Your IRS tax rebate check can buy more tech fun than you think. A
search for goodies from Apple, Asus, LG, Magnavox, Garmin, and others
turns up computers, flat screens, a Blu-ray DVD burner, and more.
You have some money stashed away. And even if you don't have it right now, you will have some in the not too distant future. That's the problem with getting the government involved in anything -- no one there can keep a secret. So, depending on how much you paid in taxes and how you filed, you should see $300, $600, or, in some cases, $1,200 magically appear in your mailbox as part of the government's Economic Stimulus Package.
While you may be thinking about paying down some bills, forget about it. The goal of the program is to see you spend, spend, spend. After all, it is your money you're getting back and what better way to celebrate its unplanned arrival than to send it off again in exchange for goods and services?
But what should you spend it on? There are so many possibilities, so many opportunities to make your cash count during these uncertain economic times, that it could become a difficult decision. Well, fear not! We've compiled a short list of easy choices that are guaranteed to keep that check from burning a hole in the pocket of your otherwise pristine, tailored-made, pants. Follow along and it will be gone before you know it -- the check, that is, not your pants.
On The Cheap
You open the mail and you find yourself staring at greetings from the President and a check for $300. That's not very much, is it? It'll get you a tank of gas, but can you actually buy something meaningful? Oh yes!
Ironkey has a range of thumb drives that will take you from 1GB to 8GB, ranging from $79 to $299. The company's claim to fame -- other than what it says is one of the most aggressive encryption schemes available for your data -- is that its drive is self-aware and will self-destruct if it detects someone is attempting to tamper with it.
If you're into rebates (you just got one, right?), you'll soon be able to pickup either Samsung's Access ($199) or LG's Vu ($299) both priced to fit into your wallet after a rebate. Both of these phones support AT&T (NYSE: T)'s MediaFlo mobile TV service and if you thought YouTube was a hoot, just wait until you see what's on that new thing they call television!
How about a computer? No way for $300, right? Au contraire, mes amis! You can latch on to an Asus Eee PC 2G laptop for $300 or Shuttle's KPC for $199. These Linux-based computers are real and functional, not just status symbols for your coffee table. Keep in mind that the KPC will need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor but most of us have closets full of those things, don't we?
Want an upgrade for your PC? Try these on: Hitachi has just released its Travelstar 7K320, a 320GB 2.5-inch hard drive for your laptop that will set you back just $219. For about $30, you can add an Apricorn DriveWire. That's a hardware/software combo for cloning your portable's current drive onto the new Travelstar and, after that, it's kismet.
But you don't have a portable; you have a desktop PC, don't you? Leave a dollar in your pocket and pick up an LG Super Multi Blu-ray disc burner & HD DVD-ROM drive ($299) for one of your external 5-inch bays. It reads and burns Blu-ray and, just so you don't have to melt your HD-DVD discs in early adopter rage, it will read those as well.
Continues : http://www.informationweek.com/
search for goodies from Apple, Asus, LG, Magnavox, Garmin, and others
turns up computers, flat screens, a Blu-ray DVD burner, and more.
You have some money stashed away. And even if you don't have it right now, you will have some in the not too distant future. That's the problem with getting the government involved in anything -- no one there can keep a secret. So, depending on how much you paid in taxes and how you filed, you should see $300, $600, or, in some cases, $1,200 magically appear in your mailbox as part of the government's Economic Stimulus Package.
While you may be thinking about paying down some bills, forget about it. The goal of the program is to see you spend, spend, spend. After all, it is your money you're getting back and what better way to celebrate its unplanned arrival than to send it off again in exchange for goods and services?
But what should you spend it on? There are so many possibilities, so many opportunities to make your cash count during these uncertain economic times, that it could become a difficult decision. Well, fear not! We've compiled a short list of easy choices that are guaranteed to keep that check from burning a hole in the pocket of your otherwise pristine, tailored-made, pants. Follow along and it will be gone before you know it -- the check, that is, not your pants.
On The Cheap
You open the mail and you find yourself staring at greetings from the President and a check for $300. That's not very much, is it? It'll get you a tank of gas, but can you actually buy something meaningful? Oh yes!
Ironkey has a range of thumb drives that will take you from 1GB to 8GB, ranging from $79 to $299. The company's claim to fame -- other than what it says is one of the most aggressive encryption schemes available for your data -- is that its drive is self-aware and will self-destruct if it detects someone is attempting to tamper with it.
If you're into rebates (you just got one, right?), you'll soon be able to pickup either Samsung's Access ($199) or LG's Vu ($299) both priced to fit into your wallet after a rebate. Both of these phones support AT&T (NYSE: T)'s MediaFlo mobile TV service and if you thought YouTube was a hoot, just wait until you see what's on that new thing they call television!
How about a computer? No way for $300, right? Au contraire, mes amis! You can latch on to an Asus Eee PC 2G laptop for $300 or Shuttle's KPC for $199. These Linux-based computers are real and functional, not just status symbols for your coffee table. Keep in mind that the KPC will need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor but most of us have closets full of those things, don't we?
Want an upgrade for your PC? Try these on: Hitachi has just released its Travelstar 7K320, a 320GB 2.5-inch hard drive for your laptop that will set you back just $219. For about $30, you can add an Apricorn DriveWire. That's a hardware/software combo for cloning your portable's current drive onto the new Travelstar and, after that, it's kismet.
But you don't have a portable; you have a desktop PC, don't you? Leave a dollar in your pocket and pick up an LG Super Multi Blu-ray disc burner & HD DVD-ROM drive ($299) for one of your external 5-inch bays. It reads and burns Blu-ray and, just so you don't have to melt your HD-DVD discs in early adopter rage, it will read those as well.
Continues : http://www.informationweek.com/
