on Star Wars bobble heads. Here are your daily deals for Thursday, July 2, straight from the Gadget Gal:

1. Get the Asus VH242H 24-inch LCD monitor at Newegg for $169.99 shipped. The monitor is normally $279.99, but you can get it for $100 off, plus a $10 mail-in rebate. It also comes with a three-year warranty on parts and labor. The monitor has 1920×1080 resolution, a 5ms response time, and built-in speakers.

[read the review] [find the deal]

2. Get the Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 14-inch notebook computer for $466.65, plus free shipping after coupon code USPNOTEBOOKS. The computer has a 1280 x 800 LED-backlit display, 160GB HDD, a DVD burner, and 1GB of RAM. This offer expires after July 6.

[read the review] [find the deal]

3. Just for kicks, we’re throwing this deal in the mix. Head over to Buy.com to pick up a six pack of Funko Star Wars bobble heads. Regularly $69.99, you can get the little guys for $39.99.

[find the deal]

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July 2nd, 2009

Analyst: Cheap ultrathin laptops push design limits; cracked plastic

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 7:22 am

Categories: Computers, Consumerism, Laptops, Netbooks

Tags: Apple MacBook Air, Apple MacBook, OEM, Manufacturer, Laptop Computer, Intel Corp., Design Limit, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets

Been eyeing a thin-and-light laptop recently? You know, the kind that usually comes prefixed with the “Macbook Air killer” tag?

Be careful what you wish for.

Broadpoint AmTech analyst Doug Freedman said Wednesday to CNET contributor Brooke Crothers that some PC manufacturers are discovering the limits to how thin a cheap laptop can really be.

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July 1st, 2009

Walkman turns 30, introduces OLED X Series: Can it compete with the iPod?

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 10:45 am

Categories: Apple, MP3 & portable media players, Sony, iPod touch

Tags: IBM xSeries, Sony Corp., Apple iPod, Sony Walkman, Digital Music, Digital Media, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics, Jennifer Bergen

This week marks the 30-year anniversary of the Sony Walkman. But if this is such a milestone birthday, why hasn’t Sony been working the 30-years angle? Could it have something to do with Apple’s quick success in the area of portable media players?

According to the Associated Press, Sony suffered its first annual loss in 14 years: $1.02 billion this past fiscal year ending in March. During the Walkman’s 30-year lifespan, Sony has sold 385 million Walkman machines worldwide. Apple, on the other hand, has sold more than 210 million iPods worldwide in eight years. That means, Apple has a whole 22 years left to catch up to where Sony is, which is only 175 million more iPods.

But, Sony is not planning on throwing in the towel any time soon. Just because the iPod craze is blowing up, and has been doing so for quite some time, doesn’t mean that Sony can’t come out with a new high-tech Walkman to compete with Apple. And lo and behold, a new Walkman is available tomorrow, July 2 — and it looks like a pretty good iPod competitor.

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July 1st, 2009

21.5" Alienware OptX HD widescreen flat panel display, $299

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 8:44 am

Categories: Alienware, Hardware, Monitors and displays

Tags: Flat Panel, Alienware, AW2210, Monitors & Displays, Hardware, Components, Andrew Nusca

It’s come to our attention that Alienware has begun taking orders for the accessibly-priced (for Alienware) 21.5-in. OptX AW2210 widescreen flat panel display, and that’s good news for folks needing lots of display for less cash.

The AW2210 manages Full HD 1920 by 1080 resolution, 2 ms response time, 16.7 million colors, an 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and low-input lag (after all, Alienware primarily serves gamers).

Add on the tilt and swivel adjustable stand, the touch capacitive buttons and the 4 USB ports and you’ve got yourself a nice little unit. And since Dell displays are rather liked by reviewers, it’s worth consideration. (Then again, so is the Dell SX2210.)

July 1st, 2009

eMachines introduces trio of ET mini-tower desktop PCs; $299 to $449

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 8:27 am

Categories: Computers, Desktops

Tags: Desktop, Rear, USB 2.0, Hard Drive, PC, Memory, Microsoft Windows Vista, eMachines Inc., Desktop Computer, Serial ATA

eMachines on Wednesday introduced three new mini-tower PCs priced from $299 to $449, reminding budget-conscious consumers everywhere that bargains on desktops are greater than ever.

The eMachines ET1300-02, ET1810-01 and ET1810-03 desktop PCs stand in gleaming white regalia accented by green LED lighting, and can be bundled with a matching keyboard and widescreen display with built-in speakers.

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July 1st, 2009

Gadget Gal's daily deals: Sony digital voice recorder, Canon PowerShot, Logitech Bluetooth headset

Posted by Jennifer Bergen @ 7:27 am

Categories: Bluetooth headsets, Cameras, Camcorders and Software, Canon, Gadget Gal's Daily Deals, Logitech, MP3 & portable media players, Mobile, Cell Phones and Smartphones, Sony

Tags: Canon PowerShot, Sony Corp., Recorder, Headset, Logitech, Canon Inc., Bluetooth Headset, J&R, PowerShot A1100, Jennifer Bergen

A Sony digital voice recorder, a Canon PowerShot digital camera, and a Logitech Bluetooth headset. Here are your daily deals for Wednesday, July 1, straight from the Gadget Gal:

1. J&R’s deal of the day today is the Sony ICD-UX70 Digital Voice Recorder. Previously $129.95, you can get it for $79.99 today. The recorder has 1 GB of built-in memory, five record modes, and allows you to transfer files with PC and Macs. It has MP3 stereo recording and playback, and allows you to playback and record up to 18 hours of MP3 files. LP mode allows up to 290 hours of recording time. It also has Voice Operated Recording — a cool feature that stops the recording during long pauses, saving valuable recording time, and then starts the recording again without missing anything.

[read the review] [find the deal]

2. Get the Canon PowerShot A1100 IS 12.1-megapixel digital camera at Newegg for $169.99, down from $199.99. The gray PowerShot A1100 has a 2.5-inch 115K LCD screen, and a 4X optical zoom.

[read the A1000 review] [find the deal]

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July 1st, 2009

Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 4:00 am

Categories: Computers, Consumerism, Feature, Laptops

Tags: Hard Drive, Intel Core 2 Duo, Laptop Computer, Intel Corp., Prices, Acer Aspire Timeline, Gateway NV Series, Processors, Semiconductors, Hardware

It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times — at least when it comes to shopping for a laptop.

Prices are lower than ever before, yet a dizzying amount of options are available for your next machine. And with diminutive, Intel Atom-powered netbooks creeping up on the traditional notebook segment, it’s hard to discern which system will give you enough bang for your buck.

To aid back-to-school shoppers out there looking to spend less than the $700 to $1200 range I used for my “Top 10 laptops for college students” list, here’s a list of 10 fully-featured laptops for under $750.

(And no, you won’t find any netbooks on this list.)

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June 30th, 2009

Gateway NV series offers dual-core, 320GB HDD, 4GB RAM; $499

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 7:31 pm

Categories: Computers, Laptops

Tags: Hard Drive, Dual-core, Gateway Inc., Memory Stick, RAM, NV Series, Example Configuration, Memory, Flash Memory, Processors

Gateway on Thursday debuted its new Gateway NV Series notebook, an entertainment-minded laptop that packs a dual-core processor, 320GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM starting at $499.

The 15.6-in. NV series touts a 16:9, 1366 by 768 resolution display for HD video and Dolby Sound Room for audio. An HDMI port rounds out the portable home theater appeal.

Read the rest of this entry »

June 30th, 2009

BlackBerry Tour lands at Verizon on July 12; $199.99

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 12:40 pm

Categories: Mobile, Cell Phones and Smartphones, Verizon Wireless

Tags: Research In Motion Ltd., Verizon Communications Inc., RIM BlackBerry, Handhelds, Hardware, Andrew Nusca

RIM’s BlackBerry Tour, the world phone that looks and feels equal parts BlackBerry Bold and Storm, is officially landing at Verizon Wireless stores on July 12.

You’ll be able to flog this globetrotting QWERTY powerhouse for $199.99 with two-year service contract.

More on the BlackBerry Tour 9630 on ZDNet:

• Jennifer Bergen: Hands on: RIM BlackBerry Tour
• Jason Hiner: BlackBerry Tour offers solid features, but adds to branding confusion
• Matthew Miller: RIM announces BlackBerry Tour with CDMA/GSM support, no WiFi
• Andrew Nusca: RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 announced for Verizon, Sprint
• ZDNet Reviews: RIM BlackBerry Tour