A few years ago I had my heart set on buying a sword.  I took a few trips to the local antique mall and kept finding myself gazing upon the beautiful Excalibur weapons as they gently rested in their display cases.  It was a phase I was going through.  That phase led me to an impulse purchase on eBay.  As I began to view the results of my eBay search, I saw that there were a few swords for sale and their auctions were ending in under a minute.  I quickly examined the prices to see that they were selling for under five dollars!  Without reading the auctions terms closely, I threw in a last second bid for a mighty blade.

Check the auction's shipping terms

Little did I realize that the seller was shipping the sword from Japan, and he was charging $200 to ship it.  No wonder it was selling for five dollars and had no bids with under a minute remaining.  eBay has recently

Read more ...

It can be difficult keeping up with the latest, big thing in the world of tech.  If you're one who keeps track of tech blogs religiously, you know what a hassle it can be to catch up if you miss a few days.  New technology hits the market faster than bloggers are able to keep up.  Although it's a lot of fun to learn about new products that splash into the market, how many people actually purchase new technology when it is released?  Here are a few advantages in waiting to buy the hottest gadgets:

• Buying a product six months after it is released usually provides enough time for major bugs to be discovered and a remedy to be issued.  Technology is often rushed to the market and may not be as complete as the manufacturer would like.  A six-month time span allows early adopters to get their hands on the hottest thing and test it out for you.
• A six month time span often allows for some type of price drop.  You might not be able to purchase the newest model on the block, but you can save a few pennies any time there has been a product upgrade.  Unless there has been a major redesign, most product line upgrades are cosmetic or nominal.  It is important to fully read and compare any changes or upgrades that occur as occasionally there may be a big fix.  However, most of the time you'll be getting basically the same thing.
• Six months allows bloggers to fully rip apart every angle of whatever gadget your heart desires.  It will be unboxed, taken apart, demonstrated, used, and abused so that you don't have to rebox it and return it because it doesn't meet your needs.  By the time a gadget has been on the market six months, professional review sites have had time to collect battery life information and benchmark tests.  It pays to slow down and do your research before buying something new.
• Waiting six months can also cool your desire.  I can get caught in the tech hype when a new product is released to the market.  I read about how it is so much faster, better, and cooler looking, but most of the time my current setup does exactly what the new product does.  If I wait a few months, I stop rationalizing how I need something new, and I realize what I already have works just fine.

Next time you think about buying something as soon as it is released, think about these tips.  It could save you a few bucks and a big headache.  It might not be cool to wait, but it's ultimately the wise move.  Hit up the comments and let us know how often you buy something new.

Photo credit: TheAnlieness (flickr cc)

I was just looking at the weekly Fry's ad in our local news paper...  4GB notebook memory kit for $39.99 (after rebate, but still)!!!  I remember when this would have been a couple hundred bucks!!  Sorry for bad picture, to see it online follow this link to Frys.com online.

If you have a son or daughter going off to college or if you are in college yourself, don't miss PDF Annotator for Students for $29.90. It's the full Version 2 with special pricing for those of us in education. McKay Whitney, a regular site contributor, alerted us to the special pricing this morning. With most handouts available to students as PDF's, Grahl Software's PDF Annotator Version 2 allows us to write directly on these documents without having to import into OneNote first. This is advantageous on several fronts for me.

First, only a few of my classmates actually use OneNote. Being able to mark up a PDF and share that file as a PDF without having to use another software as a medium for inking is a big benefit. Second, PDF Annotator saves time. My workflow for annotating pdf's before Annotator was to import the pdf file into OneNote (and depending on the file size, could take a bit of time), making notes in the pdf file via OneNote, then saving the OneNote file as another pdf. Third, some images and documents within the pdf that gets rotated by OneNote cannot be correctly reoriented once it is imported. By using Annotator, it is a non-issue.

Larry Magid, tech columnist at PCAnswer.com, has a post analyzing how much it now costs to use our favorite gadgets.  With so many different devices, there is a lot of overlap with purpose and functionality.  I use my iTouch for listening to music, mobile web browsing, and calendar, but I need my laptop for heavier tasks.  I enjoy my cell phone, but I'm a cheapo and don't pay for any mobile browsing service.  With no Wi-Fi on my phone I have to carry around my iTouch.  I'm finding that one of my devices will do three or four things really well, but another device still has a spot because it does something that my other tech toys can't.  I like being prepared, but that means I'm always carrying around a big bag of expensive tech junk.  If I'm well equipped, I rely on at least three different devices.

Will we ever reach a time when one device does it all?

Photo credit: Tracy O.

I am the ultimate cheapskate; nothing pleases me more than saving a few pennies.  I'm one of those guys who never buys the extra warranty, and if it breaks-- oh well.  Three of the last laptops I've purchased have been bought direct from the manufacturer, have full warranty, include all original software, but they've been refurbished.  I've found that you can save anywhere from $100 to $300 and sometimes more!  It is important to read the terms on each manufacturer's site as each company may have different definitions and terms regarding their refurbished units.

• Refurbished: This typically means that the computer had some faulty component and was returned by the consumer, or a problem was detected and it was never shipped.  This is a thorough process and all new parts are used repair the machine and restore it to full functionality.  The computer is usually given a new identification number that indicates it is a refurbished unit and then offered to the public.

Example: Consumer buys a computer but believes the screen is too dim.  Consumer returns unit, unit is inspected by company, repairs are made if necessary, and item is reclassified as refurbished unit.

• Scratch-and-Dent:  These are units that might have only cosmetic blemishes unless otherwise stated.  Make sure to read the item description closely as the damage to these items is often different from unit to unit.  Typical scratch-and-dent units might literally have small scratches or marks on the outside of the case but nothing that would impact functionality or performance.

Example: Several units are scratched due to poor packaging.  The scratches occur before the units are available for sale to the public.  Because they are still fully functional and only have cosmetic scratches, they are classified as scratch-and-dent models.

• Open Box:  I'm least excited about this deal than buying refurbished or scratch-and-dent.  An open box system typically means the computer for sale was a display unit in the store.  Think about all the display models you've seen in the store-- missing buttons, greasy fingerprints, and lots of uptime.  These systems usually see a lot of abuse, but they should be cleaned and put through the same rigorous tests as refurbished and scratch-and-dent models.  In the end, you can still save some big bucks.

Where to shop:

Apple: Apple has three different sites for their Refurbished Macs, Refurbished iPods, and Refurbished iPhones. You can also access other offers and clearance deals from the tabs on these three pages.  I've bought a refurbished iBook G4, 1st generation MacBook, and current current generation MacBook.  I've also purchased three refurbished iPods (2nd generation, current shuffle, and 8G iTouch).

HP: I've purchased one laptop several years ago and had a good experience.  I kept that laptop for several years and never had a problem with it or the purchasing transaction.

Dell: I've read successful reviews of individuals buying scratch and dent models.

Lenovo:  This is a great place to look for ThinkPad deals.  They have many different options including shopping for new units that had their orders canceled and never shipped.

And don't forget:

• This is not a definitive list of companies that offer refurbished deals.  There are many other places to purchase units and save.  Do your research and make sure your purchasing from a reputable company.
• Sometimes these units have different return policies or higher restocking fees. 
• It is best to talk to someone who has had a positive experience. 
• Each company offers different deals, so it is important to read their terms closely.
• If you see an item that you like, add it to your on-line shopping cart.  Often there is only one unit available, and they go fast.  Adding it to your cart usually places a 10-15 minute hold while you investigate the unit.
• Check these sites hourly or daily as the units posted often change at a rapid pace.
• Don't forget that K-12 and university students and faculty are often able to purchase new units with a substantial discount.
• Scour their entire site and you might find other great deals as well.  If you're like me and want to save some bucks, it is possible to get a great deal.

Have you purchased refurbished?  Share your experience or links to great deals.

Photo credit: Joshua Davis.