Through Foreign Eyes

Heroism dwells in the heart of the one who gives. Be a hero this holiday season by sharing what you have to the "real" heroes of this land -- the military men and their families. Since 'tis the season to give, why not make it worth it by making a difference to the lives of others, especially those serving in our armed forces. Support the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry. This is a long-standing tradition of Sears to support the military whose sacrifices deserve much recognition.

TheSears Heroes at Home Wish Registry program provides support to service members, veterans and their families through joint efforts with various nonprofit organizations. The program allows Americans to connect with the military community on a very personal level, and gives Americans the opportunity to grant their holiday wishes.

If you want to know more of this worthy program and read stories from military families around the country, visit Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry and be part of this endeavor. You can donate and share your blessings, no matter how small it is, it will count and will go a long, long way.

This season of giving, think of all the military men -- the living heroes of today. Think of their families and how you could make them smile.


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The cutie Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook is sold for only $399. This great little netbook is good for your basic computer use, email, web and more.
This Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook comes with this features.

- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
- 1GB DDR2
- 80GB
- Windows XP
- 10.2" LCD
- Broadcom 11b/g Wi-Fi wireless
- 3 Cell Lithium-Ion

Shop at Lenovo site.

Labels: Lenovo Ideapad

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Do you want to be a XML Grand Master? You may have the XML skills, and with the title of XML Grand Master, it will boost your record even further. The first step is to get involved in the The XML Challenge sponsored by IDUG.

The XML Challenge is a competition consisting of five different contests. You need not worry if you are a student or having less XML skills than others, since there is always a contest, in varying levels of skills, that may fit you. The range of skills encompasses those with a passing interest in XML and database technology to those with hardcore programming skills in DB2. You may choose from any of the following (or maybe all, if you desire):

* Video Contest: Invent a creative use of XML, XQuery or DB2 and record yourself doing it.
* Gadget Contest: Develop a downloadable gadget or widget leveraging DB2.
* Query Contest: Use XQuery to find five answers. The best queries win the best prizes!
* Ported App Contest1: Port or develop a new app for DB2. Enter as an individual or assemble a team.
* XML2 Contest: Win by building useful, user-friendly XML apps from scratch. Enter as an individual or assemble a team.

You will earn participation points for each entry. A special prize will be given to the contestant —- the "XML Grand Master" —- that collects the most participation points.

Are you ready to face the IDUG contest and test your XML skills?

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Apple may be the leader in the MP3 player category, but there are still other brands that may have Apple's features yet may cost less. MP3 products from Microsoft, SanDisk, Sony, Slacker, and Creative are few of the brands you may want to look at this Christmas for your holiday gifts.

I listed below the best MP3 players for the holiday season's gift-giving.

Apple iPod touch - With iPod touch groundbreaking technologies--including a Multi-Touch screen, the accelerometer, and 3D graphics--and access to hundreds of games, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand.

Amazon discounted prices: 8GB - $208.00, 16GB - $269.98, 32GB - $359.98.

Microsoft Zune 80/120 - BEST subscription-based device on the market. One nice feature about the Zune device is that they are easily upgraded.

Amazon discounted prices: Zune 120 GB - $224.51, Zune 120 GB Gears of War 2 Special Edition - $268.97.

Apple iPod Classic (6th generation) - Available in a 120 GB model that holds up to 30,000 songs, 150 hours of video, 25,000 photos, or any combination.

Amazon discounted prices: 120 GB Black - $224.94, 120 GB Silver - $224.95.

Microsoft Zune 4/8/16 - It comes complete with a built-in FM tuner and buy-from-FM capabilities, wireless sync, Zune-to-Zune wireless sharing, video playback, and more.

Amazon discounted prices: Zune 4GB Video Player Red - $113.81, Zune 8 GB (Black) - $139.84, Zune 16 GB (Black) - $160.51.

Apple iPod shuffle - Lets you wear up to 240 songs on your sleeve.

Amazon discounted prices: 1GB Silver - $48.72, 1GB New Bright Blue - $49.99, 1GB New Pink - $48.72.

Sony E-series WalkMan - The Sony E-series Walkman comes in 8GB and 4GB models priced from US$73 to US$120 so it is a reasonable lower cost alternative.

Slacker G2 - The Slacker G2 features a built-in MP3 player. You can store up to 1 GB of MP3s. The Slacker G2 plays all of your Slacker Radio stations on one sleek, ultra-portable player.

Amazon discounted prices: Slacker G2 8GB 40-Station - $249.99, Slacker G2 4GB 25-Station - $199.99.

SanDisk Sansa Fuze - Listen, watch, and play all day with 24 hours of battery life and room for up to 1,000 songs. Nice mp3 player yet very affordable.

Amazon discounted prices: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4GB - $48.00, 8GB MP3 Player (Silver)- $69.99.

Creative Zen X-Fi - Creative Zen X-Fi is the first player to restore the quality of compressed music with award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology.

Amazon discounted prices: 16GB Video MP3 Player (Black/Silver) - $164.99, 32GB Video MP3 Player (Black/Silver) - $262.71.

Shop now for your holiday gifts.

Labels: MP3 Players

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The last years saw the platinum engagement rings becoming popular for couples. Before, gold wedding rings are the only option for couples wanting to have the rings for their marriage. Not anymore, today.

Platinum is now eyed to be a better material for rings. Platinum is a metal more prized than gold, and it has some sound advantages over gold as well. The platinum material is a very durable naturally white metal that will keep its brilliant white luster even for many years of wearing.

Unlike other materials that give you skin allergies, platinum does not, as it is a neutral material. So if your ring is platinum made, you can let it stay on your finger 365 days a year, for many years and still it will look just the same as the first day you wore it.

Platinum wedding rings are fashionable, elegant and practical. There are a lot of online jewelry shops that are offering beautiful platinum engagement ring at very reasonable prices.

For those about to marry yet, choose platinum wedding rings. Remember that having a beautiful, long-lasting wedding ring will always jog your memory of how beautiful your wedding was. Platinum wedding rings are trendy, stylish and practical.

For those who are already married, it is never too late. Just think of it as an investment for you and your lifetime partner. Wearing a ring that is made of something rare, enduring, and pure is already something that can make both of you proud.

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I haven't heard about the Indamixx netbook before, but looking at its specifications/features (and free stuff), this might be a good substitute for my other netbooks or carry-on laptops, especially for audio mixes.
The Indamixx is lightweight, just 2 lbs. You can use it to create, mix, and edit audio with its load of installed software. The software packages include the following:

* energyXT for music production
* Ardour for digital audio editing
* Preloaded with 2900 drum sounds and 350 samples
* Over 260 plugins
* Ardour Xchange which will import audio from other digitla audio workstation applications

It runs Linux OS called Transmission 2.1, with 1.6Ghz Intel Atom CPU for a price of $499. It will be ready for shipping before Christmas if you order it by December 15. To reserve a unit, pre-order it with a $99 deposit.

Thanks to createdigitalmusic.com for this info.

Labels: Ultraportable laptops

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This is the best bundle you can ever get this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is the Charter Communications Ultimate Service Bundle that has everything you can ever ask. It is a package that includes:

High speed internet: 10 Mbps High Speed

For TV: Digital Home, Charter HD, Sports View, Digital View, HBO/Cinemax , Starz/Encore, Showtime/The Movie Channel

Phone: Unlimited Calling

The Charter’s ultimate service bundle is $165.97 only. But that is not just it. Once you sign-up for the bundle, a gift card worth $250 will be yours. Buying the bundle will also automatically give you the chance to win an X-Box 360 game console. Just imagine what more can you buy from your extra $250 gift card!

If you live within the Charter Communications service area, this is the time to think of your current internet, phone, TV provider. This offer is the best price there is available today for such an amazing package.

If you want to opt for a much lesser value, you can still get good deals from other Charter’s services: 1 Charter service for $25, 2 Charter services for $75 and 3 Charter Services for $150.

But if you really want the best rewards, get the Black Friday /Cyber Monday Charter Communications ultimate service bundle: you just don’t get the best price for 2009, you also have the $250 gift card and maybe win the X-Box!?! For complete X-Box sweepstakes rules go here.

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Staples is giving a Black Friday discount to the Acer Aspire One netbook. The special price is $349.98. This is for the blue color only.
Features of the Acer Aspire One from Staples:
* Intel Atom N270 (1.60 GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache) processor
* 1GB installed memory
* 120GB hard drive
* 8.9" WSVGA high-brightness Acer CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD display
* Optical drive is not included
* Multi-in-1 Card Reader
* Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
* 0.3 Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
* Dimensions: 9.8"W x 6.7"D x 1.14"H (2.19lbs)
* Microsoft Windows XP Home
* 1 year warranty

Buy it online.

Labels: ACER

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Newegg has revealed a list of their Black Friday deals. Guess what, there is a discount on the 8.9" Acer Aspire One Netbook from Newegg. The price has been dropped to $249.99 from the usual $299.00.
There is a Newegg Black Friday newspaper ad after the jump.

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There are pre-release MSI WInd U120 netbook units out there and few lucky Spanish people were able to get their hands on them.
The MSI Wind U120 is a netbook my friends. The box says it all. It is not a notebook, laptop but a netbook!

MSI WInd U120 - Video unboxing:


Some features/specs of the MSI Wind U120:
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
- 10.2 inch 1024 x 600 pixel display
- 1GB of RAM
- 120GB hard drive
- optional 20GB or 40GB SSD
- 3.5G modem for wireless broadband connections

Labels: MSI, Ultraportable laptops

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HIS is a company that solely makes graphics card. But not anymore. HIS launches the HIS netbook in Mumbai, India.
Features of the HIS netbook is similar to most netbooks existing now. But who cares really. Netbook lovers will always want to try a new brand, even if it is not as big as companies like HP, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Toshiba.

Specifications of the HIS netbook.
- 10.2 inch 1024 x 600 pixel display
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 2.5″ HDD
- WiFi
- Ethernet
- 4-in-1 card reader
- 3 USB ports
- VGA output
- 0.3 MP camera
- 4 cell battery
- Windows XP

Labels: Ultraportable laptops

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The last storage capacity released for the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 was 16GB SSD. Now you can have an option of a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 with a 32GB solid state drive.
The base price for a Mini 9 with 4GB SSD is $349. If you opt for the 32GB, you have to add $100 more.

Features of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9:
- Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1
- Obsidian Black
- 1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service
- 512MB DDR2 at 533MHz
- Intel Atom Processor® N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
- Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
- Wireless 802.11g Mini Card
- 32WHr Battery (4 cell)

Labels: DELL

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I am waiting for Amazon to include Black Friday deals for their laptops or netbooks. That will be an amazing idea. People will be trooping to Amazon (and slow down its server) if the laptop deals ever happen.

There have been leaks already on items (on games) Amazon might offer this Black Friday 2008.

Halo 3 Legendary for Xbox 360 $79.99 ( save $50 )

Bioshock for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Gears of War for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Amazon.com Exclusive !!! Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Limited Edition for 360 $19.99 ( save $40 )

PlayStation 3 SixAxis controller $19.99 ( save $30 )

Dirt for PS3 $29.99 ( save $30 )

Puzzle Quest for PSP $9.99 ( save $10 )

Gold Nintendo DS with Zelda $149.99

Pink Nintendo DS with Nintendogs $149.99

New York Times Crosswords for DS $9.99 ( half off )

World of Warcraft Battlechest for PC $19.99 ( save $20 )

World of Warcraft for PC $9.99 ( half off )

Select Wii Games $19.99

Some of these offers are good through "Cyber Monday". I will keep you all updated for travel gadget deals, specifically netbook deals that Amazon may offer for Black Friday.

Labels: Amazon

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Qube will be releasing its Qube M1 8.9" netbook in the booming Philippine netbook business. Qube M1 will be available on December 20th, just in time for Christmas when Filipinos get their Christmas bonuses. The Qube M1 netbook will come with 3 options: Linux Mint, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
Here are the features/specifications of the Qube M1 netbook:

* Display: 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel
* RAM: 1GB
* Storage:80GB 2.5″ SATA HDD
* I/O: 3 USB ports, mic in, headphout, RJ45, Express Card, SD/MMC/MS card slot
* Webcam: 1.3MP
* Connectivity: 802.11b/g WiFi
* Battery: 2600mAh Li-ion battery
* Weight: 1kg or about 2.2 pounds
* Dimensions: 250mm x 183mm x 18.3 ~ 28.8mm or about 9.8″ x 7.2″ x 0.7″ ~ 1.1″
* Price: Around P16,000 or about $327 US.

Labels: Qube, Ultraportable laptops

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This post is the follow-up of the "Samsung NC10 unboxing, first part" I posted on Monday. This is a video I took while unboxing the Samsung NC10 netbook.
I bought the Samsung NC10 from buy.com for $550 (including tax and shipping). So far, after three days of using it, I am beginning to love it more -- even more than my ACER Aspire One netbook.

The 10" screen of the NC10 is perfectly made for my eyes. The keyboard is designed to perfectly fit my fingertips. Really, I may not change netbooks anytime soon.

Here is the video I took while unboxing the Samsung NC10.


Buy your unit at Amazon Store with discounted price:
Samsung NC10-14GW 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery, XP Home) White -- Amazon.

Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery, XP Home) Blue -- Amazon.

Labels: Samsung, Ultraportable laptops

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Wanna add a little twist of color to your Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12? New designs are revealed. The performance of the netbooks/laptops are still the same, only the outside appearance are changed.

If you want to have these cosmetic designs on your Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, you have to shell out $50 above its asking price.

Electronista.com has more of the designs.

Labels: DELL

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Finally the Epson Endeavor Na01 netbook is here after a month of waiting and teasing. Based on the specifications, the new Epson netbook is no different than any other existing netbooks in the market today.
Epson Endeavor Na01 netbook features:

- 10.2 inch
- 1024 x 600 pixel display
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 160GB hard drive
- 802.11b/g WiFi
- Windows XP
- 3-in-1 memory card reader
- Ethernet jack
- 3 USB ports
- 2.8 pounds
- 7.4V/4400mAh battery

I am not attracted to buy this netbook. Samsung NC10 has better features with even a comparable price. Epson Endeavor Na01 will be priced at $485.

Thanks to Engadget.

Labels: Epson, Ultraportable laptops

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Yuga has spotted during the last Intel Atom launch in the Philippines, the new Neo 10″ Vivid v1190 netbook. There was already a Neo Vivid released few months ago with these features:

- Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 120GB SATA HDD
- WiFi
- 3-in-1 card reader
- Webcam
- 8.9-inch display
- 1024×600 resolution
- Windows XP

The new Neo Vivid, however, has a wider screen (10 inches) and a bigger HD capacity (160GB). It offers units in 5 colors: white, pink, blue, red and black. Price? About $480.

Thanks to Yuga.

Labels: Ultraportable laptops

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Microsoft released lately the update for the Zune 3.1 that adds 3 new games: Space Battle, SuDoKu, and Checkers. The update also makes some stability and performance improvements, like eliminating some of the lag sometimes seen in the Zune hardware.

It is expected today, November 19th, that Microsoft will be announcing a small price cut on the Zune in time for the Christmas holidays or even Black Friday.

Price discounts apply only to the flash-based models.

- The 4GB - from US$129.99 to US$99.99
- The 8GB - from US$149.99 to US$139.99
- The 16GB - from US$199.99 to US$179.99

Labels: Travel Gadgets, Zune

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As Black Friday 2008 is fast approaching, Microcenter is having early Black Friday blowout deals for all online shoppers. The site has posted laptop/netbook deals for an early grab. After Best Buy sells the Asus Eee PC 900A for $279.99, Microcenter sells the MSI Wind and the Acer Aspire laptop computers for $299.99 each.
The MSI Wind U100 has a 10 inch screen, 1024 x 600 pixel display, an 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, 802.11b/g WiFi and comes with a 3 cell battery and runs Windows XP.

Acer Aspire notebook has a dual-core CPU, 160GB hard drive, and runs Windows Vista.

Hurry this Microcenter promo is for this weekend only, November 22.

Labels: MSI

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My Samsung NC10 netbook has just arrived few hours ago. I opted for the 2-day delivery option on buy.com, and as promised, delivery was on-time. I already unboxed Samsung NC10, took some photos and recorded a short video. My first impression was...awesome!

The cover is not glossy and finger-print free. It also has a 10.2-inch LED superbright non-gloss screen. The keyboard is perfect, about 92% the size of a normal keyboard.

Later today, I will be posting the photos plus video. For now, you may want to check out where to buy your own Samsung NC10 unit.

Later.

Labels: Samsung

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Mr. Bluelight brings the great deals only to you! Kmart's 'Mr. Bluelight' lights the store with big bright eyes and welcoming smile that will help you make the most of your Kmart experience.

In my effort to find great travel gadgets for you, my readers, I followed Mr. Bluelight inside Kmart's online store and found some amazing electronic stuff, which might be useful for your day-to-day travel.

Here is one: the Nextar GPS Navigation System w/ 4.3 in. Diagonal Touch Screen Display. From $180, it is now priced for $120! If you haven't used or tried a GPS before, this is the right time to purchase one. Just imagine what a GPS can do to your travel: it shows you where you are, where you're going and the easiest way to get there!

Features of Nextar GPS Navigation System:
* Built-In Speaker
* Store up to 300 addresses in the Address Book
* Instant Automatic Route Recalculation in case you miss a turn
* Turn-by-Turn Voice Prompts
* SD Card Slot for added memory
* MP3 Playing & Photo Viewing Mode
* 2D or 3D map viewing modes with built-in compass
* Day and Night Modes
* Built-In Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
Here is another one: Flip Video Ultra Series 60 minutes. This is good for the kids if you intend to bring them on your trip. Give them something to enjoy their hands and eyes on. Give them this camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom. It holds up to 60 Minutes of TV-Quality video on 2 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required. This will keep the kids behaved all throughout the road trip! Price has dropped -- from $150 to $130.

Find Mr. Blue Light and you will find marked-down merchandises in Kmart Layaway program!

More travel gadget deals soon!


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Black Friday is more than a week from now, but people are starting to find the best Black Friday deals. It always is good to plan ahead, isn't it?

One of the shops you might wanna check is OfficeMax. Their Black Friday deals have leaked already online.

SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB Readyboost - $9.99

SanDisk Cruzer Micro 16GB Jump Drive - $39.99

Epson PowerLite S5 3LCD SVGA Projector - $399.99

HP Photosmart C4480 3 In 1 Printer - $49.99

Samsung CLP315 Laser Printer - $99.99

Simpletech 640 GB Mini Hard Drive - $89.99

Dragon Naturally Speaking - $39.99

Microsoft Home and Student Edition 2007 - $69.99

More deals will come soon.

Labels: Others

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If there will be a Walmart Black Friday 2008 deals on netbooks (I think they have the ACER Aspire One) and laptops, I will be the first one to be on the line.

Since netbooks/laptops are most likely the items people will look for this coming Black Friday, Walmart may not put the idea aside and join the fray -- give out big discounts on their items.

AppleInsider reports:

Among the most heavily discounted electronics items poised to dominate this year's sales are low cost notebooks, according to analyst Ben Reitzes, who notes that Dell plans to offer $299 linux model via its website, while Wal-Mart markets a $299 Compaq, and Best Buy a $299 eMachines portable. Ultra-low cost notebooks will be a major draw this Black Friday as vendors look to push volumes and consumers look to trade down given the economic environment.

So Walmart may have a $299 Compaq deal this Black Friday. Is this the 15.4" Compaq units that they are selling for $500-$600?

Update: More Black Friday Deals from Walmart

- Samsung 50-inch plasma HDTV ($798)
- Magnavox Blu-ray player ($128)
- Xbox 360 ($199)
- HP Pavilion desktop computer ($398)
- UniFlame gas grill ($175)
- GE microwave ($25)
- Children's clothing priced between $4 and $8
- Variety of toys, including a Hannah Montana doll for $10 or less

Wal-Mart is not expected to officially unveil its Black Friday deals until Nov. 24.
Wal-Mart's so-called doorbuster deals offered between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Labels: Laptops, WalMart Product Review

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There's the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and there is this Dell Inspiron Mini 12. The latter is now available in the U.S. for a price ranging from $549 to $649.
The lowest price for Dell Inspiron Mini 12 will have a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 40GB HDD, and a 3 cell battery. The higher end will have a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 CPU, a 60GB HDD, and a 6 cell battery.

Would you buy the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 (that's with 12" screen)? It is still small in size if you ask me, though not that small compared to other netbooks.

Thanks to electronista.

Labels: DELL, Ultraportable laptops

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Sears, one of the biggest department stores, is offering great deals for their products this weekend, November 15, for their Big One Day sale specials. This is the best time to buy your travel gadgets and avail of big discounts. I was browsing for some interesting stuff and found these two items that I recommend buying.

Canon PowerShot A590
If you need to buy the Canon Powershot (with 8.0 megapixel, 4X optical digital zoom, still camera), visit sears.com. The Canon Powershot is priced at $149.99, but during the 3-day sale, you will get a $30 instant savings. That is a big saving you will never get from other stores.

The PowerShot A590 IS features include:
1. Enhanced Canon Face Detection Technology sets focus, exposure, flash and white balance automatically for greater freedom

2. Motion Detection Technology automatically reduces blur by calculating subject movement and selecting ideal exposure and ISO settings

3. New Easy Mode simplifies operation, and shooting modes from Manual to Automatic make picture-taking care-free

Nextar 7” Digital Photo Frame
You may want to buy this too. I bought one recently and it is so classy. I was able to view easily and quickly digital pictures from my travel using the memory cards, minus the PC or printer. Price is only $39.99.

Nextar 7 Digital Photo Frame features:
• 7 Inch TFT LCD screen
• Interchangeable frame (frame plates: Black, White)
• Supports JPEG picture
• Slideshow functions
• Compatible with SD, MMC, MS Card, Jump drive, USB drive

These are just a few of the deals I spotted. Remember the date: November 15th. It’s the Big One Day sale, doorbusters from 7:00a.m. to noon only!


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Best Buy is cutting its netbook prices. The Asus Eee PC 900A price is now down to $279.99 from $299.
Asus Eee PC 900A Features:
* Intel Atom processor N270
Features a 533MHz frontside bus, 512KB cache and 1.6GHz processor speed.
* 1GB DDR2 SoDIMM memory
For multitasking power.
* Note: Optical drive not included
Optional external DVD-ROM drive available (not included).
* 8.9" WSVGA widescreen display
With 1024 x 600 resolution showcases movies, games and other images.
* 4GB solid state drive
Offers quiet, energy-efficient and shock-resistant storage and fast read/write times.
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
For lush images. High-definition audio support with 2 built-in stereo speakers.
* Memory card slot
Supports Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard formats for easy digital photo transfer.
* 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
* Built-in wireless connectivity
Lets you wirelessly connect to the Internet.
* Weighs 2.2 lbs. and measures 1.3" thin
For lightweight portability.
* Linux operating system preinstalled
Software package included.

More ultraportables here.

Labels: ASUS Eee

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Finally! I have been waiting for my order of Samsung NC10 netbook. Buy.com is now shipping the Samsung NC10 in the U.S. I am expecting that other sites like CDW.com will follow suit as I ordered mine from them.
I would have wanted to cancel my order and purchase one from buy.com. But I had second thoughts. Maybe I just have to wait for few more days.

The Samsung NC10 is priced for $499 at buy.com. At CDW, I paid like almost $550 including the tax and shipping. If you can wait for more weeks, Amazon is offering a much lesser deal at $488, and that includes everything. Amazon also offers free shipping for the item.

Samsung NC10-14GW, 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery, XP Home) White -- Amazon Store.

Labels: Samsung

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Save $50 this Black Friday for the Dell Inspiron Mini 9.
Dell is putting the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 on a sale, according to their Black Friday ad. It is now priced at $299.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving.

You can read more of the specs of the Inspiron Mini 9 here.

Labels: DELL

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I was having my usual routine at Walmart, checking on new electronic stuff on the shelf when I noticed a netbook placed side by side with other much bigger laptops. It's the Acer Aspire One, blue color. It was the first time I saw the blue version and to tell you frankly, I like the dark shade of blue. It was not so fancy-looking yet even classy to some extent.
The netbook is priced at $348 with the following specs/features:

- Intel Atom processor N270, 1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 512 KB L2 cache
- 8.9"
- 1024MB DDR 533MHz Dual Channel Memory
- 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Windows XP Home
- Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
- 3 - USB 2.0 Ports
- Multi-in-1 Card Reader
- Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
- 3-cell Li-ion (2200 mAh) Battery
- 2.19 lbs.

I checked Walmart online and found out the they are also selling it for the same price. The white version is out of stock though, as of this writing. The blue color is available and ready for purchase.

Labels: ACER, Ultraportable laptops

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Eee PC News and Eee PC.de hosted a meetup in a coffee shop in Germany and someone recorded this video that shows a number of netbooks. It is like the shop has been stormed by ultraportables!

Watch the video after the jump.

Thanks to umpcportal.com.

Labels: Ultraportable laptops

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Kmart is offering a layaway program for the holidays. If you are thinking of buying stuff online, like the iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld, think of this opportunity from Kmart. I think this is a chance for those who cannot pay in full at one time. In any type of layaway program, there will be a regular layaway payment until you have covered the total purchase price of the merchandise.
The iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld is a powerful device that will run work applications and a broad range of third-party solutions. It also has a large touch screen for excellent viewing in a variety of light conditions.

With its internet and e-mail capabilities, you can access your online data wherever you are: at the office or in Wi-Fi hot spots like airports or cafes.

Why iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld?
• Use familiar applications including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Synchronize e-mail and data with your PC via mini-USB or an Exchange server with Wi-Fi connectivity
• Store business-critical information with high-capacity SDIO and CompactFlash expansion
• View easily in a variety of environments on the large, 43, TFT touch screen
• Use headphones, a microphone, and other USB devices via convenient in/out ports
• Connect Bluetooth peripherals such as headsets and keyboards with the Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)

To get you own unit via Kmart Lay-Away plan, you have to undergo 4 easy steps.

1. Select the item
2. Bring the item to the layaway counter and make a downpayment. Downpayment is about 10% of the price.
3. Pay your layaway due every two weeks.
4. Take home your item once the last payment is done.

That’s about it. Please allow 3-4 days for your item to arrive.


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This is the cheapest, the best price deal for the Asus Eee PC 1000H! Newegg is selling the unit for $339.75.
Months ago Asus Eee PC 1000H was selling over $500, then went down to around $450. This time, it went further down and with the nice specs of this Asus unit, you might want to give it a go and buy it.

The one at Newegg is an open box Asus Eee PC 1000H and has these features:

- 10 inch netbook with a 6 cell battery
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
- 1024 x 600 pixel display
- 1GB of RAM
- 160GB hard drive

Labels: ASUS Eee

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South Dakota is the only place to be for snow (and storm) lovers. Of all the possible topics that can be written about this U.S. State, the snow (and everything related to it) has captivated me more than anything. The past posts are a clear proof:

- Snowy Christmas in Brookings
- Scenes after the snow
- Brookings is cool! Take it literally
- Only a Filipino loves a snow storm
- Let the sunshine in
- Brookings, South Dakota in severe winter storm

Since yesterday afternoon, South Dakota has been stricken by a snow storm. It is the first snow storm of the season in SD and for the United States.

The reports said that some areas could be without power for days. My gully! No heating system inside the house could freeze me in hours.

A long stretch of Interstate 90 was closed. Some motorists have been stranded for more than 24 hours and search teams can't get to them because of zero visibility.

The storm has dropped 45.7 inches of snow near Deadwood, in the northern Black Hills. Reports of 10 inches to 2 feet of snow were received from many West River counties.

In some towns, residents reported drifts were blocking their doorways, and in the southwestern corner of the state, 20-foot snowdrifts were reported on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Alright, time for me to shovel the snow.

Labels: Brookings South Dakota

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Nokia has revealed its smallest bluetooth headset BH-804. This is what I call small but terrible - a small size with huge power.
You will get the following Nokia bluetooth headset BH-804 features with each purchase:

* Lightweight aluminium case
* Enhanced audio quality with DSP
* Tricolour LED for status indication
* Fast charging with microUSB
* Desktop charger and neck strap included

Labels: Travel Gadgets

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I have never seen this netbook before: Sylvania GNET28001SN Meso 8.9". As I was browsing Amazon for great deals, I stumbled upon the Sylvania Meso 8.9". The netbook seems to have the essential features that one expects for an ultraportable PC and even comparable to other netbooks existing today.
The price is very affordable too ($370) for a lightweight netbook (just touches 1kg).

Product Features
* 2.2 lbs of muscular Intel Atom performance at uncompromised mobility
* Connected, built in WiFi
* Secure web browsing, email and entertainment
* Windows Xp Home Edition or Linux-based Ubuntu Netbook Remix
* 8.9-Inch LED backlit display with integrated webcam for easy chat and photos

More specifications:
* Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core Solo
* RAM: 1 GB
* Hard Drive Size: 80 GB
* Size (LWH): 9.1 inches, 7 inches, 1.25 inches
* USB Ports: 3

You can check it out or buy it from Amazon: Sylvania GNET28001SN Meso 8.9" Netbook PC (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Ubuntu OS) White.

Labels: Sylvania, Ultraportable laptops

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After the HP 2133 Mini-Note and the ACER Aspire One, MSI Wind U100 follows suit by lowering its price to $350. Best Buy is offering the MSI version with Intel Atom Processor N270, Black color.
- 1GB DDR2 memory
- 10.1" WSVGA widescreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution
- 120GB SATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
- 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
- Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
- Weighs 2.8 lbs. and measures 0.7" thin
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled

Labels: MSI

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The Hasee Europe site has posted a new netbook, the Hasee MJ125, from the Chinese computer maker Hasee. The netbook is only available in Europe with a price of 370 Euros (about $470).
Here are the specs/features:

* CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom
* Display: 10.2 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel
* Chipset: Intel 945GSE
* Graphics: Intel GMA 950
* Memory: 1GB DDR2 RAM
* Storage:160GB HDD
* Connectivity: 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet
* Expansion: 3 USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader, mic input, headphone/line-out, VGA output
* Webcam: Yes
* Weight: 1.4kg or 3.1 pounds
* Dimensions: 258mm x 189mm x 28mm or 10.2″ x 7.4″ x 1.1″
* Color: White and Pink

You can buy the Hasee MJ125 10" netbook from ebay.

Labels: Hasee, Ultraportable laptops

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Sprint HTC Touch Pro is now available for purchase online only at select national retailers.
The retail price of the QWERTY smartphone is $579.99. However, there is an "instant savings" of $180 and a $100 mail-in-rebate.

Eventually, you are only paying an affordable $299.99 Sprint HTC Touch Pro.

Shop now.

Labels: Phones

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The Flip Video Mino Camcorder must be one of the gadgets you should consider buying this holiday season as a gift for your loved ones. This is one remarkably great flip cam that fits your pocket because of small rectangular shape. It is one of the most sought-after gadget this season.
The super-portable, super-simple Flip Video Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere.

Mino Product Features:

* Pocket-sized camcorder; Flat back panel with touch-sensitive buttons; 1.5-inch color LCD screen
* 2 GB of on-board flash memory--records up to 60 minutes of video; 2x digital zoom
* Internal Lithium-ion battery recharges when built-in USB arm is connected to a computer
* Connects to TV for instant viewing
* Built-in software lets you easily edit video files and upload them to video sharing sites

Technical Details

* media_type: Flash card
* Lens Type: Lens
* maximum_aperture_range: F/2.4
* Video Input: Camcorder
* Display Size: 1.5 inches
* Optical Sensor Resolution: 0.31 MP
* optical_sensor_size: 1/4"
* Viewfinder Type: None
* Audio Input: Microphone
* Height: 3.94 inches
* Weight: 0.2 pounds
* Depth: 0.8 inches
* Width: 1.97 inches

Amazon Store is slashing 13% of the original price. Wanna see and buy the Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder? Check it out: White Color and Black Color.

Labels: Travel Gadgets

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You can buy the Acer Aspire One for $289.99, but for today only at Woot.com.
This is the cheapest you can get for the Acer netbook. Online stores sell this for $320.

This $289.99 model has an 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 512MB of RAM (upgradeable to 1.5GB), an 8GB solid state disk and uses Linpus Linux Lite operating system.

If you are up to it, grab it now.

Labels: ACER, Ultraportable laptops

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