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Friday, November 23, 2012
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Everything You Need to Know About Black Friday and Cyber Monday
November 23rd, 2012Top StoryEverything You Need to Know About Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Here's Your Black Friday Survival ToolkitWill you be braving the crowds and parking lot traffic to score exclusive deals on this year's biggest day for in-store shopping? If so, you'll need a strategy and some tools to arm yourself against Black Friday shopping insanity. More » Give the Gift of Better Apps This YearAs you're trying to come up with great gifts for the holidays, software likely isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It can make a great gift for the right person, though, especially when they're not willing to shell out the cash themselves (as so few people are for good software). More » Give the Gift of Better Gadgets This YearWho says gadgets can't make for a personal gift? No matter what your giftee's passion is-music, cooking, tech, or DIY projects-we've got great gadget gifts for every person at every price range. More » Give the Gift of Better Organization This YearWe're all about efficiency, and nothing makes life easier than a bit of organization. If you have a friend that could use a bit more order in their life, here are our favorite organizational gifts for home, work, and travel. More » Give the Gift of Home-Built Computers This YearKnow someone whose PC is feeling a little old? Build them a new one custom-fitted to their needs. Whether it's a tiny PC dedicated to playing media, a Hackintosh meant to save you money, or a beastly gaming machine, these builds will guide you to a brand new PC (or just a few upgrades for an existing one). More » All the Black Friday Deals: 2012It's the biggest shopping day of the year. There are tons of deals-and not-really-deals-out there. So we combed through every one we could find, and ranked them all. More » How to Make a Black Friday Plan Ahead of Time and Save Yourself Some MoneyBlack Friday is great for getting good deals, but if you're the type that's susceptible to impulse buys, it can be a trap that actually causes you to spend more. More » How to Quickly Tell if a Deal Is Really a Deal on Black FridayBlack Friday deals can be amazing, but just as often, they feature a marked up retail price to make it look like they're discounted more than they are. More » Why Black Friday May Not Be the Best Time to Shop for BargainsBlack Friday is at the end of this week, and while there will certainly be bargains at some of your favorite retailers, they may not be the best, and they may not even be worth shopping for. More » The Facts Behind 14 Black Friday MythsThe team at dealnews wants to help you get the best possible price for what you want to buy, and to keep you from getting hoodwinked while you're shopping. More » Be a Better Shopper: How to Save Money, Make Quick Decisions, and Write Good ReviewsIf you're as addicted to the internet as I am, then chances are you spend a lot of money buying things online. It might also mean that, like me, you waste time debating between two products, or hunting down the perfect deal. More »  |
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Mac Mini Review: Apple's Tiny Computer Is Finally Worth Your Time
November 23rd, 2012Top StoryMac Mini Review: Apple's Tiny Computer Is Finally Worth Your TimeBy Sam Biddle
In models past, the Mac Mini was an underpowered joke, best used to serve up media or pull down your torrents in the background: an auxiliary computer. But the new Mac Mini can be a few different things, all of them worthy. Starting at just $600, it can be a budget computer that still packs great guts and, of course, OS X. For a few hundred more, you can stick in massive storage, gobs of memory, and a quad-core CPU that'll more than handle any normal computing tasks you throw at it. We priced ours out at around a grand—a decent price for a desktop—and took it from there, using a keyboard, mouse, and LCD display we had sitting around. What Is It?A small (about 8x8 inches) desktop Macintosh computer. BYO mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Who's It For?Anyone who wants a new computer, doesn't need a monitor, and wants to save a little cash. DesignIt's like a big Apple TV. The same compact puck idea is at work here. Important ports are stuck in the back, and that's a real screwup for anyone with hands. It is completely silent, however, and that's great. Using ItPlug your peripherals in and go—the screw-off hatch on the bottom is a wonderful touch, giving you the option to swap out guts in mere minutes. The Best PartPerformance. If you're not planning on heavy gaming or video editing, there's little reason to buy an iMac over this. I was able to play multiple 1080p videos simultaneously, which is absolutely pointless, but shows how much processing power this thing has inside. Tragic FlawThe graphics. You're stuck with an integrated chipset, which precludes hardcore gaming with titles from the last several years. This Is Weird...Apple: why did you make something so beautiful and good, yet stick the often-used headphone, USB, and Thunderbolt jacks in the back of the computer? It's a crowded mess, and this will be a daily annoyance for anyone who regularly swaps accessories. Test Notes
Should You Buy It?If you're OK with a Mac whose specs are less than top of the line, and don't want the design grace of an all-in-one iMac, the answer is absolutely yes. This is a small, fast, affordable thing. But be warned: you will find the rear-positioned jacks a rear pain.
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