Weekly ad starting 10-7-07

[Ian]

Staples

MAG 32" LCD TV - $499.98
Maxtor® 500GB external hard drive - $99.98
Western Digital® 160GB Passport portable hard drive - $89.98
PNY Attaché® 4GB ReadyBoost™ flash drive - $29.98
Sony DVD+R or DVD-R Media, 100/pack - $22.98
Sony CD-R Media, 100/pack - $15.99
Sony DVD+R or DVD-R Media, 50/pack - $12.98
Sony DVD+RW or DVD-RW Media, 25/pack - $12.98
SanDisk® 2GB SD™ memory card - $19.98
Maxtor® internal PATA or SATA 300GB hard drive - $69.98
Kodak CD-R media, 75/pack - $9.98
Kodak DVD+R or DVD-R media, 50/pack - $9.98
Staples® CD/DVD slim jewel cases, 50/pack - $7.98

[Ian]

OfficeMax

MAGNAVOX 16x DVD+/-R, 100-Pack Spindle - $24.99
SANDISK Cruzer® Micro Ready Boost USB Drive 2GB - $24.99
SANDISK Cruzer® Micro Ready Boost USB Drive 4GB - $39.99
SIMPLETECH 500GB USB Hard Drive - $119.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent™ 160GB USB 2.0 Portable Go Data Mover - $109.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent™ 80GB USB 2.0 Portable Go Data Mover - $69.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent™ 250GB USB 2.0 Desktop Drive - $79.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent™ 320GB USB 2.0 Desktop Drive - $99.99
Olympus 2GB XD Card - $39.99
SanDisk 2GB SD Card - $24.99
SanDisk 1GB MS Pro Duo - $19.99
SanDisk 1GB Micro SD Card - $14.99
SanDisk 1GB SD Card - $14.99
MAGNAVOX 12x CD-RW, 50-Pack Spindle - $21.99
MAGNAVOX 52x CD-R, 100-Pack Spindle - $14.99
MAGNAVOX 52x CD-R, 50-Pack Spindle - $7.99
TOSHIBA 1GB USB Flash Drive - $9.99
OFFICEMAX Slim Jewel Cases, 50-Pack - $15.99 - buy 1, get 1 free

[Ian]

Best Buy

SONY DRX-840U 20X External Double-Layer DVD±RW USB 2.0 Drive - $89.99
SONY DRU-840A 20X Internal Double-Layer DVD±RW USB 2.0 Drive - $49.99
SONY 50-Pack DVD+R or DVD-R Discs - $12.99
Memorex® 20-Pack CD-R LightScribe Discs - $9.99
DYNEX™ 50-Pack CD-R Discs - $5.99
Western Digital® 1TB 3.5" My Book™ Essential USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - $279.99
Western Digital® 500GB 3.5" My Book™ Essential USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - $129.99
Western Digital® 320GB 3.5" My Book™ Essential USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - $99.99
Seagate FreeAgent™ Pro 750GB 3.5" External USB 2.0 & eSATA Hard Drive - $194.99
Seagate FreeAgent™ Pro 500GB 3.5" External USB 2.0 & eSATA Hard Drive - $134.99
Western Digital® 250GB White Passport 2.5" Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $159.99
Western Digital® 160GB Black Cherry Passport 2.5" Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $109.99
Western Digital® 120GB Green Passport 2.5" Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $94.99
Seagate 500GB 3.5" Internal PATA or PATA Hard Drive - $99.99
rocketfish™ 3.5" External PATA/EIDE Hard Drive Enclosure - $39.99
rocketfish™ 2.5" Portable PATA/EIDE Hard Drive Enclosure - $29.99
SanDisk® 2GB Extreme® III High-Speed CF Memory Card - $44.99
SanDisk® 2GB Ultra® II SD High-Speed Memory Card - $29.99
SONY® 4GB Memory Stick® PRO Duo - $69.99
PNY® 4GB SD High-Capacity Memory Card - $44.99
SanDisk® 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive with ReadyBoost - $39.99
SanDisk® 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive with ReadyBoost - $24.99
PNY® 2GB Micro SD Card - $29.99
PNY® 2GB SD Memory Card - $24.99

[Ian]

Office Depot

Maxtor® 500GB SATA Internal 3.5" Hard Drive - $109.99
SimpleTech® SimpleDrive 160GB Portable 2.5" USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $109.99
SanDisk® Cruzer® 4GB Contour™ USB Flash Drive - $59.99
Ativa™ 4GB Secure Digital High Capacity Memory Card - $49.99
SanDisk® 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Memory Card - $19.99
SanDisk® MobileMate Memory Stick Pro Duo Plus Reader - $9.99
SanDisk® MobileMate Secure Digital Plus Reader - $9.99
Office Depot® Brand DVD+RW OR DVD-RW 25-PK - $8.99
Seagate® FreeAgent™ 500GB External USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $119.99
Ativa 16x DVD+R OR DVD-R 100PK - $22.99
Ativa™ 2GB Secure Digital™ Memory Card - $19.99
SanDisk® 2GB ReadyBoost Cruzer® Micro USB 2.0 Drive With U3 Software - $19.99
SanDisk® 1GB Cruzer® Micro USB 2.0 Drive With U3 Software - $12.99
Maxell® CD-R Media 50-PK - $7.99

[Ian]

CompUSA

TDK 16x DVD+R Media, 120 Minute / 4.7GB, Spindle, 100 Pack - $22.99
TDK 16x DVD-R Media, 120 Minute / 4.7GB, Spindle, 100 Pack - $22.99
Memorex 2.4x DVD+R DL Media, 240 Minute / 8.5GB, Spindle, 25 Pack - $27.99
Mad Dog Multimedia MegaVault 2.5-inch USB 2.0 Enclosure for SATA and IDE Drives - $29.99
Memorex 16x LightScribe DVD+R Media, 120 Minute / 4.7GB, Spindle, 20 Pack - $10.99
AcomData 3.5 inch USB 2.0 Drive Enclosure - $24.99
CompUSA 48x CD-R Media, 80 Minute / 700MB, Cake Pan, 100 Pack - $12.99
Memorex 8X DVD+R DL Media, 120 Minute / 4.7GB, Spindle, 25 Pack - $27.99
Memorex OptiFix Pro CD/DVD Clean & Repair Kit - $9.99
Memorex OptiFix Pro Refill Kit - $5.99
LaCie 500GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $117.99
Maxtor Basics 500GB SATA Hard Drive - $119.99
Cooler Master eXtreme Power 500 Watt Power Supply Unit - $39.99
Cooler Master Elite 340 microATX Mid-Tower Case - $29.99
Seagate 320GB SATA Hard Drive - $79.99
Maxtor Personal Storage 3200 160GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $59.99
Kingston Data Traveler 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - $9.99
Cooler Master eXtreme Power 430 Watt ATX Internal Power Supply Unit - $29.99
Cooler Master Elite 330 ATX Mid-Tower Case, No Power Supply - $34.99
Cooler Master eXtreme Power 600 Watt Internal ATX Power Supply Unit - $49.99
Seagate Momentus 5400.2 120GB Hard Drive - $89.99
Seagate 320GB ATA Hard Drive - $79.99
PNY Attache 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - $17.99
I/O Magic GigaBank 1TB Hard Drive - $269.99
Cooler Master Mystique ATX Mid-Tower Case, No Power Supply - $59.99
Sony DRU-840A 20x Multi-Format DVD+/-RW Burner, Internal, ATA - $69.99
Western Digital Scorpio 250GB SATA Hard Drive - $159.99
Western Digital Elements 250GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive - $79.99
Cooler Master Centurion 5 ATX Mid-Tower Case, No Power Supply - $39.99
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 500GB Hard Drive - $169.99
Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card - $49.99
Toshiba 200GB Portable Hard Drive - $119.99
Cooler Master CM 690 ATX Mid-Tower Case, No Power Supply - $59.99
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750Watt ATX Power Supply Unit - $89.99
Toshiba 200GB Portable Hard Drive - $119.99
PNY 2GB MicroSD Flash Memory Card - $19.99
PNY 2GB Secure Digital Flash Memory Card - $19.99
SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo Flash Memory Card - $49.99
PNY 2GB CompactFlash Flash Memory Card - $19.99
SanDisk Extreme III 4GB CompactFlash Flash Memory Card - $69.99
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB Secure Digital Flash Memory Card - $29.99
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB CompactFlash Flash Memory Card - $34.99
SanDisk 4GB Standard SDHC Flash Memory Card - $44.99
Nero 8 Ultra Edition by Nero, Inc. - $59.99 after $20 MIR
Easy Media Creator 10 Suite by Roxio - $69.99 after $20 MIR
WinDVD 8 Gold by InterVideo - $19.99 after $30 MIR
MediaNow CD & DVD Burning Suite by Nova Development - $19.99 after $20 MIR

[Ian]

Circuit City

Buy 2 Blu-ray Titles - Get 1 Free
WESTERN DIGITAL 500GB My Book Essental External 3.5" USB Hard Drive - $129.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent Go 160GB Portable 2.5" USB-Powered Hard Drive - $109.99
WESTERN DIGITAL 120GB Passport Portable 2.5" USB-Powered Hard Drive - $99.99
MEMOREX 8GB USB 2.0 TravelDrive w/ ReadyBoost for Vista - $79.99
SEAGATE FreeAgent Desktop 250GB External 3.5" USB Hard Drive - $79.99
WESTERN DIGITAL 250GB Internal PATA or SATA Hard Drive - $79.99
SANDISK 3 Pack 2GB USB 2.0 Cruzer Micro - $69.99
SANDISK 2GB USB Cruzer Micro Drive /w ReadyBoost for Vista - $24.99
SONY 8cm DVD-R Inkjet Printable 5 Pack - $14.99
SANDISK 4GB Memory Stick™ PRO DUO - $59.99
OLYMPUS 2GB xD-Picture Card - $44.99
SANDISK 2GB Extreme® III CompactFlash® Memory Card - $39.99
SANDISK 2GB Extreme® III SD™ Memory Card - $39.99
SANDISK 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo - $34.99
OLYMPUS 1GB High Speed xD- Picture Card - $29.99
SANDISK 1GB Ultra® II CompactFlash® Memory Card - $19.99
SANDISK 1GB Ultra® II SD™ Memory Card - $19.99
SANDISK 2GB SD™ Memory Card - $19.99
SONY 1GB Micro Vault Classic USB Flash Drive - $14.99
NEXXTECH CD-R 52x 100-Pack Spindle - $10.99
NEXXTECH DVD+R/-R 50-Pack Spindle 16X - $8.99

[Ian]

Anyone have any experience with the Westinghouse TX-42F430? Best Buy has it on sale this week for $989.99, which is about as cheap as you can get for a 42" 1080p LCD TV.

[cosmichippo]

>>Anyone have any experience with the Westinghouse TX-42F430? Best Buy has it on sale this week for $989.99, which is about as cheap as you can get for a 42" 1080p LCD TV.<<

For the money they have exceptional picture quality and features. There a few design drawbacks and their failure rate is or at least was a little high. For the quality and features it is worth the risk unless it would be a major hassel for you to return the set yourself if it fails.

Check this thread out for all the details:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=851860

I have the 47" version of this series and we have LOVED it!!! A few glitches but nothing major. Hopefully firmware updates are coming. It is F/W updateable in the field.

I would also recommend the Best Buy 4 yr. service plan which pretty much replaces it if it does take a poop.

Highly recommended if you can return it to the store yourself without much hassle if you get a bad one.

Mike[/quote]

[CowboySlim]

I saw that, too, Ian.
Geez, that's about half the price that I paid for a 40" Sony Bravia "V", 1080p LCD last Christmas.

Really have to look at that on a walk-in basis.
All I note is that the Westinghouse advertised items are always at, or establish, the bottom of the price range.

So, TINSTAAFL and YMMV.
Outside of that, all other Ts&Cs apply.
Call 1-800-Bangalore before digging.

[Ian]

The wife and I are going to go check it out this afternoon.

I was pretty impressed by the Vizio LCD TV my parents got. It's only 720P too. I may have to check out the VU42LF or GV42LF at they too support 1080p.

[Dartman]

I have a Toshiba 34" wide screen CRT set and I think I'd want at least 1080i support, many PBS shows and others are broadcast in it and it's like looking at a 35mm picture that moves. 720 is really good but nice to have the upper res anyways. I don't think that 1080p is that big a step up but if I was getting a new set now I'd probably want it just to have the option if it ever becomes common enough.
Some of the Panasonic and maybe other plasma sets also support it now but pretty sure they are out of your and my budgets, though I think most good plasmas have better black level then cheaper LCD sets do.

[Ian]

We looked at the Westinghouse today. It's definitely a step up from the old tube TV's we have but with a contrast of only 1000:1 it doesn't look as nice as some of the others they had at Best Buy.

[Dartman]

Another thing to remember though you may all ready know about it is normal analog channels tend to look like poo on HD sets. Mine looks smooth but very soft edged, some of the first sets had so many artifacts it was like watching a bad dvd on a crappy player.
I even had the service guy out and he and the shop confirmed that the soft picture was normal and they get calls all the time from new hd set owners because of it. If the set has a really good scaler in it it won't look as bad so consider that when shopping as well as most content is still analog 4.3 stuff.

[CowboySlim]

OK, so that is what the extra money got me.

My Sony looks good on the old analog channels, better than the CRT that it replaced.
It has more CR than the Westinghouse and looks real good in our not-dark living room.

Nothing today is broadcast in 1080p, but I got it anyway.
But then, 1080i is not a choice. AFAIK. It's 720p or 1080p.

[CowboySlim]

Ian,

Did you get a HDTV yet?

Interesting article in the business section this AM about the Vizio line of TVs.
They are now the number one brand, in some markets, having outsold Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic,..........Muntz, Capehart, Hallicrafters,.....

They are sold primarily at Costco and Wal*Mart and substantially cheaper that models of the same size of the other brands.
They are acknowledged to have the most quality for the price.
They may not have a picture as high in quality as the Sony, but it is considered to be very acceptable to many at a much lower price.


Good luck on shopping.

10-4, over and out.

[Ian]

Interesting article in the business section this AM about the Vizio line of TVs.
They are now the number one brand, in some markets, having outsold Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic,..........Muntz, Capehart, Hallicrafters,.....

As I've always said, Americans are cheap bastards. Like with CD/DVD media, they'll sacrifice quality without a second thought if they can save a few bucks.

Oh yeah, we did buy a TV.. today in fact. We stopped at Sam's and got a Philips 42PFL7422D. They had no payments for 3 months and the folks at avsforum have been pretty happy with it.

[Ian]

I have the Philips hooked up. The local HD channels look awesome. DVD's are looking really good too when upconverted to 1080i. Analog over the air channels look as I'd expect but the ones coming over cable look like ass. I've heard that cable companies are cutting back on their bit rates so that they can offer more channels, but this is ridiculous.