Issue 48.14
Christmas shopping is different this year. It started last year when a number of on-line and even store-front companies started offering Christmas deals on other days that were usually only available on “Black Friday” at 3 or 4 AM. Some were available before Thanksgiving and others were offered right up to the last couple of days before Christmas. Many website had hourly or daily door-crashers that offered very good deals, but only if you checked their site often. Most were limited number type deals – for example, only the first 25 that order get this price, then it goes up to a different price.
It makes shopping a little more confusing and takes a lot more time than it used to, especially if you want the “super-deals” . Many of those deals are no longer offered on Friday morning after Thanksgiving. Some stores are starting their specials Thanksgiving Day or evening. Others are doing the same thing the websites are doing – spreading the special deals out through the weeks leading up to Christmas. Some are even offering “pre-black-Friday” specials instead of waiting until the day after Thanksgiving.
Rather than trying to track down the Black Friday deals to share with you (especially since there are often only 2 or 3 of the special items at any one store) I thought it would be better to share some of the good pricing I am seeing on some items so that you can at least know what the low end is for those items and can look for something comparable as you scan the web, the newspaper ads and the shops in the mall.
In Computers, HP is touting a new Chromebook like laptop without drives and with the apps connected to the cloud for under $200 – and it uses Windows 8.1 instead of Chrome OS. It is mostly a 11 inch tablet with a keyboard connected, but the price makes it a winner if you have tried Windows 8 and like it. Chromebooks are also available under $200 and have the added benefit of not being very susceptible to viruses and malware, but with the limitations that you have to use their office type programs rather than the tablet versions of Word, Excel, etc.
I have noticed Windows 7 computers and laptops for under $400 at Costco and a few other locations. These are not the fastest units out there, but they are functional and have DVD drives and full PC capabilities. Good fast PCs are also available with Windows 7 in the $500-$800 range and are, in my opinion, the better choice if you can afford them. There are also a few outfits offering Linux based computers for reasonable prices if you want to get away from Microsoft’s control completely and save some money now and in the future.
Tablets are a big deal this year. Many Android based tablets are available in the $50-$150 range online and even at some stores. They are generally slower and a little less user friendly than the Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, Dell, HP and other big brand tablets that are faster, more powerful and cost between $300-$800 depending on power, speed and capabilities.
Next week we will look at peripherals such as printers, flash and solid state drives, cameras, etc. In the meantime – remember to always back up anything on your computer that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 32 years, 25 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.