Color Laser Printer - $89 shipped free

Geeks.com offers the Samsung CLP-300 (which we actually have at home) for $89.99 with free shipping - just use the coupon code FREESHIP at checkout. This is $10 better than the $99 after MIR I paid several months ago, plus with no hassle. The printer is a color laser printer with USB2.0 connectivity. The free shipping coupon is good for any order over $49 and expires tomorrow (10/29).

Free museum admission!

This Saturday, September 27th, get free admission to hundreds of museums, courtesy of the Smthsonian magazine. Click here to get the printable coupon.

$19.28 per night at Leading Hotels of the World

The Leading Hotels of the World is offering a promotion where you can reserve up to two nights at $19.28 per night - in celebration of their 80th anniversary. The chain, founded in 1928, boasts super-expensive hotels worldwide, such as the Hay-Adams in Washington, the Alex in New York, and the Langham in London. The sale is for 80 minutes, at noon GMT (8am ET, 5am PT) on October 1, and you should preregister here.

Dual-iPhone dock just $28.49

For all the multi-iPhone families out there, Buy.com offers the Griffin PowerDock 2 Charging Base for 2 iPod or iPhones for $28.49 with free shipping. That's less than half the price at the Apple store, and most buyers (sorry Californians) can skip the sales tax as well.

Get your afternoon Starbucks for $2

According to this article on CNN, Starbucks is now offering your afternoon grande iced drink for only $2 if you bought a drink that morning. Simply keep your receipt from the morning and return to Starbucks after 2:00pm.

Tyan barebones servers @ geeks.com

Geeks.com slashes the price of several Tyan barebones servers with the coupon code "TYAN". The kits include a 1U case and motherboard. All cost about $30 for shipping.

• Tyan Transport GT20 Dual Xeon 1U - $79.99
  
• Tyan Transport GX28 Dual Opteron 1U - $99.99
  
• Tyan Transport GT24 Dual Opteron 1U - $99.99
  

iPhone 3G

So, like a loyal Apple fanboy, I lined up at the Temple of Apple in Burlingame on Friday to get my iPhone 3G. The new GPS and 3G data features are very nice, as is the proper headphone jack. Two things are not nice:

• I broke the glass by dropping the phone yesterday. I dropped the old one numerous times, and never broke it. This one took a simple tumble off of my desk and cracked. I blame it on the plastic case. There goes $35 to get new glass from Ebay. :(
• Sales tax on $399 instead of $199. This one probably merits a refund; a trip to the Apple store sometime this week to sort that out is in order.

Also, note for mobile users: the blog is available at http://m.foo-o-rama.com for all mobile platforms, courtesy of MoFuse.

iPhone v2 firmware, a bit early :)

If you have an iPhone now, and want to check out the new v2 features, you can install the new firmware (and browse and buy apps from the App Store) today. Grab the firmware file from here, update iTunes to the newest release, and go to the iPhone page. Hold down the Option key (ctrl-shift for Windows users) and click the "Check for updates" button. It will give you a file dialog where you can select the file you just downloaded. Update, and enjoy. Be warned that it does erase the phone in the process; your contacts, settings, and photos will be restored from backup, but you will need to sync your iTunes library again to get your music back.

Before you go off buying too many games in the App Store, I do have a small money-saving tip. Costco carries iTunes gift cards, four $15 cards ($60 worth) for $53 tax free, a cool 12% savings.

Free Slurpee!

After you pick up your iPhone 3G on Friday, you can hit up 7-Eleven for a free 7.11 ounce slurpee of your choice this friday, 7/11/2008. You can find a participating 7-Eleven store here.

Macbook Air - $500 price cut

Apple cut the price of the Macbook Air with 64gb SSD from $3199 to $2598 with free shipping. This is about the price refurb units have previously sold for, only brand new. This Macbook features a Solid State Disk for faster booting, quiet operation, and longer battery life. Other Apple Store deals include:

• Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz - $1699
  
• Refurbished MacBook 2.1GHz - $949
  
  

Acer 24" LCD just $359 at NewEgg

Newegg offers the Acer P243WAid 24" LCD monitor for $389. For NewEgg newsletter subscribers, coupon code EMCAHABAE cuts it a further $30 to $359. This monitor also ships for free.

Magazine subscription deals

BlueDolphin.com offers guaranteed low prices on magazine subscriptions, with the convenience of consolidated online billing and a 90-day money back guarantee. Buy them for yourself or as a gift. Best bets include:

• Newsweek - 53 issues, $20
• Wine Spectator - 16 issues - $50
• O, The Oprah Magazine - 12 issues, $18
• and more, Popular Science, $12 for 12 issues, Ranger Rick $20 for 12 issues, the Economist $127 for 51 issues...
  

last day for Windows XP at Dell

Today is your last chance to purchase a computer with Windows XP preinstalled from Dell. A few high-end models will continue to be offered with XP downgrades, but for the most part, your only choice from here on out will be Vista. Speak now, or forever hold your peace. Best bets include:

• Dell Vostro™ 1000 notebook - 1gb/80gb/CDRW-DVD - $399
• upgrade that same Vostro notebook with a better processor, 2gb RAM, 120gb hard drive, and DVD burner for just $80.
• Dell Vostro™ 200 desktop with 19" monitor - $419
• a similar suite of upgrades is available - $80 more to upgrade to 2gb RAM, 160gb hard drive, DVD burner, and 20" widescreen monitor

Apple Refurb Deals - MacBook Pro, Air

Apple has several refurbished MacBooks in stock at prices far below list. Highlights include:

• MacBook Air 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - $1649
  
  
• MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - $1549
  
  
• MacBook Air 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 64gb SSD - $2699 - $500 off list!
  

Free stock trading with Zecco

Zecco offers 10 free trades per month if you maintain $2500 net equity, with remaining trades only $4.50 regardless of your balance. This community-driven investment site is very different from your average broker. It's a lucrative commission for me, too, so if you're even remotely interested, please sign up today. I'll buy you lunch next time I see you :)

Canon Rebel Xsi - $809 at Dell

Dell Small Business offers the Canon Rebel Xsi 12.2 megapixel digital camera, in black or silver with 18-55mm IS lens, for $809.99 with free shipping. This is the lowest price I could find, although it has been a few dollars lower in the past. Of note, this camera uses SD instead of Compact Flash media that other Canon dSLRs use, so if you have an existing non-CF camera, you won't need a new supply of flash cards for this one. This Canon is substantially more expensive than the comparable Nikon D60 at $649, but isn't hobbled by the limited selection of lenses with autofocus like the Nikon.

Dinner for 2 - $89 at Ruth's Chris

Ruth's Chris offers a 3-course meal for two at $89, for a limited time. The offer includes a soup or salad, choice of five entrées including the signature filet, chicken, or fresh fish, side item, and a shared dessert. If I remember correctly, this amounts to about a $30 savings.

click here for more information, or to make a reservation online

Guitar Hero III for Xbox 360 - $40 at newegg

newegg.com offers the Guitar Hero III game with wired guitar controller for the Xbox 360 for $39.99, with $2.99 for shipping. This is cheaper than their price for the game alone, with no controller.

free blank DVDs when you sign up for Office Depot mailing list

Get a coupon for a 10-pack of blank Office Depot brand DVD+R media when you register for their weekly mailing list.

Click here to sign up.

Frederick's of Hollywood sale

Frederick's of Hollywood offers a selection of panties, 6 for $20 now through Memorial Day. Additionally, they offer $15 off orders of $100 or more, $30 off $150 or more, and $75 off $250 or more.

TomTom ONE for $99 AR

Buy.com has the TomTom ONE 3rd Edition Portable GPS System w/ Preloaded Maps of US/Canada - Refurbished for $119. This $20 mail-in-rebate cuts the price to just $99 and shipping is free. The offer is valid until June 2nd, and is a savings of about $30 from the next best price I could find. Typical price for new-in-box units is $199.

Hotels.com Free Night Sale

Hotels.com is currently featuring a free night for Memorial Day weekend when you buy 2 nights. The deal is offered in many cities, including Nashville, Cancun, Chicago, San Diego, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Austin, Minneapolis, and more...

Memorial Day Sale! Get a FREE Night in Las Vegas this Memorial Day Weekend when you travel between 5/22 and 5/27.

47" 1080p LCD just $1099

TigerDirect offers the Olevia 747i 47 1080p LCD HDTV for $1099 with $119 shipping, and no sales tax for most locales. This TV receives a 9.0 (of 10) rating from CNet readers and was named "Best of the Test 2008" by Wired magazine. It has two each of HDMI, component, S-Video, and composite connections, plus a VGA connector, a detachable speaker bar, and standard VESA mount pattern.

24" LCD back at Geeks.com

Geeks.com again offers the 24" Soyo MT-GW-DYLM24D6LCD Monitor for $199. They had the same display at the same price a few weeks ago and it quickly sold out. This has to be the lowest price I have ever seen for a 24" monitor, excluding perhaps Black Friday specials or other gimmicks. This refurbished monitor features DVI and VGA inputs, and a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels.

Laptop Roundup

At the request of a reader wondering what to do with her stimulus payment, I've prepared a list of notebooks at varying price points, from the sub-$500 bargain Dell to the premium $1500 MacBook Pro.

• Overstock.com has the Dell Latitude D600 14" laptop, an older model, refurbished, for $450 with $3 shipping. It has 512mb of memory, 30gb hard drive, and Windows XP Professional.
• Dell offers the Vostro 1000 15.4" notebook, with 1gb memory, 80gb had drive, and CD burner, and Windows Vista Home Basic, for $399 plus sales tax and $20 for shipping. Windows XP Pro costs an extra $100, or Windows Vista Home Premium and an upgraded optical drive are available for an extra $44.
• Geeks.com has the Sony VAIO VGN-N395E/B 15" laptop, with 1gb memory, 160gb hard drive, DVD burner, and Windows Vista Home Premium for $590.
• Buy.com has the HP dv9627cl 17" laptop with 2gb memory, 200gb hard drive, DVD burner, webcam, and Windows Vista Home Premium for $706 shipped free.
• The Apple Store has the Refurbished MacBook 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - White for $949 shipped free.
• MacMall offers the MacBook Pro 15.4" glossy notebook with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz processor, 2gb memory, 120GB Hard Drive, webcam, and Mac OS X Leopard for $1498 after $150 MIR. Parallels Desktop, which allows you to run Windows on the Mac, is also available free after two MIRs with this purchase.

iPhone Refurbs

While Apple has stated that they're permanently sold out of the first-generation iPhone online, and retail stocks are being drawn down, AT&T has new phones in stock and has also renewed its stock of refurbished models.

• 8gb refurb - $249
• 16gb refurb - $349
• 8gb new - $399
• 16gb new - $499

2gb MicroSD $7

TigerDirect has the Centon 2gb MicroSD card with full-size SD adapter, for $6.99 until tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9am PST. Shipping is $3.75 for up to 20 pieces.

25% off at Picaboo - custom photo merchandise

Picaboo offers a variety of merchandise created with photos you upload. They offer cards as low as 79¢ when purchased in volume and books from as low as $9.99 (prices before coupon savings).

Save 25% on all orders. Coupon code: GRADU8. Exp: 6/30/2008

Geeks.com deals

Geeks.com has the Seagate Momentus 2.5" 160GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive for just $54.50. This is less than half the price of a new drive. If you currently have a 5400rpm drive (standard with most notebooks... some even have 4200rpm) this can make for a significant increase in your performance, in addition to adding some space.

They have sold out of the 24" LCD's I mentioned earlier in the week; I will post again if they restock. Other notables on sale include the Sony PSP-1001K PlayStation Portable (PSP) System (Black) at $123 (a $46 savings from Amazon) and the Lite-on DD-A500GX 1080i Double Layer DVD Recorder w/HDMI - a standalone DVD recorder with TV tuner for just $80.

Wii Bundle at GameStop

It seems like the Wii shortage is finally easing. Both Best Buy and Toys-r-Us had the unbundled console in stock last week for several hours each, and the bundles are getting a little more reasonable as well. GameStop offers the Mario Galaxy Wii Bundle for $399. It comes with the following items:

• Wii Console - $250


• Wii Play (including extra controller) - $50


• Nunchuck - $20


• Mario Galaxy game - $50


• Wii Charge Station with rechargeable controller batteries - $27

The total value of the bundled items is $397, so you're paying a small $3 premium, but ultimately, if you want the game (Mario Galaxy) it's a good deal, since you pretty much need the rest of the things included, there's no real fluff involved.

24" LCD for $199 at Geeks.com

Geeks.com offers the 24" Soyo MT-GW-DYLM24D6LCD Monitor for $199. This has to be the lowest price I have ever seen for a 24" monitor, excluding perhaps Black Friday specials or other gimmicks. This refurbished monitor features DVI and VGA inputs, and a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels.

Kitchenaid Mixer, $185 shipped free at Amazon

Amazon.com offers the KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer, today only, in white only, for $185 with free shipping. That's about half of the MSRP and the lowest total price I have ever seen for this product. It's also available in red for $189. Most other colors are $239.

Kindle, Civilization, and more...

If you're one of the twelve people waiting with bated breath to buy a Kindle from Amazon, they're in stock now with free two day shipping. At $399 including lifetime wireless service, it's an interesting advice but a little too rich for my blood. At $99 or $199 it might pique my interest a bit more. For the big spenders out there, grab one and let me know. Lunch on me if you do, since Amazon pays $40 commission for each device. :)

Also, get your pre-orders in for Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, the first installment of the venerable Civilization franchise for consoles. The game is available for pre-order from Amazon at $60 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and $30 for the Nintendo DS. As with other pre-orders, Amazon offers a price guarantee; you automatically get the lowest price they offer between now and when the item ships (June 2 is the release date right now).

Speaking of notable pre-orders, Wii Fit is scheduled for release on May 21, and is offered through the same Amazon price guarantee program at $90.

And, for you who requested travel deals, save 50% off your car rental at Hertz - expires 6/30/08 - courtesy of Expedia.com.

Sony 1080p Upconverting DVD player $60

SonyStyle offers the DVP-NS77H 1080p upconverting DVD player for $60 shipped, via coupon code. It includes HDMI and component outputs, DVD+/-R and CDR compatibility (including dual-layer discs) and MP3 playback.

Save $40 on the Sony DVPNS77H/S dvd player w/code DVPNS77HSAFF, now just $59.99. Ends April 30.

Free Cone Day!

At your local Ben and Jerry's.

Click here to find a location near you.

Free stainless coffeemaker and mug from Gevalia

You can get a free coffee maker, mug, and coffee from Gevalia for trying their service. No commitment is required.