CrunchGear » Search Results » acer

Awards: Best of Black Friday

Doug Aamoth — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Black Friday is just two days away. If you have what it takes to wake up at the crack of dawn, brave the crowds, and spot the best deals, there are plenty of savings to be had. Here’s a quick list of some of the best deals from the most popular product categories being offered by brick-and-mortar stores, followed by a few prestigious awards that have been given to various retailers.

Doorbuster deals have been marked with and asterisk and, where applicable, the next best non-doorbuster deal has been listed as well.

Best TV Deals

19-inch: Walmart $128* / Best Buy $149.99
22-inch: Radio Shack $199.99
26-inch: Office Depot $299.99
32-inch (720p): Target $246
32-inch (1080p): Best Buy $439.99
40-inch (1080p): Target $449* / Best Buy $499.99
42-inch (720p): Walmart $448* / Best Buy $547.99
42-inch (1080p): Sears $499.99* / Sears $549.99 (Plasma)
46-inch (1080p): Walmart $798* / Best Buy $847.99
50-inch: Walmart $598 (Plasma)

Best Netbook Deals

Best Buy: Compaq 10.1-inch $179.99
Radio Shack: Acer Aspire One 11.6-inch $249.99

Best Notebook Deals

Walmart: eMachines 15.6-inch $198*
Office Depot: HP 15.6-inch $299.99
Walmart: HP 17-inch $398

Best Desktop Deal

Office Depot: Compaq $229.99

Best Blu-ray Deals

Walmart: $78*
Best Buy: $99.99

Best GPS Deal

Walmart: TomTom One 125-SE $59

Best Hard Drive Deals

Target: 1TB Western Digital Desktop $59.98
Office Max: 500GB External 3.5-inch $49.99
Target: 500GB Western Digital Portable: $59.98

Best Digital Camera Deals

Office Max: Vivitar $39.99 (Point-and-Shoot)
Best Buy: Nikon D3000DX $499.99 (DSLR)

Best Monitor Deals

Office Max: Acer 18.5-inch $69.99
Best Buy: Acer 20-inch $79.99
Staples: eMachines 21.5-inch $89.98*
Office Max: AOC 22-inch: $99.99
Staples: Acer 23-inch $139.98

With the best deals in the most popular product categories out of the way, we can now move on to the awards section of the program. Please hold your applause until all of the winners have been announced.

The “So… Are You Guys Actually Having a Sale?” Award

And the winner is… GameStop. Aside from a few anemic doorbuster deals, the store’s Black Friday ad is chock full of plenty of regularly-priced items. Wii Fit and Balance Board for $99? Gee, thanks.

The “Why the Hell Are You Opening So Early?” Award

And the winner is… Old Navy. No electronics deals to speak of other than getting Lego Rock Band for free with any $20 purchase but for some crazy-ass reason, the stores are opening at 3AM on Black Friday. Because the only thing better than being in an Old Navy store is being in an Old Navy store at 3AM and then having to kill time until all the other stores open.

The “Doors Will Probably Literally Get Busted” Award

And the winner is… Walmart. Just like every other year, the retail giant will be offering plenty of insane deals to plenty of insane people. If you’re planning on shopping at Walmart this Black Friday and you’re reading this, you are not insane. Everyone else around you will be, though. Not you. I don’t want any trouble. I’m just a guy with a keyboard.

The “Under the Radar” Award

And the winner is… Target. The store lulls everyone into complacency with everyday household items and then sweeps the 32-inch and 40-inch TV deal categories like a ninja, with a 32-inch LCD TV priced at $246 and a 40-inch 1080p doorbuster TV priced at $449. Well played, Target. Well played, indeed.

The “One-Stop Shop” Award

And the winner is… Best Buy. Pretty good all-around deals, plenty of video game deals (especially the Xbox 360 bundles), and 18-month interest-free financing on all purchases totaling $249 and up if you have a Best Buy card make the store a good option if you want to immerse yourself in the Black Friday madness for an hour or two before going back to bed.

Walmart is another worthy option, although Best Buy’s “everyone waits in line for a ticket to buy doorbusters so there’s no mayhem when the store opens” policy seems a little less chaotic than Walmart’s “holy crap I thought there’d be more cops here now who’s going to stop these crazies from ripping the doors off the hinges sweet jesus they’re just like living zombies except much faster and exponentially angrier” Black Friday sales of years past.

See more Black Friday ads here…

Review: ReTrak Universal 90W Notebook Wall Charger

Doug Aamoth — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Short Version: A universal notebook adapter with retractable cabling that extends to almost ten feet in length, comes with nine adapter tips, and features two USB charging ports.

Features:

90-watt universal notebook adapter
Nine adapter tips
Retractable cables extend to provide 9.5-feet of total length
Includes two USB charging ports
MSRP of $99.99

Pros:

No tangled cables
Built-in USB charging ports
Decent system compatibility

Cons:

Not all that compact, despite marketing claims that it’s “up to 60 percent smaller than competitors.”

Review:

When it comes to universal notebook adapters, it’s important to keep a couple things in mind. First, the term “universal” is a bit misleading as you’ll be hard pressed to find the Mag Safe adapter tips used with most of Apple’s notebooks. But that’s more of a legal/patenting issue than an omission by universal adapter manufacturers.

Second, most of them are priced pretty similarly so it’s a good idea to focus on certain features that appeal to you. The 90-watt ReTrak Universal Notebook Wall Charger, for instance, sports two built-in USB charging ports and a retractable cabling system for $100 as its way of differentiating itself (there’s also a 70-watt version available for $80).

When I first wrote about this item back in October, I saw the product photo and thought, “Hey, this thing looks pretty tiny.” And, indeed, it’s billed as being “up to 60 percent smaller than competitors.” Here’s the product shot:

You’ll notice that the retractable cord doodads in the above photo appear to be small compared to the main adapter housing. In real life, though, they’re not nearly as svelte – see the photo I took at the top of this post for a more accurate depiction.

So my initial reaction after actually opening the packaging was more like, “Oh, it’s about the same size as most of the other adapters I’ve seen.” It absolutely may be a bit smaller than some adapters out there, but I’m not sure where that 60% figure came from. That must have been a gigantic adapter that was used for comparison.

For the sake of our own comparison, here’s the adapter next to a 90-watt Sony adapter (on the right) and a netbook adapter (on the left). As you can see, it’s actually kind of big. Remember that you get the two USB charging ports, though, and the retractable cabling extends out to almost 10 feet in length without getting tangled up in your bag.

Both retractable cables can be detached from the adapter, which is a nice feature, and you get a little carrying bag for transporting the main parts of the adapter and the tips. As for compatibility, the adapter works with various notebooks from Acer, Compaq, HP, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony, and Dell (see the full list here).

The product works as advertised – I tested it with a 13.3-inch Sony, a 15.6-inch Gateway, a 15.6-inch Sony, and even an 11.6-inch Acer netbook, as well as several USB devices (iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, PMPs, pocket camcorders) with no problems whatsoever.

Bottom Line:

Even though it’s not actually all that compact, the ReTrak universal charger’s tangle-free cabling, broad system support, and nice added bonus of two USB charging ports helps it to stand out from similarly-priced adapters. If you’ve got a handful of notebooks and a pile of portables that have made travelling an unbearable mess of adapters and cables, this ReTrak adapter can help to simplify things considerably.

Product Page [EmergeRetail.com]

Target leaks pre-Black Friday deals: Acer netbook for $199

Doug Aamoth — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Target will be running a special Sunday-to-Wednesday circular this weekend full of pre-Black Friday deals. Most of the deals are okay, if unspectacular – 32-inch LCD TV for $398, $20 giftcard with Wii system purchase, etc. – while the 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One netbook ought to sell out pretty quickly at just $199 (although don’t forget that Office Max will be selling a similar machine on Black Friday for $150).

There’s also a 50-inch plasma TV for $698, a 42-inch 1080p LCD TV for $597, and a dual-screen portable DVD player for $119. Check your paper this Sunday for the full list of deals. If you just said, “What’s a paper?” then maybe check Target’s website on Sunday instead.

Walmart Black Friday ad

Doug Aamoth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:58:36 +0000

Walmart’s Black Friday ad is here, packed full of holiday goodies. Stores open at 5AM Friday morning and doorbusters will be available until 11AM.

Here’s a list of gadget-related items. Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk.

Computers

Acer 17.3″ Blue Laptop w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 Premium (Online Only) – $498.00

eMachines 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Processor, 2GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive (Model # EME627) – $198.00 *

HP 15.6″ Notebook w/Intel Processor, 3GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # G60-519WM) – $298.00 *

HP 17″ Notebook w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # G71-329WM) – $398.00

HP Pavilion All-In-One 19″ Desktop w/4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, MS213 AMD – $598.00

HP Pavilion Desktop w/AMD Processor, 3GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, w/20″ Monitor (Model # P6243w-b) – $398.00 *

Digital Cameras

Kodak C82 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $69.00

Nikon CoolPix S230 10MP Digital Camera – $139.00

Sony Cyber-Shot DSCS930 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $79.00

Digital Media Cards

Sandisk 4GB SDHC Card – $8.00

Sony 4GB Memory Stick – $20.00

DVD Players

Magnavox NB500 Blu-ray Disc Player – $78.00 *

Samsung BD-P1590 Blu Ray Player (Saturday) – $148.00

Sony BDP-S369 Blu Ray Player – $148.00

Electronics

8″ LCD Digital Photo Frame – $29.00

Philips 6′ Gold HDMI Cable – $19.00

Philips 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.00

Philips Earbuds – $10.00

Samsung MX20 Red Camcorder – $149.00

GPS Systems

TomTom One 125-SE GPS – $59.00

TomTom XL325-SE GPS – $89.00

Hard Drives

Western Digital 1TB 3.5″ External Hard Drive – $78.00

Western Digital My Passport Essential 320GB Hard Drive – $49.00

Miscellaneous

Duracell UltraAdvanced AA/AAA 6-Pack – 2 For $5

Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA 2-Pack – 2 For $5

Rayovac AA/AAA 12-Pack – 2 For $5

MP3 Players

Apple 8GB iPod Touch w/$50 iTunes GC – $195.00

Phillips 4GB MP3/Video Player – $29.00

Sony iPod Speaker – $69.00

Networking

Belkin N 150 Router – $29.00

Portable USB Storage

Sandisk Cruzer 4GB USB Flash Drive – $8.00

Printers

HP Deskjet F2430 All-In-One Printer – $25.00

Kodak ESP5250LE Wireless Printer – $99.00

Televisions

Emerson 32″ LC320EMFX LCD 720P HDTV – $248.00 *

Emerson 42″ PL-P42W-10A Plasma 720P HDTV – $448.00 *

Flat-Panel TV Stand – $89.00

Philips Large Fixed TV Mount – $69.00

RCA 46″ LCD 1080p HDTV (Online Only) – $688.00

Samsung 32″ LN328360 LCD 720P HDTV (Saturday) – $398.00

Samsung 42″ LN40B500 LCD 1080P HDTV (Saturday) – $598.00

Samsung 42″ PN42B400 Plasma 720P HDTV (Saturday) – $548.00

Samsung 46″ LN46B500 LCD 1080P HDTV (Saturday) – $848.00

Samsung 50″ PN50B400 Plasma 720P HDTV (Saturday) – $698.00

Sansui 19″ HDLCD1909 LCD HDTV – $128.00

Sayno 50″ DP50719 Plasma HDTV – $598.00

Sony Bravia 32″ KDL32L504 LCD 720P HDTV – $378.00

Sony Bravia 40″ KDL40S504 LCD 1080P HDTV – $598.00

Sony Bravia 46″ KDL465504 LCD 1080P HDTV – $798.00 *

Video Games

2K Sports NBA 2K10 For Xbox 360 – $25.00

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader For PS2 – $7.00

Bakugan For Nintendo Wii – $25.00

Big Beach Sports For Nintendo Wii – $10.00

Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare For PS3 – $25.00

Carnival Games For Nintendo Wii – $10.00

Celebrity Sports Showdown For Nintendo Wii – $7.00

Comand And Conquer Red Alert 3 For Xbox 360 – $7.00

EA Sports Madden 10 For PS2 – $25.00

Grand Theft Auto IV For Xbox 360 – $10.00

Lock’s Quest (Nintendo DS) – $7.00

Midnight Club Los Angeles (Xbox 360) – $10.00

MX Vs ATV Untaimed (Nintendo DS) – $10.00

Need For Speed Undercover (PS3) – $10.00

NeoPets Puzzle Adventure (Nintendo DS) – $7.00

Nintendo DS Lite – $98.00 *

Nintendo DS Lite Starter Kit – $10.00 *

Nintendo Wii Value Bundle With Console, Remote, Nunchuck, 2 Games And An Extra Set Of Nyko Controllers (Online Only) – $249.00

Over 30 Games For $25 – $25.00

Over 40 Games For $10.00 – $10.00

Over 50 Video Games For $7.00 – $7.00

Playstation 3 Console w/Infamous & Batman Arkham Asylum Games + Dark Knight Blu-ray – $299.00

Rock Band Special Edition (PS3) – $50.00

Rock Band Special Edition (XBox 360) – $50.00

Suzuki TT Super Bikes (PS2) – $7.00

Tak And The Guardians Of Gross (Nintendo Wii) – $7.00

The Godfather II (PS3) – $10.00

The Sims 3 For PC/Mac – $25.00

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Nintendo Wii) – $25.00

UFC 2009 Undisputed (Xbox 360) – $25.00

WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 For PS3 – $25.00

Xbox 360 Arcade w/Madagascar 2 Game & w/Madagascar & w/Madagascar 2 Movie DVDs – $199.00

X Rocker Turbo Sound Gaming Chair – $35.00

Walmart Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

Radio Shack Black Friday ad

Doug Aamoth — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:33:13 +0000

Oh, I get it. It’s called “Shack” Friday at Radio Shack instead of Black Friday. Because “shack” sounds like “black” and “shack” is part of Radio Shack’s name. So basically, they just switched the two words around. I get it.

Know what else? The damn sale starts on Thursday! What a world! “Most stores open at 10 AM Thursday,” says the circular. And then they open at 5:30 in the morning on Friday! That’s Shack-rilege! See how I worked the name of the store into that one?

UPDATE: Radio Shack’s PR team was kind enough to send over high-resolution images of the national circular. Here are the links to the images:

Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3

Anyhoo, here’s the good stuff. Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk.

Automotive

Gigaware Car Charger for iPod – $10.00

Sirius Stratus 5 Dock & Play Radio + Car Kit – $29.99

XM onyX Satellite Radio – $59.99

Blank Media

25-Pack of Gigaware 16X DVD-Rs – B1G1F

50-Pack Of Gigaware 52X CD-R – B1G1F

Gigaware 25 Pack of 16X DVD-Rs – B1G1F

Gigaware 50 Pack of 52X CD-Rs – B1G1F

Cell Phones

BlackBerry Curve 8520 (w/2-Year Agreement) – $0.00

Gigaware High Power Docking Speaker For iPod – $49.99

LG Xenon Cell Phone (w/2-Year Agreement) – $0.00

Motorola CLIQ w/Motoblur (w/2-Year Agreement) – $79.99

Motorola i776 Cell Phone – $69.99

Nokia 2720 No-Contract Mobile Phone – $9.99

Palm Pixi Cell Phone (w/2-Year Agreement) – $99.99

Palm Pre Cell Phone (w/2-Year Agreement) – $99.99

Plantronics E210 Bluetooth Headset – $19.99

Samsung Impression Cell Phone (w/2-Year Agreement) – $29.99

Samsung Instinct S30 Cell Phone (w/2-Year Agreement) – $0.00

Samsung Mantra Cell Phone – $29.99

Snap-On Covers for iPhone 3G or Blackberry Curve 8300 – $9.99

Computer Accessories

Gigaware 1.3MP Webcam w/Microphone – $14.99

Gigaware 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System – $10.00

Gigaware Folding Notebook Cooling Pad – $10.00

Gigaware VoIP USB Headset – $10.00

Gigaware Wireless Optical Mouse – $12.99

Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo – $19.99

Netbook Accessory Bundle (USB Hub, Mouse, Earbuds, Cooling Pad) – $29.99

Pinnacle Ultra-Compact USB HDTV Tuner – $39.99

Computers

Acer 11.6″ Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor Z520, 2GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive – $249.99

Acer 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320 Hard Drive – $399.99

Digital Cameras

Buy Any $89.99 Camera In This Ad, Receive a Free Polaroid Pogo Mobile Printer – $0.00

Casio Exilim 10 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera Gift Bundle – $89.99

Kodak MD81 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $99.99

Nikon S220 10 Megapixel 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera – $129.99

Olympus 12 Megapixel 7x Wide-Angle Zoom Digital Camera – $149.99

Vivitar 8.1 Megapixel 2x Optical Zoom Digital Camera – $49.99

Digital Media Cards

Sandisk 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $9.99

Sandisk 2GB Type-M xD-Picture Card – $9.99

Sandisk 4GB MicroSDHC Card – $9.99

Sandisk Standard SDHC Card – $9.99

DVD Players

Memorex Upconverting DVD Player – $29.99

Samsung BD-1600A Blu-ray Disc Player – $149.99

Electronics

Casio 32 Mini-Key Electronic Keyboard – $29.99

Discovery 54-Key Electronic Keyboard – $29.99

Discovery Kids Digital Camcorder – $39.99

Emerson Portable CD+G Karaoke Player – $29.99

Gigaware 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99

Gigaware Micro Projector – $99.99

MagicJack VoIP Kit – $29.99

Motorola 4-Pack of 2-Way FRS Radios – $29.99

Panasonic DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone System w/4 Headsets – $69.99

Pandigital 10.1″ Digital Photo Frame – $79.99

Sanyo 720p High-Definition Video Camcorder – $169.99

Skullcandy Headphones – $9.99

USB Turntable – $79.99

Vivitar 720p High-Definition Video Camcorder – $69.99

GPS Systems

Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3″ Widescreen GPS – $119.99

Garmin Nuvi 265WT 4.3″ GPS w/Free Lifetime Traffic Updates – $169.99

Mio 4.3″ M400 GPS – $79.99

TomTom XL 330S GPS w/Free Dash Mount – $99.99

Hard Drives

Iomega 320GB Portable Hard Drive – $49.99

Miscellaneous

5×7″ Recordable Talking Picture Frame – $10.00

Duracell Color Charger w/2 AA Rechargeable Batteries – $10.00

Enercell Holiday Bettery Tin – $9.99

ESPN GameDay Universal 4-in-1 Remote – $10.00

Gigaware 1.5″ Digital Photo Keychain – $10.00

Gigaware Crystal Skin for iPod Touch – $10.00

Gigaware Laser Etched Skin for iPod Touch – $10.00

Gigaware Retractable Rapid Home Charger for iPod/iPhone – $10.00

RadioShack 25-Piece Mini Tool Kit – $10.00

RadioShack 4.3″ GPS Soft Case – $14.99

RadioShack GPS Home AC Charger – $14.99

RadioShack Weather Cube Radio – $10.00

Rechargeable Spotlight – $10.00

Swiss+Tech Micro-Max 19-in-1 Tool Kit – $10.00

MP3 Players

8GB iPod Touchw/$20 GC – $199.99

Gigaware 2GB MP3 Player – $19.99

Gigaware 4GB MP3 Player – $39.99

Gigaware MP3 Accessory Kit – $9.99

iHome Computer Stereo Speakers w/Dock for iPid – $29.99

iLive 2.1 Home Theater Upconverting DVD System w/Dock for iPod – $99.99

iPod 8GB Nano w/$15 GC – $149.99

iPod Accessory Kit – $30.00

Sansa 2GB Clip Plus Music Player w/1000 Song Music Card – $49.99

Sound Bar w/Dock for iPod – $69.99

Networking

Netgear WNR1000 Wireless-N 150 Router – $34.99

Portable USB Storage

Sandisk 2GB USB Flash Drive – $4.99

Sandisk 4GB USB Flash Drive – $9.99

Televisions

AOC 22″ 720P LCD HDTV – $199.99

Auvio 3.5″ Pocket Digital TV – $79.99

Auvio 7″ Portable TV – $119.99

Samsung 32″ LCD HDTV – $399.99

Video Games

DualShock 3 PS3 Wireless Controler – $29.99

Gigaware Recharging Station for Nintendo Wii – $12.99

Nyko Wand for Nintendo Wii – $24.99

V.Motion Game Console – $34.99

Xbox 360 Elite System w/$60 Cash Back & 2 Games (Lego Batman and Pure) – $299.99

Radio Shack Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Best Buy Black Friday ad

Doug Aamoth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:06:04 +0000

It’s here. Best Buy’s Black Friday ad is here. Stores open at 5AM and Best Buy will “pass out tickets for our Doorbuster Specials up to two hours before 5 a.m. store opening,” according to the circular. That means no running, probably. You can still do that thing where you walk really fast and sort of skip a little bit, but no running.

Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk.

Automotive

Alpine 50-Watt x 4-Channel Car Stereo – $99.99

Pioneer 50 Watt x 4-Channel Car Stereo & Speaker Pair – $89.99

Cell Phones

AT&T Sony Ericsson W518a – Free w/2 Year Contract *

BoostMobile Motorola Clutch i465 – $59.99

DLO Jam Jacket For iPhone – $9.99

Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth Headset – $19.99

LG Chocolate Touch From Verizon w/Two Year Activation – $0.00 *

MiFi 2200 By Novatel Wireless w/Two Year Activation – $0.00

Mobile Broadband Card 598U By Sierra Wireless w/Two Year Activation – $0.00

Motorola H710 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headset – $39.99

Motorola S9 HD Stereo Bluetooth Headset – $49.99

Net10 Samsung T401G – $39.99

Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8330 Smart Phone – Free w/2 Year Contract

Sprint Samsung Instinct S30 – Free w/2 Year Contract

T-Mobile Motorola Renew Phone – $7.99

Verizon Wireless DROID – $199.99 w/2 Year Contract

Verizon Wireless Motorola Rival – Free w/2 Year Contract *

Virgin Mobile Kyocera X-tc – $49.99

Computer Accessories

Logitech C250 Webcam – $19.99

Logitech V450 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse – $24.99

Rocketfish AC Power Adapter – $39.99

Computers

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $179.99

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99

Dell 10.1″ Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive – $379.99

eMachines Desktop w/AMD Athlon Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, w/18.5″ LCD Monitor and HP Deskjet Printer – $299.97

HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 6GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $599.99

HP 15.6″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $699.99

Macbook 13.3″ Notebook w/2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, w/$150 Gift Card – $999.99

Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $399.99

Sony 15″ Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, Sony Headphones, Built-In Blu-ray Player, Blu-ray Movie – $479.97

Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 3GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) – $399.99

Toshiba 16″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) w/Printer and Case – $499.97

Digital Cameras

Canon EOS Rebel Tli D-SLR Camera w/18-55mm IS Lens – $699.99

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Grey) – $149.99

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Teal) – $149.99

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case (Grey) – $179.99

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case (Teal) – $179.99

Canon Rebel Tli Camera w/55-250mm IS Telephoto Lens and Lowepro D-SLR Bag – $849.97

Fujifilm Finepix Z37 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $149.97

Fujifilm Finepix Z37 Polka Dot 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera – $119.99

Insignia 720p HD Camcorder – $69.99

Insignia NS-DSC10A 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Pink) – $49.99 *

Insignia NS-DSC10B 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Blue) – $49.99 *

Kodak EasyShare C140 Digital Camera With 7″ Kodak Digital Photo Frame – $109.99

Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera – $299.99

Nikon Coolpix P90 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $329.97

Nikon Coolpix S60 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Red) – $179.99

Nikon Coolpix S60 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Extra Battery and Case – $209.97

Nikon D3000DX 10.2 Megapixel D-SLR Digital Camera w/10-55mm and 55-200mm Lens and Bag – $599.97

Nikon D3000DX 10.2 Megapixel D-SLR Digital Camera w/10-55mm VR Lens – $499.99

Sony Cybershot W180 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera (Black) – $99.99

Sony Cybershot W180 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera w/Flexpod and Camera Case – $119.97

Digital Media Cards

PNY 4GB Flash Drive – $9.99

PNY 4GB MicroSD HD Memory Card – $9.99

PNY 4GB SDHC Memory Card – $9.99

Sandisk 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $14.99

Sandisk 8GB MicroSDHC Memory Card – $19.99

Sandisk 8GB SD Card – $19.99

DVD Players

Insignia Blu-ray Disc Player (Model # NS-BRDVD3) – $99.99

Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray Disc Player – $279.99

Samsung Blu-Ray Disc Player – $149.99

Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc Player – $149.99

Electronics

2GB Pulse Smartpen w/$30 Gift Card – $169.99

Bose In-Ear Headphones – $89.99

Canon Vixia HD HF20 Camcorder – $499.99

Canon Vixia HD HF20 Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & 8″ HDMI Cable – $599.97

Dynex 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99

iHome Portable Alarm Clock Speaker iPod Dock – $39.99

Insignia 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $44.99

Logitech Harmony 510 Advanced Universal Remote – $39.99

Panasonic DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone System w/3 Handsets – $59.99

Pandigital 9″ Digital Photo Frame – $59.99

Sony DCR-SR47 Handycam Camcorder – $249.99

Sony DCR-SR47 Handycam Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & Bag – $299.97

Sony DCR-SX40 Handycam Camcorder – $199.99

Sony DCR-SX40 Handycam Camcorder w/Extra Li-Ion Battery & 8GB Memory Stick – $259.97

Sony Reader Pocket Edition w/$30 Gift Card – $199.99

Sony Studio Monitor Headphones – $9.99

VTech DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone System w/2 Handsets – $44.99

GPS Systems

Garmin GPS Friction Mount – $14.99

Garmin Nuvi 205W GPS Navigation System – $99.99 *

Garmin Nuvi 255WT GPS Navigation System – $129.99

Lowepro Black Neoprene Sleeve – $7.99

Magellan SE4 GPS – $89.99

Tom Tom 540S Portable GPS Navigation System – $149.99

Tom Tom GO 730 Portable GPS Navigation System – $174.99

Hard Drives

LG External Slim Portable USB 2.0 DVD Drive – $49.99

Western Digital 1.5TB My Book Home Edition External Hard Drive – $119.99

Western Digital 500GB My Passport Elite Portable Hard Drive Titanium – $79.99

Western Digital WDTV Media Player – $74.99

Home Theater

4″ Monster Cable 700 Series HDMI Cable – $49.99

Init Cherry Wood Stand With Mount For TVs Up To 46″ – $99.99

Init Cherry Wood w/Black Glass Shelves TV Stand – $149.99

Klipsch Icon 2-Way Triple 5.25″ Floorstanding Speaker – $186.99

Klipsch Icon 2-Way Triple 6.5″ Floorstanding Speaker – $236.99

Samsung 5.1 Channel 1000W Home Theater System With Blu-ray Disc Player – $399.99

Sony 5.1 Channel 1000W Home Theater System – $279.99

Sony 7.1 Channel 770-Watt A/V Receiver – $279.99

Tilting Wall Mount For 30″-56″ Flat-Panel TVs – $99.99

Monitors

Acer 20″ HD LCD Monitor (Model # X203H) – $79.99

Dell 20″ HD LCD Monitor (Model # S2009W) – $99.99

MP3 Players

3 $10 iTunes Gift Cards – $25.00

8GB iPod 5th Generation Nano (Black) + Wall Charger & Case – $159.97

8GB iPod 5th Generation Nano (Blue) + Wall Charger & Case – $159.97

8GB iPod 5th Generation Nano (Pink) + Wall Charger & Case – $159.97

8GB iPod 5th Generation Nano (Purple) + Wall Charger & Case – $159.97

8GB iPod 5th Generation Nano (Silver) + Wall Charger & Case – $159.97

Apple 8GB iPod Touch 3rd Generation w/$30 Gift Card – $199.99

Bose Sound-dock Series II Digital Music System – $269.99

Power Pack for iPod/iPhone – $19.99

Sandisk 4GB Fuze MP3 Player (Black) – $44.99

Sandisk 4GB Fuze MP3 Player (Blue) – $44.99

Sandisk 4GB Fuze MP3 Player (Red) – $44.99

Networking

Linksys Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Broadband Router w/4-Port Switch (Model # WRT160N) – $59.99

NetGear Wireless N Router (Model # WNR2000-100NAS) – $49.99

Portable USB Storage

Sandisk Cruzer 8GB USB Flash Drive – $19.99

Printers

$10 Gift Card With Any $40 Ink Purchase – $0.00

Epson Stylus NX110 Multifunction Printer – $24.99

HP Photosmart C4795 Wireless Multifunction Printer – $64.99

Software

Instant Immersion Spanish Software – $19.99

Microsoft Office Home And Student 2007 – $69.99

Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements – $74.99

Televisions

Dynex 19″ 720p LCD HDTV (Model # DX-L19-10A) – $149.99

Dynex 32″ 720p LCD HDTV (Model # DX-L321-10A) – $299.99 *

Dynex 40″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Model # DX-L40-10A) – $499.99

Insignia 42″ 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV (Model # NS-L42Q120-10A) – $699.99 *

LG 32″ 1080p LCD HDTV (Model # 32LH30-UA) – $439.99

Panasonic Viera 50″ 1080p Plasma HDTV (Model # TC-P50U1) w/Blu-ray Disc Player (Model # DMP-BD60K) – $999.98

Samsung 32″ 1080p LCD HDTV (Model # LN32B530P7F) – $497.99

Samsung 32″ 720p LCD HDTV (Model # LN32B360C5D) – $397.99

Samsung 40″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Model # LN40B500P3FXZA) – $597.99

Samsung 42″ 720p Plasma HDTV (Model # PN42B400P3DXZA) – $547.99

Samsung 46″ 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (Model # UN4686000VF) – $1599.99 *

Samsung 46″ 1080p LCD HDTV (LN46B500P3FXZA) – $847.99

Samsung 50″ 1080p Plasma HDTV (Model # PN50B530S2F) – $897.99

Samsung 50″ 720p Plasma HDTV (Model # PN50B430P2D) – $697.99

Sony 32″ 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Model # KDL32L504) – $377.99

Sony 40″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Model # KDL40S504) – $662.99

Sony 46″ 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Model # KDL465504) – $852.99

Video Games

$20 Gift Card w/Any DSi Game System Purchase – $0.00

Assassins Creed (PC Game) – $19.99

Bash Party (Wii) – $14.99

Bioshock (PC Game) – $19.99

Bolt (DS Game) – $9.99

Brutal Legend (PS3) – $34.99 *

Brutal Legend (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Call of Juarex (PS3) – $19.99

Call of Juarez (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Civilization IV (PC Game) – $19.99

Cooking Mama (DS Game) – $9.99

Cooking Mama (Wii) – $14.99

Crash (DS Game) – $9.99

Dragon Age (PS3) – $34.99 *

Dragon Age (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Excite Bots Trick Racing (Wii) – $14.99

Fallout 3 (PS3) – $19.99

Fallout 3 (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Family Game Night (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Far Cry 2 (PC Game) – $4.99

FIFA Soccer 10 (PS3) – $34.99 *

FIFA Soccer 10 (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Guinness World Records (DS Game) – $9.99

Hawx (PS3) – $19.99 *

Hawx (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Left 4 Dead 2 (PS3) – $34.99 *

Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Madagascar 2 Escape From Africa (Wii) – $14.99

Madden 10 (PS3) – $34.99 *

Madden 10 (XBox 360) – $34.99 *

Marker Man (DS Game) – $9.99

Marvel Ultimate Alliance (Wii) – $14.99

My Sims Kingdom (Wii) – $9.99

My Word Coach (DS Game) – $9.99

NBA Live 09 (Wii) – $9.99

NBA Live 10 (PS3) – $34.99 *

NBA Live 10 (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Need For Speed: Shift (PS3) – $34.99 *

Need For Speed: Shift (XBox 360) – $34.99 *

NHL 10 (PS3) – $34.99 *

NHL 10 (Xbox 360) – $34.99 *

Nintendo DSi Brain Age Bundle (White) w/$20 Gift Card – $169.99

Nintendo DSi Mario Bundle (Metallic Blue) w/$20 Gift Card – $169.99

Pikmin Classic (Wii) – $14.99

Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii) – $9.99

Resident Evil 5 (PS3) – $19.99

Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Riddick (PS3) – $19.99

Riddick (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Slots (PC Game) – $19.99

Sonic Chronicles The Dark Brotherhood (DS Game) – $9.99

Sony PlayStation 3 Package w/120GB Console, Little Big Planet, and Ratchet And Clank – $299.99 *

Spyro (DS Game) – $9.99

Stalker (PC Game) – $4.99

Sudoku Ball (DS Game) – $9.99

The Bigs 2 (PS3) – $19.99

The Bigs 2 (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Wii Sports Snowboard (Wii) – $14.99

Wii Sports (Wii) – $9.99

World Of Warcraft (PC Game) – $4.99

Xbox 360 Elite 120GB Bundle w/Four Pack Game Set – $299.99

BestBuy Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Office Depot Black Friday ad

Dave Freeman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:18:54 +0000

Office Depot’s Black Friday ad dropped today, and it’s looking pretty juicy. Of course everyone has a netbook on sale this year, but there’s a few other things on sale that look good. Click on through to see the full ad.

CD/DVD Drives

Gear Head 8x Slim External DVD -/+RW Lightscribe Drive – $49.99

Cell Phones

Ed Hardy iPhone Faceplates – $24.99

XtremeMac InCharge Auto Charger for iPhone – $13.99

XtremeMac Tuffsheild Three Pack Screen Protectors For iPod Or iPhone – $10.49

XtremeMac Tuffwrap iPhone Case – $13.99

Computer Accessories

All Case Logic Laptop Sleeves – 50% Off

APC 550VA Battery Backup – $24.99

Height-Adjustable Mobile Laptop Cart – $17.99

iHome Wired Optical Mouse – $6.99

Logitech LX6 Cordless Optical Mouse – $7.99

Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 6000 – $12.99

Moble IT Retractable USB Hub – $4.99

USB Web Cam – $9.99

Computers

Acer Aspire 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook Computer w/AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor L310, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $379.99

Acer Netbook 10.1″ Computer w/Intel 1.6GHz Atom Processor N270 – $199.99

Compaq CQ4010F Desktop Computer w/AMD Sempron LE-1300 Processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $229.99

Compaq Presario AMD LE-1300 Desktop w/18.5″ Monitor – $329.99

Free Software w/Purchase of Computer – Free

HP Notebook Computer G60-508US w/Intel Celeron Processor 900 – $299.99

HP Notebook Computer G71-343US With Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 – $449.99

HP Pavilion Desktop P6229PG w/20″ Widescreen LCD Monitor – $499.99

HP Pavillion Slimeline Intel E5300 Desktop w/20″ Monitor – $519.99

HP Pavillion Slimline s5220f Desktop Computer w/Intel Pentium Processor E5300, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive – $369.99

Toshiba 15.6″ Widescreen Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual-Core Processor M500, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $469.99

Toshiba 17″ Notebook w/AMD Turion II M500, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive – $499.99

Digital Cameras

Ativa Digital 1080p HD Video Camcorder 4x Optical Zoom – $89.99

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS 10.0-Megapixel Digital ELPH Camera – $149.99

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera – $179.99

Kodak EasyShare CD80 Digital Camera Bundle – $79.99

Kodak EasyShare M381 Digital Camera w/Case & Tripod – $169.99

Kodak EasyShare Z915 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $199.99

Nikon Coolpix S570 12.0 Megapixel Digital Camera (Black) – $149.99

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 Digital Camera – $129.99

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Digital Camera w/Case & Charger – $229.99

Vivitar Digital Camera Bundle – $49.99

Digital Media Cards

SanDisk 4GB Ultra II SDHC Memory Card – $12.99

SanDisk 8GB Memory Cards – $14.99

SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Memory Card – $24.99

SanDisk 8GB Ultra II CompactFlash Memory Card – $19.99

Electronics

1.5″ Digital Photo Frames – $7.99

Ativa 8″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99

Brother P-Touch PT-1290 Electronic Labeler – $9.99

Panasonic DECT 6.0 Digital Cordless KX-TG9332T Phone Answering System (After Rebate) – $29.99

Plantronics Explorer Bluetooth Mobile Headset 220 – $14.99

Sony Earbuds – $7.99

GPS Navigation Systems

Garmin Nuvi 1200 GPS Navigation System – $119.99

Garmin Nuvi 1300 GPS Navigation System – $149.99

TomTom GO 630 GPS Navigation System – $169.99

TomTom ONE 130 GPS Navigation System – $77.99

TomTom XL 330 GPS Navigation System – $97.99

Hard Drives

Seagate 1.5TB Expansion External Hard Drive – $99.99

Seagate 2TB FreeAgent External Hard Drive – $179.99

Seagate 320GB Expansion External Portable Hard Drive – $59.99

Seagate 640GB FreeAgent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $119.99

Seagate 750GB Free Agent Go External Portable Hard Drive – $149.99

Verbatim 1TB External Hard Drive – $79.99

Home Theater

Ativa Home Theater System 5.1 – $39.99

Memory

Kingston 1GB PC 5300 DDR2 Memory Upgrade – $17.99

Miscellaneous

All Cross Gift Pens – 50% Off

Monitors

Ativa 21.6″ HD LCD Monitor – $119.99

Movies

Over 50 Sony DVD Movies – B1G1

MP3 Players

Ativa 2GB MP3 Player With Video And FM Radio – $17.99

Ativa Speaker Dock For iPod PF112 – $19.99

Memorex Docking Clock Radio For iPod – $34.99

Sony Speaker Dock Clock Radio For iPod Or iPhone – $79.99

Networking & Wireless

D-Link Basic N Wireless Adapter – $19.99

D-Link Basic N Wireless Router – $19.99

Linksys Wireless-N Rangeplus Adapter – $39.99

Linksys Wireless-N Rangeplus Router Or Adapter – $39.99

Office

Ativa 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder (After Rebate) – $14.99

Brother FAX 575 Fax/Phone/Copier – $9.99

CL Shore Mini-Solution Desk w/Hutch – $99.99

Limval L-Shaped Desk – $49.99

Office Depot Brand Premium Glossy Photo Paper – B1G2

Realspace Merrick High-Back Boded Leather Chair – $79.99

Realspace Soho Harrington High-Back Chair – $99.99

Realspace Soho Magellan Corner Desk w/Hutch – $139.99

RS To Go Alvy Task Chair – $34.99

RS To Go Ruvia Mid-Back Chair – $39.99

True Innovations High-Back Bonded Leather Chair – $79.99

Photos

Ativa 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99

Portable USB Storage

Ativa 4GB USB Flash Drive – $7.99

Lexar 32GB TwistTurn USB Drive – $59.99

SanDisk 16GB Curzer USB Flash Drive – $27.99

SanDisk 8GB Cruzer USB Flash Drive – $14.99

Printers

Brother MFC-295cn All-In-One Printer – $59.99

Brother MFC-7340 Laser All-In-One Printer – $99.99

Brother Wireless MFC-490cw All-In-One Printer – $79.99

Canon 100 LIDE Scanner – $29.99

Canon PIXMA MP490 Photo All-In-One Printer, Copier, Scanner – $29.99

Free HP Printer D4360 With Any PC Purchase – $0.00

HP 6000 Officejet Wireless Printer – $59.99

HP 8500 Officejet All-In-One Printer – $149.99

HP CP1518ni Color Laser Printer – $199.99

HP D5460 Photosmart Printer – $29.99

HP J4680 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $64.99

HP LaserJet P1005 Monochrome Laser Printer – $49.99

HP P1006 Mono Laser Printer – $89.99

HP Plus Photosmart Wireless Printer – $74.99

HP Premium Photosmart All-In-One Printer – $99.99

Lexmark S605 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $119.99

Lexmark X7675 Wireless All-In-One Printer – $99.99

Samsung CLP-315 Color Laser Printer – $79.99

Wireless All In One Printer – $39.99

Software

$30 Off Rosetta Stone Software – $30 Off

Interior Design (After Rebate) – $0.00

Microsft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade – $119.90

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 – $79.99

Norton 360 Premier 3.0 Security Software – $9.99

Photo Explosion (After Rebate) – $0.00

Print Master (After Rebate) – $0.00

Scrapbook Factory (After Rebate) – $0.00

Television

Digital Prism 7″ Portable LCD TV ATSC710 – $84.99

Samsung 19″ 933HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $199.99

Samsung 23″ 2333HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $249.99

Samsung 26″ T260HD Widescreen LCD HDTV – $299.99

More Black Friday deals…

Should Nintendo fear the Apple juggernaut?

Devin Coldewey — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:31:40 +0000

These days, when people aren’t talking about the Apple Tablet, they’re talking about how Apple’s next target is the Big Three gaming companies. The iPhone will topple them! iPhone is a revolutionary gaming device! Well, certainly a little optimism is warranted; the iPhone has inarguably changed the landscape of mobile phones, personal media players, and to a lesser extent personal computers. Why shouldn’t Apple extend its holy sovereignty to gaming?

It already has, in fact. But Apple has come kicking and screaming the whole way. The iPhone, you understand, was not meant to be a gaming device, and in Cupertino, Apple’s intentions are paramount. Apple could never accidentally create a platform for gaming; if it wasn’t meant for gaming (or enterprise, or medical use, or reading e-books, etc.) from the beginning, Apple doesn’t want it happening at all. Because if Apple didn’t intend it, it’s outside of the bounds they set into the platform (regardless of how well it works, much like tethering) — it breaks the mold and, ironically, that’s the last thing Apple wants.

It’s no secret that the Apple ecosystem is a gilded cage. It’s a nice cage, and large, and yes indeed that gilding is very attractive by Jove, but all the doors are shut until Apple opens them. If you think otherwise, you’re probably already scrawling some crude flame in the comment section below. Thank you for your insight. Really, though: Macs are a carefully-tended walled garden of semi-delights (to mix several metaphors), and that’s part of why they’re so good at what they do. Attempts at expanding the garden have been made in fits by Apple, with varying success. Serious music production has never really caught on, nor scientific or medical applications, and any real expansions (personal media, mobile, and video primarily) have been engineered by Apple and not third parties. Why should it be any different for gaming? If Apple doesn’t do it, no one will. And Apple’s not going to do it.

But this is all getting rather vague. There are more substantial objections to an Apple expansion into gaming than my half-baked theories on their corporate philosophy. I’ll just enumerate them here in list form. I’m using the iPhone as the basis for these, but the points apply to the tablet without serious modification.

Hardware
The iPhone isn’t a gaming machine. It’s a smartphone. This produces limitations which are for some invigorating, and for some troublesome. For instance, you’ll never see a decent platformer on the iPhone. FPSes are awkward. RPGs take up too much space. You’re essentially limited to casual games and things like tilt-to-control racers. There are some notable exceptions; John Carmack loves the platform, for instance, and will probably be making some interesting stuff. The iPhone may be suitable for some games, but it wasn’t built for them, and that makes a difference for Apple.

Battery
Part of the hardware objection, but worth noting on its own, is the fact that battery life would be off-the-charts bad. How long can you really play a high-quality title on the iPhone? An hour maybe, before you’re down to 25% battery? Remember this is also your lifeline to email, the web, and so on. Unlike a DS, you can’t afford to let it run down. A portable game system needs to be as efficient as it can, and the iPhone is already an energy hog. No one wants to be tethered to an outlet to play their favorite handheld. And the thing already explodes when you use it too hard.

Developers
A few developers are putting out real iPhone games, but where is your Valve, your CryTek, your Rockstar? These are the people who make AAA titles that sell millions and make billions. Ubisoft may outsource some company to make a little Assassin’s Creed 2 clone to cash in a bit on the mobile contingent, but it’ll just be a way to sell the real game. They’re not going to spend $50m to develop a truly amazing game for the iPhone. No one will. Hardly anyone does as it is for existing handhelds (Dragon Quest IX notwithstanding). Apple could align itself with developers, but my feeling is they wouldn’t mix well. Apple is pretty much oil to their partners’ water to begin with due to their iWay-or-the-highway (clever, no?) approach to “collaboration,” and I don’t think that the major game studios would take a shine to it either.

Pricing
Do you see people hitting that “purchase” button when a game costs more than $10? Neither do I. Real games cost upwards of $40-50 when they come out. That won’t fly in an App Store or iTunes environment, where the emphasis is on multiple small, easy-to-swallow buys.

Brand
Apple doesn’t do games. They don’t put out games, they don’t make it easy to play games, they don’t encourage developers to make games for their platform. This is the last time Apple and Mac users were excited about games:

Seriously. Ever since the Great Halo Disappointment, nobody has considered Apple’s gaming enthusiasm as being anything other than a lark. Meanwhile, Nintendo is so completely identified with games that one implies the other in almost any context, Microsoft is hard at work building a gaming platform that dovetails with their entire ecosystem, and Sony is actually gathering steam with the PS3, as its lower price leads more people to find that it actually might be the most powerful and versatile system on the market. Apple struck at mobile phone makers when they were at their most complacent and vulnerable; gaming consoles and companies are stronger and more successful than they’ve ever been. It would be an insanely bad time to take a swat at them.

Content
Pop quiz: what game had the most lucrative launch of all time? If you answered Modern Warfare 2, an extremelyviolent and graphic game being accused of turning kids into terrorists, then you are correct! Apple is already choosy when it comes to what appears on its devices, and the kind of ultraviolence that sells games probably isn’t going to fly. Apple isn’t as positively warm and fuzzy as Nintendo usually is, but it would be a pretty major shift to start pushing games like MW2.

They don’t want to
Don’t you think that if Apple had any inclination to make the iPhone or Mac into a gaming platform, they’d have at least shown a little of that by now? Where’s the gamepad accessory for the iPhone? Why isn’t Apple courting the big developers to get some titles on Macs? There’s no indication that Apple is interested in games except as a class of apps to take a cut on. Almost all game development so far has been driven by the “there’s gold in them thar iPhones” mentality.

They don’t need to
This readership more than any other should be aware of Apple’s solvency in this worldwide financial crisis; indeed they have thrived mightily. The iPhone shows continual growth, they gain a tenth of a point of OS market share every month or two, and they’re making money hand over fist via iTunes and the App Store. Why the devil would they want to get into gaming, a market that would expose all the company’s weaknesses, bring their best hardware to its knees, and complicate their entire strategy — one which is working perfectly? I’m not saying that Apple doesn’t like to rock the boat, but they don’t do it when they stand a good chance of being thrown in the drink.

There you have it. Of course, with my luck, Apple will probably announce a huge gaming initiative tomorrow.

All that said, Apple does have an increasing presence in gaming. It owes this in no small part to Nintendo, which has popularized casual and mobile gaming to a huge extent with the Wii and DS. The iPhone may take a bite out of the more casual games coming out for the DS, but beyond that I don’t see a major effect. And as long as it’s enough for Apple to make a few bills, they’re not going to try too hard to change that.

The 5 best uses for the $229 Dell Zino HD

Matt Burns — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:19:36 +0000

Dell just went official with the Inspiron Zino HD price and spces. There have been a few unboxing and previews popping up around the blogs the last few days and I’ve fallen in love with the little computer. It’s slightly larger than the Mac Mini, but I believe infinitely more versatile.

HTPC - It’s a given. The $229 Dell Zino HD would feel right at home on a A/V rack. The Athlon CPUs and optional ATI Radeon HD 4330 512MB GPU has more than enough juice to output 1080p to your HDTV. Check the box for the optional Blu-ray drive and TV tuner to create a bonafide HTPCIB – Home Theater PC In a Box, that is.

WHS - There are about a dozen and a half already built Windows Home Server options available. HP makes the media-centric MediaSmart line, Acer has the Atom-packing easyStore, Lenovo has options and the list goes on. They are competent boxes, but none of them have the processing power that the AMD options offer in the Zino HD, which is somewhat important if you want to turn the server into a torrent downloading monster. Choose the integrated graphics but select at least 2GB of RAM along with the option 1TB hard drive. The 2 eSATA ports ensure that you’ll never run out of storage capacity too.

Trendy office computer – It doesn’t take much to run Microsoft Office apps anymore. Why live with a boring gray tower these days when the playful Zino HD can get the job done too? Even the base model should be fine for most office tasks.

In-car computer – The Mac Mini might score you nerd points with the geeks posing in the car tuning crowd, but there are a lot of PC-only in-car apps, which makes the Zino HD a perfect solution. It has a small footprint and more than enough power to run GPS and music software. But most importantly is that the computer comes in enough color options that you should be able to find one to match your ride.

Old folks computer – What do old people do on a computer these days? Play on Facebook? That’s about it and the Zino HD, along with countless other options, has more than enough power to be a reliable computer for them. The Athlon cores should be able to handle at least five Internet Explorer toolbars and several spyware programs posing as card games. Try that with an Atom CPU.

The Zino HD product page is currently up, but you can’t customize or order one yet. That will probably change sometime today.

Press release,

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov. 12, 2009 – Dell today introduced the mini-sized Inspiron Zino HD, which is versatile enough to handle tasks from basic computing chores to driving a big-screen, High-Definition TV media center. With a choice of colors, the Inspiron Zino HD can be easily personalized to add flare to any room in the home.

The News:

Starting at $229, the Inspiron Zino HD includes standard HD-capable integrated graphics, HDMI output and built-in networking that make it smart for typical home and student computing activities such as word processing, e-mail, organizing photos and music, and surfing the Internet.

The economical Inspiron Zino HD with optional additional memory, hard drive storage, combo Blu-ray disc player, HDTV tuner, wireless remote control and Windows 7 Media Player and turns into a powerful home media center computer. In that capacity the Inspiron Zino HD can record and play your favorite TV shows, display high-definition content from the Internet, and store and deliver music, video and photos very well.

The Inspiron Zino HD is also ideal as an additional household PC that can fit in tight spaces and make home networking a cinch. It measures about 7.75 inches square and 3.5 inches tall. While small in size, the Inspiron Zino HD is a big performer with:

Ultra-small form factor designed to fit almost anywhere.

Easy personalization with nine color choices for Inspiron Zino HD.

Choice of AMD processors or dual core Athlon Neo X2 6850e.

Up to 8GB dual channel DDR 2 memory.

Up to 1TB internal hard disk storage.

Combo DVD/CD RW drive with optional Blu-ray Disc combo.

Integrated 10/100/1000 networking with wireless option.

Optional TV tuner, wireless keyboard and mouse.

Built in 2.1 high-definition audio and 4-in-one media card reader.

Integrated ATI graphics adapter with standard HDMI and VGA video connections, and optional 512MB discrete graphics adapter.

Four USB ports (2 front/2 rear); two eSATA ports (rear).

Energy-Star 5.0 compliant.

A basic Inspiron Zino without High-Definition capability or upgrade options will be offered in some regions.

Staples Black Friday ad

Doug Aamoth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:29:24 +0000

Staples’ Black Friday ad has finally made its way to the outside world. Stores open at 6AM on Black Friday, which almost seems late considering a bunch of other retailers will be opening two hours earlier. Hooray for (sort of) sleeping in!

Here’s a list of the electronics items being offered. Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk and will be available from 6AM to 10AM on Black Friday:

Blank Media

Sony CD-R Media 100/Pack – $16.98

Sony CD-R Media 50/Pack – $9.98

Staples CD/DVD Jewel Cases 50/Pack – $4.99

Staples CD-R 100/Pack – $4.98 *

Cell Phones

Motorola H710 Bluetooth Headset – $39.99

Computer Accessories

Altec Lansing VS2621 PC Speakers – $19.99

Any Business Case, Sleeve, or Backpack – 40% Off

APC 450VA Battery Backup – $19.99

Belkin 6-Outlet Surge Protector w/Left Extension Cord Combo – $5.99

HP Wireless Mouse (Black) – $9.99

Logitech C600 Webcam – $39.99

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard – $29.99

Logitech V450 Wireless Laser Notebook Mouse – $14.99

Microsoft 4000 Wireless Laser Keyboard/Mouse Set – $29.99 *

Microsoft VX-3000 Webcam – $9.99

Targus 208-CD/DVD Album – $9.98

Targus Notebook Fan – $9.99

Computers

Dell Desktop PC w/AMD Athlon X2 215 Processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, 20-inch LCD Monitor – $499.98

Dell Studio 15.6″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive – $599.98

HP 15.6″ Laptop w/Intel Celeron Processor 900, 3GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $299.98 *

HP 15.6″ Laptop w/Intel Pentium Processor T4300, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 – $399.98 *

HP 17.3″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $599.98

Sony 15.5″ Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive – $649.98

Digital Cameras

Canon PowerShot A1100 12.1 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom, 2.5″ LCD (Silver) – $129.99 *

Flip Ultra Camcorder w/2″ LCD – $129.99

Free Canon Photo Printer With Purchase Of Any Digital Camera (After Rebate) – $0.00 *

Kodak 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/Memory Card And Bag – $79.99 *

Kodak EasyShare M340 10.2 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/3x Optical Zoom, 2.7″ LCD – $109.99 *

Nikon Coolpix L100 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/15x Optical Zoom, 3″ LCD (Black) – $199.99 *

Nikon Coolpix L20 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/3x Optical Zoom, 3″ LCD – $99.99 *

Nikon Coolpix S570 12.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/5x Optical Zoom, 2.7″ LCD – $149.99 *

Nikon D3000 10.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera – $499.99 *

Olympus Stylus FE4000 12.1 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom – $99.99 *

Sony Cyber-Shot W220 12.1 MegaPixel Digital Camera w/4x Optical Zoom – $129.99 *

Digital Media Cards

SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $12.99 *

SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card – $9.99 *

SanDisk 4GB Ultra II CF Card – $12.99 *

SanDisk 4GB Ultra SDHC Card – $12.99 *

SanDisk 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – $24.99 *

SanDisk 8GB microSD Memory Card – $14.99 *

SanDisk 8GB Netbook SDHC Memory Card – $14.99 *

SanDisk 8GB SDHC Memory Card – $14.99 *

SanDisk 8GB Ultra II CF Card – $24.99 *

DVD Players

Coby 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.99

Electronics

4-Device Universal Remote – Free After Rebate

AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone With Digital Answering System – $49.99 *

Coby 7″ Portable Digital TV – $99.99

HP 10″ Digital Picture Frame 512MB Memory – $139.99

HP 8″ Digital Picture Frame 512MB Memory – $109.99

Maxell Noise-Canceling Headphones – $20.00

Memorex iPod Clock Radio – $25.00

Midland LXT360VP3 2-Way Radios – $24.99

Motorola H390 Bluetooth Headset – $9.99 *

Omnitech 12″ Digital Picture Frame – $69.99 *

Omnitech Bluetooth Speakerphone – $20.00

Omnitech Digital Photo Ornament – $10.00

Omnitech Mini-Speaker – $9.99

Panasonic DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone w/Digital Answering Machine – $49.99

Sharp Handheld Calculator – Free After Rebate

Skull Candy Ink’d Earbuds – $9.99

Sony Reader Pocket Edition And Cover With Light Combo – $214.98

Sony Reader Pocket Edition Cover With Light – $54.99

Sony Reader Pocket Edition With 5″ Display – $199.99

Sony Reader Touch Edition And Cover With Light Combo – $319.98

Sony Reader Touch Edition Cover With Light – $59.99

Sony Reader Touch Edition With 6″ Screen – $299.99

Sungale 7″ Digital Picture Frame – $29.99 *

Uniden DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone w/Digital Answering Machine – $59.99

GPS Navigation Systems

Garmin Nuvi 255W Portable GPS – $119.99 *

Magellan RoadMate 1700 Portable GPS – $199.99

TomTom Go 830 Portable GPS – $169.99

TomTom XL 330 Portable GPS – $99.99 *

TomTom XXL 530S GPS – $149.99

Hard Drives

Seagate 1.5TB External Hard Drive – $139.99

Seagate 1TB External Desktop Hard Drive – $69.99 *

Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB Portable Hard Drive – $69.99 *

Memory

PNY 1GB DDR PC3200 Desktop Memory – $49.99

PNY 2GB DDR PC5300 Desktop Memory Kit – $49.99

Monitors

Acer 23″ Widescreen LCD Monitor – $139.98

eMachines 21.5″ Widescreen LCD Monitor – $89.98 *

Samsung 23″ TV/Monitor Combo – $249.98

MP3 Players

Coby 2GB MP3 Player – $14.99

Trio V418 4GB MP3 Player – $29.99

Networking

Linksys Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router – $89.99

Netgear WNR1000 RangeMax 150 Wireless Router – $34.99

Portable USB Storage

HP 16GB USB Flash Drive – $29.99 *

HP 4GB USB Flash Drive – $7.99 *

HP 8GB Portable Flash Drive – $12.99 *

PNY 4GB USB Flash Drive – $11.99

Printers

Brother HL2170W Laser Printer – $89.98

Brother HL3040CN Color Laser Printer – $179.98

Brother MFC-295CN All-in-One Printer – $59.98

Brother MFC-7340 Laser Multi-Function Printer – $99.98

Caanon imageCLASS MF4350d Laser Multifunction Printer – $149.99

Canon Pixma MP560 Wireless Photo All-in-One Printer – $99.98

Canon Pixma MP640 Wireless Photo All-in-One Printer – $49.98

Epson Stylus 1400 Wide-Format Photo Printer – $89.98

Epson Stylus NX415 All-in-One Printer – $49.98

Free HP Inkjet Printer w/Purchase of Any PC or Laptop (After Rebate) – $0.00

HP Color LaserJet CP1518ni Printer – $199.98

HP Deskjet F4280 All-in-0ne Printer – $39.99 *

HP LaserJet P1005 Printer – $49.98

HP LaserJet P1006 Printer – $89.98

HP OfficeJet 6000 Wireless Inkjet Printer – $59.98

HP OfficeJet J4680 All-In-One Printer – $64.98

HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 All-In-One Printer – $149.98

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer – $79.98 *

HP Photosmart Plus All-In-One Printer – $74.98

HP Photosmart Premium All-In-One Printer – $99.98

Lexmark E260dn Laser Printer – $124.98

Software

Adobe Photoshop Elements – $49.99

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 – $69.99

Norton 360 With PC Purchase Or Staples Rewards Members – $9.99 *

Norton AntiVirus 2010 – $9.99

Peachtree Pro Accounting 2010 (After Rebate) – $0.00

Staples Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Best Buy to sell a $249 notebook this holiday season

Matt Burns — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:48:43 +0000

Need a dirt cheap and somewhat underpowered notebook? Best Buy has you covered with a $249 Acer laptop. Netbook, what?

The exact model will be revealed tomorrow, but at least the key specs have been released today: an Intel Celeron 900 CPU, 2GB of memory, and a 160GB hard drive. Chances are the screen will be around 15-inches too and it will have the standard assortment of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DVD optical drive, webcam, and a 6-cell battery life. But for $249, who cares. It’s not like your mom is going to do anything but play Farkle on Facebook anyway.

Sam’s Club (rumored) Black Friday ad

Doug Aamoth — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

A list of rumored items for the Sam’s Club Black Friday ad has been percolating around the web lately. There’s no ad scan to confirm any of this yet, but I’ll update this post once more information becomes available.

For now, though, here’s a list of the rumored electronics items:

Blank Media

Blu-ray 2-Packs – $17.00

Computers

Acer Aspire One 10.1″ Netbook – $197.00

HP G71 17″ LED Notebook w/Blu-ray – $499.00

Digital Cameras

Olympus FE-4000 12 MegaPixel Camera – $98.00

Digital Media Cards

Toshiba 16GB SDHC Digital Media Card – $24.00

DVD Players

JVC 1080p Blu-ray Player – $129.00

Phillips Dual Screen Portable DVD Player – $99.00

Electronics

Samsung Compact SD Camcorder w/Bag – $149.00

GPS Systems

Garmin Nuvi 255w GPS Navigation System – $119.00

Home Theater

Samsung 5.1 Blu-ray Home Theater – $398.00

Printers

HP AIO Printer Bundle – $69.00

Televisions

Hitachi 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV – $598.00

Phillips 52″ 1080p LCD HDTV – $1198.00

Vizio 47″ 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV – $997.00

Video Games

PS3 120GB Bundle – $399.00

Wii Active Life Bundle w/Mat – $69.00

Wii Family Bundle – $349.00

No word on possible doorbuster items or when the store will open on Black Friday. I’ll update this post when more information becomes available.

Sam’s Club Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Review: HP MediaSmart Server EX495

Matt Burns — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:35:28 +0000

Short Version: HP sure knows how to make a Windows Home Server. The company has been at it for years now and the latest model does just about everything better than the previous models. That’s how it’s suppose to be.

Pros:

Powerful hardware
Easy to use custom WHS user interface
Nearly complete OS X support

Cons

Overpriced for storage size
HP software bordering on bloatware status

Features

Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.5 GHz 64-bit CPU
1.5 TB of included hard drive space
OS X Time Machine support
HP Media Collector
MSRP of $699

Review:

If you’ve been following along with previous versions of the HP MediaSmart Server, you know what the device does. It runs Microsoft’s Windows Home Server, but HP equipped it with a slightly different user interface to make it accessible to the non-tech crowd. Nearly anyone looking for a backup and central storage solution should be able to use this guy.

Instead of the stark WHS setup screen, new users can use HP’s software pack that guides them through setting up remote backups, assigning permissions to users, and finding media spread out over a network. It still has the same media collecting, iPhone-streaming and transcoding software in previous models, but the Media Collector works a lot better on Macs now.

What is new is the dramatically more powerful machine and better OS X support.The latest builds also ditches low voltage, and low power, CPUs in favor of a 2.5 GHz Dual Core Pentium. Boy does it help, too. I’ve been using WHS for a while now and it’s just not a backup device for me.

My torrent client lives on the box and unRARing huge files takes time on an Atom or Celeron processor, but the Pentium speeds things up a lot. The 2GB of memory also helps dramatically when running, let’s say, a torrent client, a couple of DLNA servers, and iTunes for the Home Sharing function. The hardware updates made this server a respectable little box.

HP started with the OS X support last January, but it wasn’t the greatest. The backup didn’t allow for a full restore and users still had to search out third-party solutions to access the device remotely via OS X.

But no more. Now OS X can be fully backed up and restored just like a PC by using a separate restore disc. It works just like it’s supposed to and is a valid alternative to Apple’s own backup device, the Time Capsule.

Plus, the server now ships with a OS X WHS management tool. It’s essentially a repacked remote desktop client, but it gets the job done. Because of these updates, an HP MediaSmart server can live comfortably on an all-Mac network.

All this extra software HP has thrown in is bordering on intrusive though. Window Home Server is an amazing system all by itself and anyone that’s been around computers for a while should be able to use it without any extra help. The HP stuff is cool, but to be honest, I never used it past simple testing.

I would love to see an installation or setting to turn off the HP software, but that won’t happen. HP needs to justify why its servers cost a bunch more than other option, which is really my only beef with the EX495. It’s too expensive for the amount of storage you get.

Outside of the extra HP software that a lot of people might not use and the more powerful hardware, you can get countless other WHS for far less. It seems obvious to me that the most important buying point of a file server is the storage capacity. You can expand the storage capacity to nearly anything you want with the HP MediaSmart line, but for $699 I expect to start with more than 1.5TB. The Acer easyStore costs $389 at Newegg and comes with a 1TB drive installed. For $750 you can build a 5TB system around the Acer using 2TB hard drives, which is a lot better deal if can live without the extra HP software (you probably can).

The HP MediaSmart EX495 is a quality rig. I don’t have anything against the system besides the aforementioned pricing. If you don’t mind paying a premium for software, buy it without hesitation.

Product Page: HP MediaSmart EX495

Giveaway: Want this server? Well, not this used one, but rather a brand new one? Yeah, I have one to give away. Click over to this post for all the details.

Acer outs 18.4-inch Core i7 laptop, I shall call it GIGANTOR!

Doug Aamoth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Acer’s new 18.4-inch AS8940G-6865 is a desktop replacement. And by “desktop replacement” I mean that you could attach four legs to it and use it as your desk. It’s big, is what I’m trying to say. Don’t actually attach legs to it, but I guess take with you the impression that this is a large laptop. Also, it’s powerful, so keep that in mind as well.

The machine boasts a newfangled quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU 720QM at 1.6GHz, an 18.4-inch LCD at 1920×1080 resolution, 4GB of DDR3 memory, an NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M GPU with 1GB of dedicated DDR3 video RAM, 500GB SATA hard drive, Blu-ray/DVD burner combo drive, 8-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

There’s also five USB ports, an HDMI port, eSATA port, card reader, webcam, VGA output, Dolby audio, draft-N wireless, “touch-capacitive media control interface,” and a travel weight of more than 10 pounds.

Pricing starts at $1350 – Newegg seems to be first out of the gate to sell the machine.

Full press release:

New Acer Aspire Notebook PC Maximizes Performance with New Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Processor and Windows 7 Technology

New Aspire AS8940G-6865 Notebook with 18.4-inch Display Delivers Intensive Gaming, Entertainment and Multimedia Performance
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acer America today introduced the Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook PC, featuring the new Intel® Core™ i7 Quad-Core 720QM processor and Windows® 7 Home Premium. This mobile processor delivers extremely fast performance for the most demanding applications such as playing games and editing digital photos and videos.
Designed for entertainment and multimedia enthusiasts, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 offers superior performance, innovative features and advanced technology for mobile users. This new notebook boasts a large 18.4-inch widescreen HD display for extraordinary visual quality, advanced NVIDIA graphics, Blu-ray technology, a high-quality audio system, a large hard drive and ample memory, making it a mobile powerhouse. The addition of Windows 7 to this new notebook provides users with a new level of performance, simplicity and ease of use.
The Aspire AS8940G with the Intel Core i7 processor delivers a breakthrough in PC performance, allowing users to multitask between applications quicker and enjoy faster performance overall. The new processor features Intel Turbo Boost Technology⁽³⁾, which accelerates processor clock speed up to 75 percent to match a user’s workload⁽⁴⁾ demands, giving more power when it is needed the most. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology⁽⁵⁾ allows applications to work better in parallel, making multitasking quick and easy.
“This new Aspire notebook offers multimedia enthusiasts the ultimate in mobile entertainment – cinematic quality sound and visuals, an industry-leading feature set, and the performance to handle demanding digital media,” said Preeta Anil, Product Manager, Notebooks for Acer America. “The addition of Intel’s new Core i7 processor further boosts the power and performance of the Aspire AS8940G for games, movies, videos and more.”
Superior Technology for Mobile Cinema and Gaming
For the ultimate cinematic experience, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 features cutting-edge visual and sound technology. This new notebook includes an 18.4-inch full HD widescreen CineCrystal™ LED backlit display with a 1920×1080 resolution that exhibits true HDTV with a 16:9 aspect ratio in a new edge-to-edge design that’s perfect for widescreen movies. The certified Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement technology combined with the Acer CineSurround sound system with five built-in speakers and the Acer Tuba CineBass booster bring clear tones and deep bass beats for incredible entertainment.
Users can enjoy the clarity and precision of Blu-ray Disc™ high definition technology for watching Blu-ray movies in extraordinary detail as well as burn CDs and DVDs of music, photos and files. The NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M graphics maximize the gaming experience by providing intense computing power. Additionally, the 1GB of dedicated video memory allows buffering capacity for seamless graphics and visuals.
Further enhancing the multimedia experience, Acer’s Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface allows consumers to quickly and easily control their entertainment choices, including media playback and volume levels. The Aspire AS8940G also comes equipped with a FineTip keyboard with backlight, making it more user friendly when watching movies or listening to music in a dark environment.
Mobile Performance and Connectivity
Additional popular technologies allow customers to stay connected and be productive while on the go. The integrated media card reader, DVD burner and 500GB of hard drive storage enable customers to quickly and easily view, download, store and share their digital media content. Additionally, the Aspire AS8940G offers users further flexibility and expandability with an extra eSATA hard drive port.
The Acer Crystal Eye™ webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.
Consumers can connect via 802.11a/b/g Draft-N with expanded wireless features, and all models include Gigabit Ethernet for a fast wired connection.
Pricing/Configurations/Availability
The Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook will be available for U.S. customers at leading retailers this holiday season. A sample configuration follows.
Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865

Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 720QM (1.60GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, 1333MHz FSB)
18.4″ Full HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit Display
(1920×1080 Resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio)
4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M with 1GB dedicated DDR3 VRAM
500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive ⁽¹⁾
4X Blu-ray Disc^™/DVD SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a//bg/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
Acer Crystal Eye™ Integrated Webcam
Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface
5 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA Port
8-cell Li-Ion Battery (4800mAh)
Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement
Acer CineSurround Sound System (5 built-in speakers)
Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
MSRP $1,349.99

Woot! Refurbished 11.6-inch Acer Aspire One netbook for $250

Doug Aamoth — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Friday, huh? Just got paid, did you? Why not divert $250 of that check toward this 11.6-inch netbook?

Come on, you’re making good money now right? When’s the last time you bought something nice for yourself? Think of this as an investment! With the portability that this netbook provides, you’ll finally be able to start up that emu farm that you’ve always been talking about.

Just picture it: you’re outside feeding your emus and an order comes in from the new e-emu-sales.net web site you designed with your 11.6-inch netbook and you can fulfill the order while balancing the computer atop a wooden fence post. Then the guy who ordered the emu from you tells two friends about your emu web site, then they tell two friends, then they tell two friends.

Boom. All of a sudden, you’re the emu king of the upper Midwest.

Anyhoo, Woot.com is selling the refurbished Acer Aspire One 751h (see review here) for $250 with a 90-day Acer warranty. That’s about $50 less than a brand new model.

Features include:

Intel Atom Z520 CPU at 1.33GHz
11.6-inch display at 1366×768
Windows XP Home
1GB of RAM
160GB hard drive
Three-cell battery good for up to four hours
Weighs 2.8 pounds

Acer Aspire One 11.6-inch Netbook [Woot.com]

Acer’s T230H: One of them there fancy touchscreen monitors that work with Windows 7

Nicholas Deleon — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:30:10 +0000

How keen are you on touchscreens? Keen enough to navigate Windows 7 while using such a monitor? Acer has a new one, the T230H, which will allow you to do exactly that. A big selling point is that it’ll increase your productivity, but I’m not so sure.

I mean, is it easier to use a touchscreen to navigate Excel, or flip about Firefox? You’ll still have a keyboard, I should think, so it’s not like the iPhone where you’re forced to get used to this radical, new interface; you have no other choice. Here, you’re split between touching the screen and typing away on a traditional keyboard.

But I’m still not the biggest fan of touchscreens yet, so my bias is palpable.

Anyhow, the specs:

• 16:9, 23-inch, 1920×1080 LCD.

• HDMI interface

• 2ms response time, which should placate the twitch gaming crowd

• 80,000:1 contrast ratio

And so on. Again, there’s got to be a market for these things, but I’m not so sure I’m a part of it.

Quo vadis, Forza Motorsport 3?

Nicholas Deleon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:30:30 +0000

How much you enjoy Forza Motorsport 3 entirely depends on the time you have to invest in it. If you’re able to put in the man-hours you’ll find a racing sim that’s a deep as you want it to be, and just as rewarding. If you’re only able to play a few minutes here and there, well, it’s not really the same thing.

The game presents itself as a driving simulator, but one that won’t punish you for not knowing the difference between a carburetor and a CD changer. And, incidentally, you’ll be changing the game disc as soon as you turn it on, for the game’s developer’s, Turn 10, couldn’t fit it all on just one; an optional content install prompts as soon as the game loads. You’ll need approximately 2GB of free space on your hard drive to get the entire FM3 experience.

From there a cheery British announcer guides you through the game—it’s as if you’re playing Top Gear. The standard modes are there, but it’s career mode that shows the game in its best light. You’re granted a low-level car—something that you yourself may well own in real life—then race from event to event, earning credits and plaudits from other car manufacturers along the way. The credits are used to buy upgrades, while after the occasional successful race you’ll get a message along the lines of: “Fiat thinks you’re a good driver, so they’re giving you this brand new car for free!”

Lather, rinse, repeat. You’ll go from Class Z clunker to Class A holy-cow-this-is-fast as you plug along in career mode, which will take some time. Better skip out on Heroes this week if you want to make the most of this game.

The game looks good, yes, but I’m hesitant to call it the best-looking racing game I’ve ever played: that title belongs to Racer Driver: Grid. (Note: I never bought Dirt 2 because rally racing doesn’t appeal to me.) I don’t know, things just look too shiny to me. The best way I can describe it is, remember the first few FIFA games for the PS3/360, and how “shiny” the player models looked? I get the same feeling here.

Not that we’re graphics whores ’round these parts, but I’d be remiss to not mention how the game looks.

To make another comparison to Race Driver: Grid, I do feel that the menus in the game, and just the way the game is presented, is less interesting than Codemasters’ hit. In Grid, menus fly by and spin in circles, you can see people walking about your garage while selecting a new paint scheme, your earned credits fill up in dramatic fashion, slowing down as you approach an upgrade point… It just seems more “next-gen,” more “hmm, now this is different” than FM3, which is very much “well, this isn’t anything special.”

So is the game good? Yes, of course; I dare you not to enjoy it. You will, however, have a much better time if you can sit there for several hours rather than treating it as a quick “hey let me kill 10 minutes” fix.

That’s it.

The Bearable Lightness of Droid: How the iPhone aesthetic has finally hit the majors

John Biggs — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:17:49 +0000

One thing that that struck me when I first slid open the Motorola Droid is that the software must have been a non-shipping copy. Historically, when Verizon ships a phone, the stuff in the VCast Music Center, VCast Video, VCast Navigation, and VCast Electo Pet Shop – essentially bloatware that masquerades as value added software. Swiping through the Droid menus I found none of that. No widgets offering NFL sports scores, no Apps offering downloadable videos from Lady GaGa, just a clean, clear interface. I know most Android phones don’t ship with much extraneous software (MyTouch, for example) but for Verizon this is a real first.

What does this mean? It means carriers are finally resisting the urge to bling out their phones like NASCAR racers. Without massive branding you get a cleaner experience and although I love the Hero’s Sense UI, the Droid in this pristine state shows us that carriers, and Verizon in particular, has grown up.

None of this, please. Thank you.

If you’ll recall, the first iPhone had little, if any, AT&T branding. It was a phone with a few apps – a calculator, a stock app – and that was it. All of the extraneous junk was taken out.

This gives the buyer a sense that they are buying a standalone experience, not just another feature phone. The Android Market is front and center if you want to improve things, but Verizon clearly thinks this phone can stand on its own without polluting the deck with their dreck.

Other phones that did this include the Sidekick, another popular phone. I think Droid is, interestingly enough, Motorola’s savior. Whether they meant to make it as clean and attractive as they did is unclear but I’m glad they took a stand against mobile bloatware.

Big Day in Gaming, October 27th edition: Forza Motorsport 3, Tekken 6 & DJ Hero

Nicholas Deleon — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:59 +0000

Today’s a pretty big day in gaming, ladies and gents. You’ve got DJ Hero, Tekken 6, and Forza Motorsport 3 all coming out today. (Incidentally, I’ll have like a mini FM3 “review” tomorrow, and we may have some fun Tekken news this week to share—stay tuned!) So I decided to go around some of the big gaming sites, and take select quotes, completely out of context, and share them with y’all here. Let’s go~!

Let’s start with FM3, since it’s the game I’ve actually played.

From Edge:

How often can you reinvent the wheel? It’s a question videogame developers are more qualified than most to answer. Year after year, driving titles strive to overtake each other for the lead in a continually evolving genre. It’s an interminable race, although one that in recent times has felt like it’s approaching its closing stages… Where does the genre go from here? With no one looking particularly threatening in its slipstream, Turn 10 [the game's developer] has time to decide.

From IGN:

Sony’s Gran Turismo may still sit in the pole position among racing sims for many, but Microsoft is making a hard charge with Forza Motorsport 3… Simply put, Forza 3 is one of the best racers ever made… I felt Forza 2 was lifeless and without spirit. That is not an issue with Forza 3. This is a game that showcases speed and beauty. The cars are sexy, the tracks look great, and the game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second. The lighting isn’t always perfect — you can often see shadows dancing around the car in some odd ways — and a few times textures didn’t load on the track. Despite these issues, Forza 3 is one hot looking game.

From 1UP:

Forza 3 upholds the franchise’s tradition of excellence, but also plays it a little too safe; it irons out the previous game’s clunky interface and sports a minor visual upgrade, but the gameplay feels strikingly similar to its predecessor. Still, Forza 3 is a very good racing sim in a handsome package that can proudly proclaim itself as the best and most polished currently available, but it’s the excellent integration and extent of its online features that make it a stand out game. Driving, tuning and creating within a living community breathes essential life to a game genre that can occasionally be a bit too stuffy for its own good.

So, surprise, it looks like FM3 is good. Again, I’ll have my take on the game here tomorrow. Not that you care ;-)

Next, Tekken 6. Remember: we may have some exciting Tekken-related news here later this week, so keep your eyes peeled!

From IGN:

Following in a long line of arcade fighters, Tekken 6 continues the one-on-one, 3D tradition with the franchise’s biggest roster yet, and some nice gameplay refinements… The real problem comes from the game’s load times, which are poor all around. Not only is there a frustrating amount of loading before an online match (while the two players sync up) but there’s some unusual loading peppered throughout the entire Tekken 6 experience. Even selecting a fighter off the character select screen takes a fair amount of time, as the character models pop into existence after a hefty delay. This issue is present on both the PS3 and 360 versions, even after the PS3 version’s optional install of more than four GB. These awkward load times, while disappointing, are still tolerable and won’t spoil Tekken 6. I just wish we could have seen the game perform a little better… Tekken 6 has a lot to offer, including a massive roster, refined gameplay, plenty of modes, online multiplayer and an absurd amount of character customization options…With that said, Tekken fans will certainly gobble it up and I think gamers unfamiliar with the franchise should give it a shot. The unique mix of an easy-to-use interface with intensely deep strategies is definitely worth checking out.

That’s the only “big” review I could find. If you guys find more, I’ll add ‘em later, such is the POWER of the Internet.

And lastly, DJ Hero.

From IGN:

Because this is a new type of music game, there’s a lot to explain, but let’s get this out of the way first: DJ Hero is fantastic. It’s one of the best games I’ve played this year and one of the best music games I’ve ever played… In an overcrowded genre of music games, DJ Hero resides at the very top with the best of ‘em… But DJ Hero is already the most exciting music game around and is guaranteed to get the party started. To paraphrase Run DMC: gosh darn that DJ made my day.

From Nerdworld, Peter Ha’s new gig at Time:

What’s unique to DJH is the soundtrack that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. You’re not fingering your way through another ho-hum track from yesteryear. Each track was exclusively mixed for DJH. Where else would you hear the Gorillaz x Blondie, Daft Punk x Queen or The Jackson 5 x Third Eye Blind? For the record: I hate Third Eye Blind, but the music is broad and appeals to just about anyone… As far as peripherals go, the turntable appears to be of high quality. The case and telescoping legs that come with the Renegade Edition surpassed my high expectations. There’s the off chance that you might inadvertently break or knock off the effects dial or cross fader, but it never crossed my mind while playing.

Again, I couldn’t find any more DJ Hero reviews. Is today a holiday or something? Because if it is I’m out of here!

So, yeah, just some random comments.

Update Added Time.com’s review of the game.

CrunchGear Week in Review: By Cell Light Edition

Bryce Durbin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:37:22 +0000

Here’s a look at what happened on CrunchGear this week:

The real life Burger King Windows 7 Whopper is a disgusting joke to humanity
Quick Look: 13.3-inch Acer Timeline
Orchestral movements by LCD light
The $259, dual-screen Barnes & Noble Nook reader gets official
Wait, wait, don’t tell me. NPR has its own radio.