Wow! Talk about great buys on clothes, costumes and more! I just got this notification in my email this morning. Walmart has some great clearance deals both online and in the store! Thought I would share it!
Happy shopping, (and saving!)
I need rugs, really big rugs, to cover the floors in my new house; however, big rugs are usually too expensive. Any ideas where I can get one that will be good quality (soft and long-lasting), but not cost me an arm and a leg?
I need to purchase a laptop for business/travel and would like some feedback on a few brands and styles that have worked well for the TalkBuys community. I don’t need anything heavy duty and would like to stay under $500 if that is even possible. I will be running the basic Microsoft office programs and email. Preferably light weight with a comfortable keyboard. I will also need wireless internet access. Who is the best provider for wireless internet these days?
motivate1,
With the Holiday season fast approaching, manufacturers and retailers are stepping up their efforts to capture market share early. This translates into an excellent opportunity for consumers, especially in the areas of consumer electronics. We just searched over 400 different stores for you and located some excellent buys on laptops. In this reply, we’ll give you some items to consider as well as some purchase recommendations.
The first decision you’ll need to make is what size of “laptop” you’re most interested in. In the under $500 category, there are products called “Netbooks”, which are very small, lightweight computers. Generally, they have a slightly smaller keyboard and the screen is anywhere from 9″ to 12″ (measured diagonally). These computers run on a new miniature computer processor developed by Intel® called the Intel Atom processor. Not only is this processor designed to be small, it is also designed to draw very little power. This means fewer batteries, translating into less weight. Netbook styled computers have gained in popularity over the past two years because of their small size, light weight and the ability to perform well with the majority of today’s software titles and internet technologies. Although they handle these tasks fairly well, they do not function as efficiently as full sized notebook computers, meaning that they are not as fast. For a complete article on what netbooks are, see the link at the end of the article.
On the other hand, unlike portable computers of yesteryear, notebook computers today are very fast, very efficient and capable of handling nearly any home or business computing task, including many of the higher end graphics or gaming requirements. Though this may not be important to you today, software developers continue to push the limits of computer systems. If you want something that will last you a few generations, it’s best to scale up a little bit if you can. Notebook computers operate with better processing power and better graphics capabilities. They’ll be a little heavier than the Netbooks, but most people find that they’re worth it.
Once you’ve decided on the size, it’s time to consider the available features. The following is a short list of what you’ll find on both styles of computers.
| Feature | Benefit | Recommendation |
| CPU Processor | The processor is the heart of the computer. It is what “processes” the data. There are two major brands, Intel and AMD. Both are good quality and will perform well. | Get Dual Core if you can afford it. This means the processor core is capable of processing twice as much data on the same processor. It’s simply faster. |
| RAM Memory | RAM (Random Access Memory) is the active memory on the computer and is available in many sizes. It also comes in different “FSB” (front side bus) speeds. The higher the number in GB (gigabytes) the more memory there is. The higher the MHZ(Megahertz) number on the FSB, the faster that memory transfers the information it’s holding to the processor. | Today’s operating systems (Windows, Apple, Linux, etc.) demand higher amounts of RAM to function. We recommend that you get at least 2 GB RAM. Strongly consider 4GB if you can afford it. Also, get a FSB speed of at least 533MHz, but preferably 800MHz. |
| Video/Graphics Card | On many laptop computers the video processing is done directly on the main computer board (called a motherboard). This means the CPU processor must process more data because of how video on computers works. Some computers feature a separate Video Card, the sole purpose of which is to process the video data and then send the finished product to the video screen. | We’ve found at least one computer in your budget that features an ATI Radeon® video card. Most laptops in your price range will have the video processing done on the main CPU which, for what you’ve described as your use, won’t make a noticeable difference until later in the life of the computer. |
| Hard Drive | The hard drive is where all of your data resides. The bigger the number in GB, the more storage there is. The higher the RPM number, that more times the disc spins in a minute which means faster access to your data. | The netbook sizes will start at 160GB, which is not that much space in today’s multi-media world. The notebooks start at 250GB. Get at least 250 GB with an RPM of 5400 if you can. |
| Ports- Video and Audio | As the computer plays a larger role in our media and entertainment needs, more people are integrating them into their media/entertainment centers. If you think this may be important to you in the future, consider it now and make sure the computer you purchase has the correct video ports to do things like stream movies via Netflix, play YouTube videos on your TV, connect with your home audio system, etc. | Flat panel TV’s and other multi-media screens have several inputs. HDMI is becoming the standard for connecting computers and HD flat panel monitors. Other port types are VGA and SVGA. At minimum, make sure that at least one of these video ports is on the computer you select. To our knowledge, all laptop computers have some sort of an audio out port, so this will integrate regardless of what your home audio system is. Just make sure you have the correct cables. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-fi is a wireless technology that allows you to connect to public and private networks using radio wave technologies. There are several versions of wi-fi available and most operate on the IEEE 802.11 standards. The most prominently used is the 802.11b protocol, which simply means that is the standard that two devices would communicate using. Increasingly, the 802.11g platform is becoming more popular. | Most laptops built today will have both the 802.11b and the 802.11g technologies built in. A few, though mostly in higher priced products, also incorporate the newer 802.11n wireless technology. |
| Extra Features | Most laptops now come with an integrated webcam, some combination of media card readers, and built in speakers. | Recommend at least the webcam capability, which will be available on almost all netbooks and most notebook configurations. |
We considered many brands when compiling this list. They included many of the top brands like Dell, Gateway, Acer, ASUS, Sony VAIO®, Apple and more. We also researched hundreds of stores, both online and off. Below is a list of recommendations.
Acer Aspire AS1410-2039 Notebook PC
1.3GHz Intel Celeron 743 Processor
2048MB DDR2 667MHz Memory
250GB SATA Hard Drive
802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless
11.6″ HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit Display
Windows 7 Home Premium
Up to 6 Hours of Battery Life
Samsung N110-12PBK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook – 6 Cell Battery (9.5 Hours)
(Includes Free Super Saver Shipping)
Samsung N110-12PBK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 6 Cell Battery (9.5 Hours) Just $326.95 with Free Shipping from Amazon.com
Weighing just 2.8 pounds, the Samsung N110-12PBK improves on its predecessors with a sleeker, curvier design, a glossy LCD screen, a larger touchpad, and a 6-cell lithium rechargeable battery that provides up to 9 hours of continuous use. An affordable mobile PC that’s ideal for all your online needs, the N110 is designed to go almost anywhere–from kitchen and living room at home to Wi-Fi hotspots at coffee shops, airports and more. It sports a 10.1-inch LED-backlit SuperBright screen and a 93-percent full-size keyboard that’s easy to use.
It’s powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, which is designed especially for mobile devices and features an innovative hafnium-infused circuitry that reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy. The integrated 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) will keep you connected to email and all your social networks, while the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR technology enables you to use handsfree communication headsets while video chatting via the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam.
Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, built-in speakers and microphone, SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader, three USB ports, and a VGA output to an external monitor. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.
Intel Core 2 Solo Processor ULV SU3500 operating at 1.40 GHz speed, with 3MB Cache and a 800MHz FSB; 2GB of DDR2 system memory rated at 667MHz (upgradeable to 4GB); 250GB SATA hard drive, 5400 rpm with can store up to 71,000 photos, or up to 60,000 songs, or up to 29 hours of HD video; Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n – Wired Ethernet Connects to a broadband modem (cable or DSL) wirelessly or using the wired 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet port. Also wirelessly connects to Wi-Fi signals/hotspots with Intel WiFi Link 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN; Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam and digital microphone deliver smooth video and superior voice quality so you can stay in contact wherever you are by means of real-time video streaming, video chat and conference calling; 11.6″ HD LED-backlit display screen for you to see more of your movies, photos, documents and web pages with less scrolling; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD delivers smooth video playback, sharp images and precise color control.
Check Out Coupons and recent price drops that may help you save even more by clicking here.
Well, the Holiday Season is officially upon us and we say “Let the Shopping Begin”. Because of our amazing retail connections, we’ve found hundreds of Black Friday deals. These are buys that you likely won’t see advertised in your local paper. So, sit there in your pajamas, ignore the crowds, and let us know how awesome the deals were that you scored. We’ll be sitting by the computer all day and look forward to Talking Buys with you.
Can’t find the deals you’re looking for? Check back often. We’re adding new information real time as it becomes available.
Wanna’ know how to save money on your grocery bill? Grocerysmarts.com
Let me guess-You don’t have time to clip coupons, you can never find the one you want, you for get to use them- Well forget everything you have ever thought about using coupons right now and read on…
General Mills Cereal
Just last week I got cereal, all of my family’s favorite kinds, for an average of just .90 cents a box! Smith’s Food had a certain brand of cereal on sale for $1.50 a box if you bought ten. A pretty good buy right? I probably would have bought them anyway BUT…I did it better! Grocerysmarts.com told me where to find a manufacturer’s coupon online, at three different sites! At each site I could print the $1 off coupon twice, totaling six coupons! Six boxes of cereal for .50 cents a piece! All six for just $3! The required ten boxes cost me just $9. I know you can do the math but I just like to say it…that is .90 cents a box!!!! For that price I don’t care if my kids eat it as an after school snack!
Hamburger Helper
I’ll admit that deal was amazing, but it’s not uncommon. Let me talk about another great buy I got last week-I bought Hamburger Helper and the store owed me money! How? They were on sale for 88 cents a box at Albertson’s. Grocerysmarts.com told me where to find a $1 off coupon and I had four of them! Four boxes of Hamburger Helper that would normally cost around $6 or $7, for -.48 cents! That is, not only did I not pay a penny, I had a .48 cent credit that applied to the rest of my bill! (so to speak) If you want to save money on your grocery bill, you will love this! You have got to try it! It’s easy, and best of all FREE!!
The grocerysmarts.com website does the work for you! You only have to do two things: Save every coupon mailer you get in the mail when the store ads all come, (Red Plum, RP and Proctor and Gamble, PG and the one in your Sunday paper, SS) and log onto the website once a week!
Editor’s Note: Many people using services like grocerysmarts.com have 3, 4 or even 5 subscriptions to the local Sunday paper because of the coupons. If you’d like to get a discount on those subscriptions, visit DiscountedNewspapers.com to see if you can get discounted newspaper subscriptions
on your local paper saving you up to 50% or even 75%.
You just go to the website, type in the passport* for your area, and click submit. Now choose your store, click start at the top of the page, and go down the list of sale items. You select the items you will buy by clicking the row and turning it white. Just print the list and clip the coupon it tells you to use. It is that simple. Notice I didn’t say search through stacks of coupons you have been clipping for months. You clip as you use. The website will tell you exactly where to find the coupons! It even ranks the sales from 1 star (fair) to 5 stars (AMAZING!) When you see a 4 or 5 star item, that is the time to stock up! This is when you begin to see your grocery bill really shrink.
Say you are going to make tacos for dinner. Before grocerysmarts.com you would have to go to the store and get all the ingredients, paying regular price for most of them. But now you can go to the pantry and get a box of taco shells you bought 3 of when they were on sale 2 weeks ago at Vons and your coupon made it a killer buy! And the freezer is stocked with meat you bought previously when it was a 4 star sale item at WalMart. Are you beginning to see how it works? You might never pay for toothpaste or shampoo again once you have a little stock pile going. You won’t need it again until it goes on sale , and guess what-there will likely be another coupon!
You will love this! Go on-check it out! Grocerysmarts.com
* There is one passport for each geographic location. Currently I have the numbers for five of them but I have requested others from the hosts. I will post them as soon as I get them. Until then, check out one of these to see what all the hype is about!
Nevada – g89cjj | Southern California – g92ro1 | Eastern Washington -g99ro1 | Idaho – g83ro1 | Arizona – g85r01
Travis 9:23 pm on November 11, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Jessica,
Let me get back with you on that. I may have some resources for area rugs that would work well.
TM
Jessica Brooks 9:25 pm on November 11, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
That would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Travis 2:00 am on November 13, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Jessica,
I did some checking to see what resources I had available for you. Great news! I found you an online resource that features HUGE rugs for up to 90% off. I’m sure you’re going to love it. However, before I give you that site, there’s a bit of rug information you should know about.
First, I’m sure you’re aware that rugs come in many different qualities. Some are heirloom and others are made to replace every few years. The higher the quality, the more expensive the rug will be. Heirloom rugs will most likely be made in Persia or neighboring locations in the Orient. They are hand-crafted using thousands of years of knowledge and skill. Many are passed down from generation to generation. Cheaper rugs will be mass produced in one of the many countries where factories are run by inexpensive labor. Here’s a great article from Ebay on how to select a rug.
Anyway, if you’re looking for lower cost products that you’ll likely replace several times, check the major stores like Walmart. Don’t forget to look online. Many of the larger companies like Walmart have a significantly larger selection online. For example, Walmart.com has hundreds of rugs online that are not carried in the store.
For a step up in quality, look at web sites like http://www.plowandhearth.com
. You’ll find some more stylish selections along with perceived better quality. Here’s an example and a link.
Now, for the good stuff. I found a resource where you can buy great rugs – Persian, Oriental, Traditional and even Tribal – in huge sizes, for up to 90% off. And, I even found a coupon for you so that if you’re initial order is over $750.00 you can get an additional $50.00 off. Keep in mind that because of the exclusive nature of quality rugs, much of the pricing is what we in retail call P.F.A. (pluck from air), so the discounts are relative. However, I can assure you that if you can purchase a quality Persian rug, size 7′x10′, for less than $430.00, that is a great buy. The website is called Rugman.com. The coupon code that you’re going to want to use is Code AFT50a-07. Here’s some more great news. That coupon code is currently valid until 10/01/10, so you’ve got nearly a year to use it. Check out Rugman. Their products are amazing and, although I’ve not personally purchased from them yet, the word in cyberland is that their service is as good as their prices. Good luck and happy shopping as you find the right rugs to cover those bare floors.
Travis