Monday, December 19, 2011

Holiday Software -- Protect Yourself and More for Free or For Less

See? You do need protection!
Last week we talked about the hardware, but what are some really good deals on software? Especially software everyone needs. First -- some fairly cheap, then some free. The two utilities I'm talking about are AVG Free, which costs nothing, doesn't bug you, and outperforms many commercial and costly Anti-Virus programs, and Norton 360 version 5, which is arguably the very best commercial personal security software, with not only great anti-virus but also a great firewall, and it's not noisy, either. We use both around here.

Did you know that you can almost always get Norton 360 v5 or whatever version for 1/2 price, just for asking? You have to ask at the back door, though. Don't mind? Me neither. Especially since, when you just to to Norton you will pay either the list price of $80 or a slightly discounted $60. The trick is to search or "Google" for "Norton 360 cheap". Yes, it is that simple. Amongst the listed items presented will be one from Symantec or Norton itself, in this case, offering Norton Anti-Virus 2012 for $30, Norton Internet Security 2012 for $35, or or Norton 360 v 5.0 for $40. This is a 3-license deal valid for 3 PCs and one owner.

Today, as I write this you can do even better, and get another $10 off at Staples for either the download or boxed CD version (with free shipping) -- Norton 360 v 5.0 at Staples. $30 bucks. Great deal. This won't always be around though, but the Norton backdoor for 50% off has been, for almost all of 2011 and 2010. Just like Santa, I've been watching!

Don't want to pay anything??? Zero, nada, zip??? OK. I can't get you Norton, but I can recommend absolutely free AV software that will do a great job, won't bother you with annoying announcements all of the time, and that you can download and install at no charge -- AVG Free 2012. Click on the green CNET bar in the middle of the page.

I see you've put up your holiday lights!
So how does that car insurance ad on TV go? You decide what you want to pay!


~Ted

Photo Credits: Virus Spreads -- www.skuggen.com
                       Holiday Computer -- various

PS: Look at the top photo -- Computer Viruses don't spread to humans, but I can get you a great deal on a pair of glasses that will help you when you are .. oh, never mind.

Monday, December 12, 2011

2 Computers that Offer Great Bang for the Buck -- Powerful Enough to Last for a While

Anyone who has owned an older computer knows how pathetic an experience using that old machine can be. A good solid mid-range computer from 5 years ago that seemed like a sensible choice at the time, with a good balance of price vs speed, can't really do much. Maybe it can run one program at a time, surf a little bit, run a word processor, but not a lot more. Why is that? Well, new programs are bigger and take up more memory, put more demands on the CPU, and require more graphics processing power. And even worse, the pace at which that is happening is increasing. Which means that the sensible choice for a machine that has to last, is no longer so sensible -- you need a more powerful machine than you think you do.

My 2 favorites at this moment are based on Intel's new 2nd gen Core i7 CPU -- for laptops, the 2670M or its siblings, and for desktops, the 2600.

2 reasonably priced machines, a desktop, and a laptop, available now, at a discount, that I like a lot are the:

HP h8xt, which comes fully equipped with the Core i7 2600 processor, 8 GB of RAM and all of the goodies you need including a 15 month Norton Internet Security Subscription, Blu-Ray, free shipping and so on for about $850.


This is a great deal. You migh want to add a bigger power supply (I would) or an extended warranty, but that's up to you:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto/computer_customize_components.do

and the :

HP dv7tqe, which comes with the Intel Core i7 2670QM mobile processor, a 17.3in 1080p screen and  Blu-Ray, etc, and more for about $900.




This is another great deal and takes about $500 off the list price of the laptop, and is based on an  unadvertised coupon code that you can get through TechBargains:


Note you have to copy the discount code and enter it in the coupon code box at checkout.

Both of these machines are available as I write this, but can disappear at any time.

Also, since it is true now more than ever before, that *** Power = Longevity *** these machines will last you a while, too.

Nothing says Happy Holidays like buying well and keeping the change.

Happy Holidays!

~Ted

Photo credits: My screen captures at HP


Monday, December 5, 2011

How to Buy a New Computer for Holiday 2011 -- It's Cyber December!

Hey! We're busy workin' for you here!
Think you missed all of the good deals by not buying that laptop on Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, or Sale Hangover Tuesday??? Think again! You didn't miss much, really. Yeah, stock thinned out, and some of those laptop and desktop computers are gone for the moment -- but, I'll let you in on a secret -- that stock will come back in a few days, and so will the deals and sale prices. Here's how to get the machine you want and some suggestions for choices.

First of all, you do know that the best prices for top tier systems from Dell, HP, and other makers can almost always be found at the non-advertised coupon sites, right? No? You should. Always, always, always go to:

www.techbargains.com

http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/computers

http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/

and you can always Google for more. Think of these sites as discount aggregators, where you can find all of the available discounts in one place.

You will find coupon codes, and multiple coupon codes good for discounts and stackable discounts on the computers and the shipping.

These codes are not advertised, they are often limited-use, and they expire, so you need to get them and use them if you want the discount. But, if you don't, that discount or a similar one may come back after a week or 2.

For instance, here is a great top-of-the line laptop we purchased recently from HP:

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/277638  -- 33% discount! Just for copying a code!

If the link doesn't come up, it means this deal is gone! But you can find another for this particular laptop at the main TechBargains site link above.

And if you think you do not need a state-of-art Intel Quad Core machine, you should remember that, now more than ever, power equals longevity -- the more powerful your new machine, the longer it will remain useful.

But there are other nice computers to find as well, and not only computers, but all kinds of stuff, from GPS devices to Monitors, TVs, and so on.

Check them out.

Remember what Santa always says:

Never pay Retail!

He said that, right?

No???

Well, it's still true.

Ho, ho, ho!

~Ted




Photo Credits:  www.lilesnet.com/Christmas/humor/SantaComputer.htm
                          www.dreamstime.com





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