Get the Palm Pre?

I briefly explored getting a Palm Pre. It has a lot of technical capabilities. Click here to see the comparison chart that was linked on this previous post comparing iPhone vs. Pre vs. Android.

One thing that needs further exploring is any minimum requirements for monthly service plans. At SprintPCS.com's site, you can view their information about the Palm Pre. There's a link that takes you to the current plans. Click here for that listing.

Right now, I don't think I need the "Simply Everything" plan at around $100 per month. I'd like to see if I could get the Everything Data 450 plan at $70. Add $30 for a second line (with shared minutes) with 1,000 messages per month and $15 for tethering (phone as modem).

If that was available, it would get me one step closer to making the jump.

Most mobile phones synchronize with Google Calendar

In this previous post, I briefly discussed the lack of a need to get an iPhone.

I noted a potential reason to get an iPhone is for the continuous synchronizing (if you subscribe to the MobileMe service). Several phones (including iPhone, but not the Centro...bummer) allows direct synchronizing with Google Calendar (which is currently free for Google accounts).

So for iPhone users, consider using Google Calendar to avoid MobileMe charges.

Click here to go to Google's site on synchronizing with mobile phones.

Another potential Staples deal - Here they go again...

Just yesterday, I wrote here about me ordering a Brother Color Laser Printer from Staples.

Here is this week's Staples "Sneak Peek" at this coming week's circular. I'm not sure if it's just back-to-school, the industry is hurting, or if Staples if trying to get a head start (or all of the above and more).

Here's the potential deal: Buy any Backpack and get 100% back in Staples Rewards. It applies to both in-store and on-line purchases. There are only 23 backpacks listed when searched on their website. I'm not sure how this compares with in-store inventory and selection options.

Example for discussion:

The best overall deal may be one of the Wenger backpacks (such as this one) but the sale price may expire by this Sunday when the next circular kicks in. Even though, buying the highest-priced backpack may get you the best deal from a monetary perspective, don't buy it just because it's a deal. Buy it because you need the item. You will still need to pay taxes on the purchase price.

You could look at ebay to see what the real "market" price for this item. It is actually around $65 (with free shipping).

Here's the theoretical breakdown:

• Buy a backpack for about $90. Pay about $9 in taxes.
• Receive the $90 in Staples Rewards in October.
• Staples Rewards is not a check that can be cashed, but needs to be spent at a Staples store or on-line (sort of like a gift card). You need to still spend $90 on something at Staples. I'm not sure what the markup is for an Office Supply store, but if we use 40 percent as an estimate, Staples would make a gross profit of about $36.

Bottom line, you would spend about $99 to get at least $189 in products, or you could pay $65 on ebay and just get that one item.

If you have kids and "need" a backpack, you may just end up getting one of the $24.99 models.

Oh, and they also have some offers for mechanical pencils, retractable gel pens, and highlighters, all free after rebates (still need to pay taxes).

Ordered my Color Laser Printer for $174.00 plus free camera - Here's how it went

Okay. Here's what I did. On this previous post, the Staples circular listed a color laser printer for $199.

I ordered it online and here the breakdown:

• Instant coupon so it was original price of $349 now down to $199. No rebate needed.
• Used Coupon 7671-3339-3847-2840 (without hyphens) to get an additional $25 off (purchases of $100 or more excluding computers)
• Used Coupon 71236 to get a free 3.1 MP camera
• Got free shipping or pickup at local Staples store
• Had to pay sales taxes on the $89.99 MSRP on the camera and $349 original price of the printer
• Also got 1% of purchase towards kids 529 accounts

Again, you have to "need" or really rationalize the cost:benefit of any purchase. Around $174 is a really good price for the features. I didn't think another $120 was worth Wi-Fi (the next model up).

Staples deal this weekend: $199 Color laser printer

Staples starts their school supply sale this weekend.

In the Staple's "Sneak Peek" at this weekend's circular there's the following deal that I am considering:

This Brother 4040CN laser printer will be only $199 down from regular price of $349. Prints up to 21 ppm in both Color and B&W (read draft mode, the better resolution is slower) and wait time is 17 second to first page printing. The cartridges are still what you really pay for and are listed at $65 to $76 depending on B&W (2,500 pages yield) or Color (1,500 pages yield).

If you prefer HP there's a reasonably priced "All-in-one" color laser with much slower technical specifications for only about $349. It prints only up to 12 ppm B&W and 8 ppm in Color. The cartridges are listed at around $72 for color to $77 for B&W.

Facebook update

Okay. It looks like I opened my Facebook account around end of May (5/24/09). Currently I have 196 friends (215 connections).

There is a learning curve on permissions, uploading pictures, limiting views of games, etc.

Couple of (cheaper) alternatives to Sonos

In an earlier post (click here to read), I discussed the features I would enjoy with the Sonos Multi-Room Music System.

Update: I forgot to mention that Sonos also scans all the free Internet Radio Channels and allows you to listen to them just like any files stored on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.

If you are not willing and/or able to acquire a Sonos system, here are a couple of cheaper alternatives. Unfortunately you'll need to weigh the costs, benefits and downsides for these options.

Option #1: One or more MP3 players.

For this example, I will use the iPod classics on Amazon.com. For around $249 retail ($229 on Amazon) and a memory capacity of 160GB, it would easily hold most music collections. There are other manufacturer and storage size options for MP3 players.

Benefits:

• You can take the iPod with you. Sonos stays at home.
• Cost. You can buy four iPods (not counting speakers) for the price of the entry package Sonos system which only gives you rooms.
• 160GB device holds more than 30,000 songs (per Apple's website).
• Can also hold pictures and video.
• Can use for portable storage of files.

Downsides:

• No Internet Radio Stations.
• Limited storage for music collections that aren't compressed and/or are very large.
• Need to purchase one iPod for each room you want to hear music.
• Need to purchase speakers (or equivalent) for each iPod.
• Unable to synchronize playback on all iPods like Sonos. Sonos can play a single MP3 in all rooms. Think of "piping" music throughout the whole house.

Option #2: vtech Wi-Fi Internet Radio
Initially I was very excited to hear about this device until I reviewed the features a little more closely. Click here to check it out. For retail $199 ($138 on Amazon.com), you get a radio that will connect via your wireless Wi-Fi internet connection and allow you to tune in to the free radio stations. It also has RCA and phono input jacks.
Benefits:

• Cost. $199 is cheap for a ton of radio stations (their website lists 11,000 stations). If radio is all you need (or want) then you could get five of these for the price of the Sonos entry-level system.
• Built-in FM tuner.
• Clock with alarm.
• Fairly small at around 6"x12"x3.5"
• Battery operated so that it can be moved around the house or outside. It still needs to be within range of the Wi-Fi connection
• Can plug in an external MP3 player.

Downsides:

• 2x3W speakers plus a 10W subwoofer may not satisfy some who want to pump up the volume.
• Cannot connect to an NAS device.
• Able to connect to files on a PC or Mac. This means that the computer needs to be left on for the files to be played (read: energy use).
• Not portable (beyond Wi-Fi). Sonos isn't either.

Option #3: MP3 player + vtech Internet Radio
This would mean purchasing one MP3 player and one vtech Internet Radio.
Key Benefits (look above too):

• Can take MP3 outside of the house.
• Device can store pictures and video.

Key Downsides (look above too):

• At about $450 or each combination, the cost for two (2) sets is very close to the Sonos entry-level set which also gives you the ability to play in two rooms.
• More electrical plugs and power cables (sometimes they seem to be everywhere!)
• 6W (3Wx2) + 10W subwoofer output is nothing compared to Sonos 110W (55Wx2) output.

Bottom line: it all comes down to weighing needs vs. wants and then costs for certain features.

Competitor to Sonos
Note also that Linksys by Cisco has a system very similar to Sonos called "Wireless Home Audio." You can read more by clicking here: Cisco Linksys Wireless Home Audio Executive Kit--Includes One Director with IR Remote and One Set of Speakers. Sonos had their product out first. Maybe for an upcoming post, I'll do a more direct comparison. The retail pricing is very similar to Sonos at $999 for a two room system.

Disclosure: at the time of this post, I did not directly control shares of Apple or Cisco.