I didn't buy much on Black Friday 2005, the day after Thanksgiving when stores purportedly have all their crazy door-buster specials. I found most of the deals disappointing. But one deal that I took advantage of was a $39 special on a 512MB SanDisk Sansa m230 MP3 player. I went over to Best Buy with my uncle and we found them on the shelf. He started to grab a bunch, but I told him I thought it was probably one per customer. A salesperson wandered by, and told us there were no limits. They had tons in back, we should take as many as we wanted. He took at least 5. I grabbed 3.

There are tons of cheap MP3 players out there, so what's so special about this tiny SanDisk player? The m200 series of players is compatible with all the PlaysForSure subscription services including Napster, Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music. I'm a big fan of the subscription services; for the cost of one CD a month, I have access to over a million songs. If I hear something I like; I grab it...legally. Naysayers always point out that when your subscription expires, your music is gone. True, but take a close look at your music collection. Add up all the dollars spent on albums that you never listen to anymore. That's a lot of wasted money. If you go the subscription route but you come across something that you know you'll listen to forever, then buy it. (I would probably purchase the CD, not the DRM-protected download, but that's another matter.)

Back to the SanDisk player. On top of being subscription compatible, it also works with Audible.com downloadable audiobooks. That's another rarity in a low-end player. If you haven't tried Audible yet, it's definitely worth checking out.

And I continue to marvel at the fact that SanDisk was able to fit an LCD into this bargain player, something that Apple apparently couldn't figure out how to do on the iPod shuffle.

SanDisk is soon releasing an upgraded line of players that could establish them as a significant mover, so some stores have been clearing out their stock of existing units. This week, OfficeDepot has the m230 for $39.99 after $30 in rebates. It appears to be an in-store only special. In fact, their ad is a bit confusing. They picture the 1GB m240 player and say that the deal is actually on their e130 non-subscription-compatible player, but it appears to really be the m230 that's on sale. Make sure they give you the right one. And enjoy. This is a great little player. 

Last year, I upgraded two of my systems from their old CRTs to 19" LCDs. What a difference! They weren't the fanciest LCDs around; the Cheap Geek doesn't do that. But the combination of the lack of flickering images eating into my brain and the lightened load not causing my desks to sag anymore made it well worth it. Since I made the move, people are always asking me how they can get a big LCD inexpensively. I come across $199 specials, but they tend to be few and far between, and it's rare that you can find such a deal in a retail store; you almost always have to buy online. But this week, CompUSA has a 19" KDS K915s for a buck under $200 after rebates. It's not a fancy monitor; it's analog only and KDS claims a 16 millisecond response time. But for most activities, those specs are just fine. And add to that a free Canon Pixma iP1600 (also after rebate), the favorite bargain printer of the original Cheap Geek, PC Magazine editor-in-chief, Jim Louderback. All of my local CompUSA's are showing they have stock -- of course they haven't opened yet -- and you can also order online.

I've been happy with my cheap LCDs, but if you've purchased a $199 19" LCD in recent days, please post your comments. I'd love to hear how it worked out.

I mentioned to my wife yesterday that we didn't really need all or old CDs around anymore because we have them on our iPod. She felt the iPod still didn't sound as good as from the originals. But seeing as neither of us is an audiophile, I told her I suspected it's more that we tend to play the iPod through PC and portable speakers that just don't measure up to our home stereo's system. How do you connect your iPod to the stereo? One of the simplest solutions is Kensington's Stereo Dock for the iPod. Our audio guru, Mike Kobrin, reviewed it on pcmag.com last October and gave it 3.5 stars, but at that time it was a $80 device. Through Monday, March 13th, Buy.com has the Stereo Dock for $29.99 after $30 rebate. I spoke to Mike and he said it definitely would have scored higher at that price.

The dock's probably this cheap because Kensington recently released an upgraded unit, the Entertainment Dock 500 for iPod, that hooks into your TV as well so you can watch your photos and videos. The Entertainment Dock is a nice unit, but it only got 3 stars out of Mike. It's also more expensive, listing for $99 and the best Cheap Geek price I could find on it was $69.99 at J&R. You also may want to check out Griffin's $99 TuneCenter for the iPod which adds the ability to view your music library on the TV and listen to Internet radio.

Looking to get an inexpensive new PC? SlickDeals.net has put together its usual genius of coupon stacking and rebate redeeming to cut the price of a 3 GHz Intel Pentium 4 630-based Dell Dimension E510 down to $460. The package includes a 19-inch analog LCD monitor, 1 GB of RAM, 80 GB SATA hard drive and a 16X dual-layer DVD burner. It's not a cutting-edge system, but it's not too shabby for the price.

Read the forums to see how people have been able to tweak the deal to their specific needs. But move quickly. These deals tend not to last very long.

I've been through a couple of CompUSA's so-called Midnight Madness sales, but they've tended to be more slightly unsettled than true dementia. However, tonight from 6PM to midnight, there will be some very good bargains to be found. Quantities are often limited on these deals and some may only be available in-store, so you'll need to move quickly. Just make sure to be back home in front of your TV by 9:30PM Eastern to see the upstart Quakers from Penn knock off the Texas whatever-their-team-name-is's.

• Seagate 200GB Hard Drive for $29.99 after $100 in rebates
• Samsung ML-2010 laser printer for $39.99 after $30 rebate. This baby prints at 20 pages per minute in letter quality. Let's see your $40 inkjet do that. Or even your $249 inkjet. Read David Stone's review on pcmag.com.
• 250GB external USB 2.0 drive for only $69.99 after $100 in rebates. If you're not backing up yet, this looks like a good way to get started. (If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of backing up for the first time, read Backup or Else!)
• D-Link DI-524 802.11g wireless router for only $9.99 after $50 in rebates. We've said it over and over again. An inexpensive router is a great way to protect yourself against malware, even if you're the only one on your broadband connection. Read our review.
• A $29.99 (after $30 rebate) internal dual-layer DVD writer, or get a LightScribe-capable writer for $20 more. And externals are also available at good prices.
• 1 GB of SD or CompactFlash memory for your camera for $29.99 after $20 rebate.

So I'm reading a recent copy of Wired and I find out that my new favorite hobby, crossword puzzles, is OUT. Sudoku is IN. (And the little dog is UP). I got into crosswords playing Ink Crosswords, a free game that comes in the Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC. But that's okay. I can be a follower as well as the next guy.

But we're Gearlog. We don't want our Sudoku puzzles to be the same as everyone else's. We're techies. We're geeks. And then it hits me. I run the idea by the powers-that-be, fully expecting that she'll shoot it down, as usual. But no! She loves it! And with these words of encouragement, "Now, will you get out of my office!", I'm off to create the first edition of what will become a weekly feature:

BINARY SUDOKU!

If you haven't tried Sudoku before, you'll want to start with the Newbie puzzle. But if you've been playing for a while, or if you just like to dive in with a pencil in each hand, then take a stab at the Power User puzzle. Either way, have fun:

ThinkGeek has always been one of the best sources for useful and not-so-useful doo-dads for the true geek and the people who love them. I'm particularly enamored with items like the Monty Python and Star Wars bobbleheads, the Shower Shock caffeinated soap, and the Midas Remote Control Watch (" Walk on down to the local bar and take control of those big screens").

The store has just announced the addition of six new products to its catalog. My personal favorites are the BuzzAire super-caffeinated oxygen inhaler (don't mind me. it's just a little asthma) and the Wireless Extension Cords. All I can say is FINALLY! I'm also very intrigued by the Sphorb. I can't wait to get my hands on one.

Here's how they describe the new items:

• USB Tanning Center ($24.99): Geeks are notoriously pale no more!  With this easy-to-install UV light, anyone can achieve that deep, dark island tan without having to leave their desktop.
• BuzzAire™ ($12.99): For those who feel their double mocha latte with an extra shot of espresso just does not cut it any more, this device offers a quick blast of super-caffeinated oxygen for a buzz that no coffee can compete with.
• The Screened Sphorb™ ($39.99): In a recent survey conducted by ThinkGeek.com, 100 out of 100 people rated this as the number one product in the world.  Unfortunately, words alone can not describe the greatness the Screened Sphorb™ possesses.
• Grow Your Own “1UP” Mushroom Kit ($9.99): Finally, Super Mario Brothers lovers can grow their own green and white polka dot mushroom.  Who says you have to collect 100 coins to obtain an extra life?
• Wireless Extension Cords ($34.99): Tired of tripping over the tangled mess of wires from all your peripherals?  These highly anticipated wireless extension cords provide power to any unit within 100 feet of any outlet.  Users are seriously urged not to cross between transmitter and receiver.
• The iZilla ($499.99):  The end all, be all of digital music players, the iZilla has two terabytes of memory, capable of storing over 600,000 songs in every available format.  This handsome, white briefcase weighs just a touch over 30 pounds, is Bluetooth and Wi Fi enabled and runs on 16 ‘D’ batteries. 

ThinkGeek must have also pulled some strings because they're the first ones to have the long-awaited Sony PS3 in stock. Supplies are limited. Good luck.

Last week at Gearlog, we installed, ran, and benchmarked Windows XP on three Intel-based Apple Macintosh computers: a Mini, an iMac and a MacBook Pro. What we found was shocking: Windows XP ran faster on Apple machines. What happened after the tests was even more shocking.

Upon finishing the last of the tests, a dull thud shook the lab, and the lab filled with a noxious odor.  At first, our young team thought the Macs, perhaps not thoroughly engineered to handle the new Intel processors, may have been overheating.  And then without warning ... he appeared.  "Clippy," Microsoft's beloved paperclip, poked his odd,  poorly animated eyes around the edge of the Mini's desktop.  Then, he stepped into full view.  He looked ... different ... as if he were more powerful (and annoying) than before.  Clippy was back, and this time he meant business. 

"When Clippy appeared, he winked right at me as if saying, 'I'm back, Joel buddy, and I'm feeling better and badder than ever,'" reported Joel Santo Domingo of PC Magazine Labs, one of the original testers of Windows XP on Apple for Gearlog. Santo Domingo, as if under a spell, went on to explain that he discussed a variety of "plans" with Clippy that involve "conquest" and "domination" of unspecified geographic areas.

While conducting the interview with Santo Domingo, all work halted when Sascha Segan, also of PC Magazine Labs and another of the original testers, entered the room yelling, "All I know is that damn Clippy keeps looking at me." Segan began violently pointing at the XP Desktop displayed on a nearby MacBook Pro. "He's out to get me. I know it. I don't trust that F*#@ing paperclip. I thought he was gone, but now he's back!" He then flailed wildly at the laptop until he was restrained and forcibly removed from PC Labs by security personnel.

An expert from Microsoft, who happened to be visiting PC Labs that evening, tried to explain the unprecedented appearance and metamorphosis of the animated paperclip on the Macs, "It could only take an utterly unpredictable event (Apple moving to Intel processors) compounded with another unforeseen action (installing Windows on a Mac).  It must have torn a hole in the fabric of reality, and Clippy stepped right through it." He winked then smiled.  And that's all I remember.

In an unrelated story, Con Edison has reported a gas leak near the PC Magazine Labs building. A Con Edison spokesperson has confirmed that the gas is neither toxic nor explosive, but may have a hallucinogenic effect on anyone inhaling it near Intel-based Macs running Windows XP.

When I tell people about a new robot, the most common response by far is, "Can it bring me a beer?" The difficulty with this task, though, is that programming a bot to negotiate its way to the kitchen, find the refrigerator, open the fridge door, identify a beer in a can or a bottle, open said beer, then find its way back to its thirsty master is dauntingly complex.

Realizing that the Holy Grail of home robots is the beer-fetching bot, BrewBot LLC has approached this challenge in a new way. What if, instead of fetching a beer, the bot was the brewer?

Enter R.A.L.P.H. (for Robotic Alcohol Lugging/Pouring Helper), which is just a concept device - for now. R.A.L.P.H. contains within its stocky little body an entire steeping, boiling, fermentation, and refrigeration system; all you need to do is keep its charging station stocked with hops, yeast, and water. Via a top-secret proprietary process, new batches of beer can be ready in minutes. (I tried the brew myself; tastes a lot like Milwaukee's Best.)

 R.A.L.P.H. responds to any voice command that includes the word "brewsky," allowing for the user's eventual inability to form complete sentences. When the bot is summoned, it wheels itself over, produces a plastic cup, and emits a stream of beer through its "mouth."

BrewBot's CEO, A.E. Roman, says the company is still looking for backers, but he's quite confident they'll be able to make R.A.L.P.H. a reality. "We think R.A.L.P.H. will be quite popular with college students, particularly in frat houses," he said. "For the females, we're considering a refinement in which R.A.L.P.H. would hold a girl's hair back if she has to, well, you know."

We were surprised at how big Logitech's G15 keyboard is, but info from our moles inside Logitech's research lab indicate still bigger keyboards in the works. This prototype of the G30 includes a double row of numbers and extra QWERTY keys.

Since the purpose of the additional keys remains unclear, we can only speculate as to what the company's plans are. I have two theories: First, it's possible that Logitech is creating an extension to the Roman alphabet, adding some of the letters found in the extended Cyrillic or Asian languages.

It's also possible that the company is planning for humans with extra digits, extra capable typists of the future. And I for one welcome our new twelve-fingered overlords.

Do you work long hours in front of your computer? Are you too tired for your lover by the time you come home? Then try LaptopLadies' new line of Laptop Lingerie. Laptop Lingerie prepares working women for a sexy, unforgettable night with their one-and-only.

The Laptop Lingerie Collection features:

—Dual-Layer Panties with USB Ports. These dual-layer cotton lace panties come in four arousing colors: RAM Red, Bluetooth Blue, Wireless White, and Graphics Green. You can also choose between  1, 2, or 3 USB ports for accompanying the Heated Robe, Webcam Wonder Bra, or Musical Slippers.

—Webcam Wonder Bras. Forget that bulky digital camcorder. Let you and your main squeeze have a real escapade with this wonder bra, complete with 2 webcams. It lets you capture those unforgettable moments in bed—at the chest level. Available in three colors: Blazing Beige, Portable Pink, and Ctrl+Alt+Del Charcoal.

—3.0 GHz Heated Robe. The 3.0 GHz Robe is made from the finest cotton, offering you warmth through those chilly nights and a fan to cool you through those sizzling nights. It both heats and cools at a mere 3.0 GHz. Comes with two pockets to store your USB cables. Available in NumLock Navy and MousePad Magenta.

—2GB Musical Slippers. Fancy a little Marvin Gaye? Or how about Celine Dion? Add passion to your night with these pre-loaded musical slippers, including the hits "Let's Get It On," "You're Making Me High," "Forever and For Always," and "Glory of Love." Available in two colors: Berry Bass and Treble Teal.

—"Hands Off My Keyboard" Boxer Briefs. I know that ladies love to wear their man's boxers. So here are boxers of your own with a clear message if you're just not feeling up to it. Comes in Blue Screen-of-Death, Megabyte Melon, and BackSpace Brown.

—"Too Fast For Your Processor" Tank Top. And if your lover just can't keep up with you, then this tank top is for you. Comes in Blue Screen-of-Death, Megabyte Melon, and BackSpace Brown.

Laptop Lingerie* is sold separately or as sets. If you purchase a set, you'll receive a free 20-inch laptop bag for carrying your laptop and your Laptop Lingerie. All lingerie available in the following sizes: Ultracompact, Compact, and Widescreen.

*Care Instructions: Be careful when configuring your Laptop Lingerie. Sparks may develop when operating under high levels of tech enjoyment.

Ever have one of those days when you walk up to your office's soda machine only to find out that your favorite soda is sold out? I don't drink soda that often, but when I do, I usually choose Dr. Pepper. Unfortunately, so do the rest of my co-workers, so Dr. Pepper is usually the first soda to go.

Now, imagine that you could have any ordinary soda, and magically turn it into the flavor you crave?  The biomedical and consumer tech company IPIFINI has developed such a concept, known as Programmable Soda. From the Web site:

"Programmable Liquid Container technology employs buttons on the container's surface that release additives into the liquid. Additive buttons allow for “programming,” or selecting, variations of the liquid in the container. For example, a programmable cola bottle with buttons for lemon, lime, vanilla, and cherry flavors as well as a caffeine button allows for 32 combinations of soda."

Although the patent is still pending for this kind of technology, I bet many manufacturers and distributors are hoping it comes to be, considering it will make their jobs a little easier with less demand on certain soda products.

Man, those Boston folks really know how to dream up an innovative product.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

I'll wager almost everyone reading Gearlog knows that Apple has a landmark birthday coming up Saturday: number 30. And PC Magazine's been reviewing the company's offerings nearly that long. Well, one of our Gearloggers, Sascha Segan, who also happens to be a PC Mag lead analyst, decided to go back to the archives and compile a brief history of the magazine's coverage of Apple's offerings, from Mac to Newton to Pippin (remember that ill-fated gaming venture?).

Sascha's narrative is a great history lesson, but it doesn't stop there: He actually scanned pages and pages from the old articles, starting with the first, "Surviving an Apple to PC Switchover," and uploaded them as PDFs. It all makes for a fascinating timeline. So run, don't walk, to "30 (Well, 24) Years of Apple Coverage." Enjoy!

Want to show off your majorly hot boyfriend/girlfriend? Or perhaps you always want to keep your family with you in style.

SMOY's PhotoCuff is the hippest new way to share your favorite photos. It's a vinyl bracelet! Cut a photo down to size, slide the photo into the frame, slip the bracelet on your wrist, then snap into place. You'll also find two handy pockets on the bracelet to store and carry extra photos if you want to change photos to fit your mood.

The PhotoCuff is designed and made in Brooklyn, NY by Spencer Moy, an industrial designer. Since the bracelets are made of vinyl, they are completely waterproof (but not the photos, obviously).

There's four different styles to choose from:

-SOHO 1 ($17): available in 6 colors (pink, blue, mint, lavender, cream, or black), 8 inches in length, and includes one picture frame on the bracelet.

-SOHO 4 ($20): 6 available colors, 4 frames, 8-inch length.

-Brooklyn ($25): 2 colors (brown or black), 3 lengths (7.2, 8, or 9 inches), 4 frames.

-Chelsea ($28): 3 colors (silver, gold, or blue), 3 lengths (7, 8, or 9 inches), 4 frames.

Shipping costs $4.99, and all orders are sent out between 1 and 4 weeks.

[via GadgetCandy]