March 17^th is right around the corner which means it’s time to bring out the Irish in you because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up! Considered as both a religious and cultural holiday, March 17 celebrates St. Patrick, along with the most commonly recognized saints of Ireland and the arrival of Roman Italian Christianity in Ireland. Wikipedia explains that in the States, the day is “widely recognized and celebrated throughout the country. It is primarily celebrated as a celebration of Irish and Irish American culture; celebrations include prominent displays of the colour green, feasting, copious consumption of alcohol, religious observances, and numerous parades. The holiday has been celebrated on the North American continent since the late eighteenth century, prior to the American Revolution.”

Yes, St. Patty’s Day is such a great excuse to celebrate and be merry, but for frugalistas like us, it’s also an exciting opportunity to find sales and bargains!

Eating Out

If you’re planning to go out on the 17^th, be sure to hit the bars early, in order to catch the happy hour / St. Patrick’s Day specials. It will also help to look up which places are offering St. Patrick’s Day deals so that you’ll save time and know exactly where to go.

Be sure to wear something green, as a lot of establishments are giving away perks like discounts and freebies to those who flaunt their St. Patty’s Day spirit. The same principles go for the drinks. If you want to get bargains on booze, you might find some luck in ordering green drinks such as Kamikazes or Apple Martinis.

Staying In

If you really want to save up some cash though, consider celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at home! Round up the gang, ask them to bring their favorite Irish dish or concoction, and you’re good to go. Also be sure to scout around for deals on food and wine, then start cooking.

When it comes to the dishes and snacks that you can prepare, IntoWine.com provides some great Irish Food & Wine pairing suggestions that would be perfect for St. Patty’s Day. For instance, you can try pairing Corned Beef and Cabbage with Sonoma Pinot Noir. According to the website, combining the Pinot Noir is sure to bring the acidity to the dish. Craving for something  a little lighter? Then go for good old Fish N’ Chips together with a bottle of Australian Riesling. According to IntoWine, “the acid in the riesling cuts through the oily richness and heaviness of the battered fish and greasy chips. The high acid gives it zest and “cleans up the mouth” yet the wine’s light body does not overpower either the fish or the chips.”

Of course, let’s not forget about the decorations! Before you head to the nearest office or art supply store to pick up some cheap craft supplies, be sure to check your home for any artsy things that you can use to decorate. Green pens, highlighters, paper, and some tape should be more than enough to get you started on St. Patrick’s Day decorations.

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Tablets are some of the most handy and useful gadgets in the market today. Too bad you can’t find a great tablet at an affordable price, right? Wrong. While it’s true that there are a lot cheap iPad knock-offs out there that don’t provide any value to the consumer, it’s not impossible to find a reliable tablet that’s easy on the budget. Finding cheap electronics can be a challenge, but read on, and we’ll point you to the right direction.

Check out our top picks for the best tablets on a budget:

Kindle Fire – Amazon’s contender in the tablet industry made a lot of waves ever since it was announced, and for good reason. The Kindle Fire comes with a very modest price tag of $199, and offers a whole lot of features with it. It has a 7-inch display, weighs 14.6 ounces, and has an internal storage of 8 GB. The Kindle Fire allows users to do a wide array of things, including read books, browse the web, watch videos, and use apps. Additionally, you’ll be able to enjoy unlimited, instant streaming on thousands of films and TV shows as well as free books for borrowing if you’re an Amazon Prime member.  Of course, the Kindle has its flaws power users may find the small memory and lack of 3G capabilities troublesome, but if you’re just looking for a simple tablet that allows you to surf, read, listen, and watch, then the Kindle Fire could be perfect for you.

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet – Consider it the Kindle Fire’s arch rival. The Nook tablet also costs $199 and has an internal memory of 8GB. Yes, you can also read book, watch videos, and play with app, just like the Fire. What makes it different? Aside from having the name “Barnes & Noble” attached to it, the Nook offers expandable memory of up to 32 GB with a micro SD card. It also has a longer battery life of up to 11.5 hours for reading and 9 hours of video. Additionally, the Nook has some social sharing capabilities that allow users to share recommendations via Facebook and Twitter.

HTC Flyer – Having an original price of $549, you can now get the HTC Flyer for a steal at 379.99 or lower.  It functions as a normal tablet that offers web browsing, apps, and multimedia. What’s unique about it though is that the HTC Flyer’s Scribe Pen that allows users to take notes and scribble with ease. It’s perfect for artists as well as people who need to rapidly take notes.

Toshiba Thrive – Need some power-user features and a massive screen sans that massive price? Then the Toshiba Thrive could be the tablet for you. With a display measurement of 10.1 inches, you’re bound to catch every detail on its screen. The Thrive has a brilliant screen resolution and is lightning fast for its size. It’s powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2—the world’s first super-chip, allowing users to multi-task with ease. Additionally, it has a dual-core processor and Adobe Flash to let you enjoy high-quality and high-def video, games, and more. Get it for as low as $379.99

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If you want to brighten up a woman’s day, flowers are always a good bet. They’re beautiful, fragrant, and can almost always put a smile on a lady’s face. They also make great “get well soon” gifts, and can really improve the well-being of someone who isn’t feeling their best. Need to say “I’m sorry”, “I love you”, or simply want to let someone know that you’re thinking about them? Why not drop by your local florist and pick up a bouquet or two. Additionally, flowers are great for decorating the home. People who want to accentuate a room can do so with a floral touch here and there.

Unfortunately, most flowers don’t come cheap. Not to worry though; if you’re on a budget, getting great deals on flowers may require a little research and some leg work, but it certainly isn’t impossible. Check out our tips below:

Timing’s Everything

When it comes to buying flowers, WHEN you buy them matters a lot. Expect prices to spike during Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and other holidays. According to Oprah.com, when buying flowers, you can avoid the holiday rush if you just order them at least a week beforehand, and have them delivered two or three days before to escape the high markup. (Just be sure to hydrate the flowers and keep them in a cool place to preserve their freshness). Additionally, “During non-holiday weeks, shop on Tuesdays, often the slowest sales day of the week. Also be sure to ask the florist to make a bouquet using whatever flowers are in season. As with produce, you’ll get the best deal on what’s growing now and it will also be the best quality.”

Buy Wholesale

If there is a wholesale marketplace in your area, then be sure to check it out for good deals on flowers. In Los Angeles for instance, there’s a place called the flower district where you can get flowers of all kinds at incredibly low rates. However, when buying flowers wholesale, you may not be able to find someone to arrange them. Don’t think of this as a burden though, consider it as a chance to exercise your creativity! Research on great flower arrangements, and do your own bouquet. A retail florist’s labor rates can exponentially increase the cost of floral arrangements, so picking them out and arranging them yourself can save you a ton of money.

Costco

Speaking of wholesale, you may get a good bargain for flowers if you’re a member of a wholesale club like Costco. The store may not be selling flowers on site, but ask around, and they can definitely connect you with other stores where you can get them for a lower price.

Shop For Deals

Can’t find bargains in your area? Then take the search to Internet. There are a lot of bargain websites out there that focus particularly on the flower industry. DailyFlowerDiscounts.com for instance is a great web-based portal that delivers the most up-to-date discounted deals by online florists. If you don’t mind shopping for flowers online, this website is a great place to find discounts and coupon codes for online retailers.

Image credit: Vince Alongi on Flickr

A room may be “fully furnished,” technically speaking, but it still won’t be complete if it didn’t have any accents or decorative pieces. Paintings and photographs are popular decorations because not only do they look great, but they’re easy to transport as well. However, art comes with a price, and often, that price isn’t as low as we’d like. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to find decent art at a cheap price. You just have to be patient and willing to do the legwork.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

IKEA and other furniture stores

If you’re planning to buy art on a budget, then heading to an art gallery isn’t recommended. People at galleries are the big players in the industry, and dealing with them can cost you more than just a pretty penny. If you’re just looking for something to spice up your home, consider checking out the art selections of furniture stores. IKEA is a good place to start. The retailer sells decent artworks at low prices. Sure, these artworks are mass produced, and there’s a chance that another home in your neighborhood has the same piece, but if you can get past the fact that the pieces in these stores aren’t unique or one-of-a-kind, then furniture retailers can be a goldmine.

Estate Sales

If you’re really adamant about finding one-of-a-kind paintings at low prices, then estate sales could be a good bet. You can purchase a lot of items with a “classic” feel to them at these sales, so it would make sense that you’ll find some of those good old paintings that you’re looking for.

Yard Sales

Yard or garage sales can be a long shot if you’re looking for art, but then again, it wouldn’t hurt to swing by a neighborhood yard sale to see what you can pick up. You may not get a hard-to-find painting, but there’s a good chance that you’ll score some great framed photographs or posters for your home.

Online

Yep, you can pretty much find anything online nowadays, and that includes art. Check out auction sites such as eBay and bid on artworks that catch your eye. Exercise caution when doing this though, as dealing with people on the Internet is much riskier than business transactions done face to face. However, if you do thorough research on the seller before putting your money in, and you should be fine.

Art Students

Check the local university’s art department and see if some art students are willing to sell their works. Since they’re not professional artists yet, you can probably haggle on a good price for items that you like. And who knows, if you buy a piece from someone who becomes famous later on, you can even re-sell his work for a profit.

Do It Yourself!

Nothing screams Y-O-U than a D-I-Y project. Creating your very own works of art will not only be easier on the budget, you can make sure that no other home in world will have the artworks that you have. Just head to the local crafts store, purchase some supplies, and paint away. Not much of a painter? Consider buying (or borrowing) a good camera that takes high-res images and take your shot at photography. Print it on black and white (or sepia) and you can end up with “artsy” shots that would be perfect for your home.

Image credit: HerryLawford on Flickr

Last week, we wrote about how users can get personal computers for cheap, by buying refurbished items. This week, for the benefit of our Apple-loving friends, we’ve decided to do the same thing for Macs and other Apple products.

Apple computers can set you back several hundreds to thousands of dollars. That’s quite a sum of money for the average Joe, so a lot of consumers hesitate or opt to buy the inexpensive Windows models instead. However, fans of Apple gadgets will adamantly argue that Apple’s attention to detail and quality brings about a user-experience that the PC just can’t match.

If you’ve already set your eyes on an Apple machine and you’re planning to get it (while breaking the bank, in the process), hold your horses first. Consider buying Apple Certified Refurbished products instead. Users that decided to do this reported saving hundreds of dollars, and said that they’ve had very little problems with their refurbished purchases.

Apple’s refurbished products are apparently “good as new,” but come with huge discounts. Sure, you won’t get your products in those big glossy boxes (refurbished items come in regular cardboard boxes) but who cares? When it comes to gadgets and electronics, it’s the inside that counts. Apple guarantees that all their refurbished items undergo an extensive process of quality control and testing, so there’s very little to worry about. Additionally, all Apple Certified Refurbished products are covered by a one year limited warranty, so just bring your purchase to the an Apple store, if you happen to encounter problems with it.

Apple’s Refurbishment Process

According to Apple, their “Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple’s stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple’s stringent quality refurbishment process.”

So what exactly can be expected in this process? Here’s how it works:

First off, the device is fully tested—this includes a full burn-in testing. Apple will then replace any parts or defective modules that were found in the above-mentioned testing process. After this, the product will go through a complete cleaning process, and more inspections will take place. Once it passes that stage, Apple will repackage the product, and include the appropriate manuals, cables, and other peripherals. The product will also have the operating software originally shipped with the unit and custom software offered with that system. Afterwards, the refurbished item is given a new refurbished part number and serial number. Finally it will go through another QA inspection before being put up for sale.

You can find refurbished items on Apple’s website. If you see something that you really like, be sure to grab it right away. Apple’s inventory of refurbished products is limited, and items tend to go quickly, so act as soon as you can!

Got an old Mac lying around?

Do you have old Apple devices (working or nonworking) just lying around? Then be sure to look into Apple’s Reuse and Recycling Program. If your old iPhone, iPad, or computer qualifies for the program, then you’ll be able to receive an Apple gift card.

Simply tell Apple about your device, and get an estimate on the fair market value of the item (estimates are performed by a third-party vendor called PowerON). PowerON will provide some prepaid options so that you can ship the product to an Apple facility for evaluation. After this, your Apple Gift Card should arrive in the mail. Talk about an easy win for the user and the environment!

Image credit: lejoe on Flickr

Thinking about getting computers for cheap? Then consider getting refurbished ones. Not only are they a whole lot cheaper, but a lot of refurbished gadgets still come with warranties. And while these items are considered “used,” Microsoft enforces several quality control rules that are applied to the refurbishment process, to ensure that the electronics are free from defects and can still perform competently.

When buying a refurbished computer, be sure to go to an authorized refurbisher. As previously mentioned, Microsoft has certain standards when it comes to refurbishing, so you should make sure that you’re doing business with someone’s who’s official and certified.

How to Buy a Refurbished PC

The guys at Microsoft gave a lot useful tips in their Authorized Refurbished guide that you can view here. According to Microsoft, “A refurbished PC sold by a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher or MAR has been cleaned of prior data, updated as needed with minor repairs or replacement of components, tested, and has genuine Microsoft Windows operating software installed on it so it is ready for a new owner.”

The first piece of advice that they gave was to “Ask the seller how the PC was refurbished.” While there a number of different ways to refurbish a PC, Microsoft has approved certain standards and practices that MARs must adhere to. Additionally, whoever refurbished the PC should also follow certain systems for data wiping and reporting, and should also conform to the standards of the Department of Defense.

However, if you come across someone who’s not an authorized refurbisher, then be sure to ask the following questions to determine if  the PC was refurbished properly.

- “Who does the refurbishing and what are their standards and policies?”

- “What process is used to make sure the hard drive data has been wiped and the hard drive is virus free?

- “Where did the pre-owned PC come from and has it been upgraded with any new or used parts?”

- “What is their equipment disposal policy and are they environmentally responsible?”

Another great tip from Microsoft is to “Ask if genuine operating system software is installed.” When buying from a MAR, be sure to look for the original Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that should be attached to the PC when it was newly purchased. Additionally, you should also look for a SPECIALLY DESIGNED Windows COA for the refurbished items. The refurbished PC COA should have the MAR’s name, as well as a unique product key, product name, and a statement that reads, “For Use on Refurbished PC Only—No Commercial Value—For Authentication Purposes Only.”

Last (but certainly not the least,) when buying a refurbished PC, “Find out if you get any support, warranty, or other services.” Even if a MAR has completely complied with all above-mentioned standards, unexpected problems can still arise with your machine. This is why it’s best to find out if it comes with any sort of warranty or coverage. Be sure to ask the following questions before finalizing the sale:

- “Does the PC have a warranty, and if so, what does the warranty cover?”

- “What is the return policy?”

- “What is the return or failure rate of the PCs they sell?”

- “Do the offer technical support and is it free or fee-based?”

If you get the PC from a MAR, you’ll be able to access a free web-based operating system support from Microsoft. You can still purchase additional support on top of this, so be sure to contact the company if you need additional benefits.

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You can’t really put a price on fond and once-in-a-lifetime moments, but if there’s one thing that you CAN budget, it’s HOW you capture these priceless memories. Most people on a budget aren’t looking for big fancy cameras worth hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. If you’re the type who’s looking for a simple, affordable (but decent) point-and-shoot camera, then you’re in luck.

Below is a list of cheap cameras that still rank high in reviews, despite their price.

1. Nikon Coolpix S570 – The Coolpix series has been around for quite some time now, and for good reason.  (No, it isn’t Ashton Kutcher.) Not only is it affordable, with a starting price of $74.99, but it’s also proven to be one of best designed cameras in the market. According to CNET, the Nikon Coolpix S570 “is a solid camera” with respectable lens specifications and nice wide-angle lens with 5x zoom for people who really want to get close. The camera is recommended for landscapes and still photographs, and has been found to do well for portraits and pedestrian shooting.

2. Kodak EasyShare M580 – Users are praising this device because of its wide lens (28mm equivalent) with an 8x zoom. It has an image sensor type of 14 mega pixels, and it also has a 3-inch LCD, which is pretty huge for its category. Don’t let these “big” features fool you though, because the Kodak EasyShare M580 is still very compact, being only 4 inches wide, 2.3 inch tall, and 1 inch deep. It’s also pfairly easy to navigate, so you won’t’ have a lot of trouble customizing its settings. The Kodak EasyShare M580 is available at several websites, with a starting price of $79.99.

3. Canon PowerShot A1200 – Despite being labeled as “slow” at times, the Canon PowerShot A1200 is still a worthy contender in the compact digicam market. According to its CNET review, the device is great when shooting still subjects and can produce vibrant and sharp photos at and below ISO 200. The site furthers that, “at ISO 400, a sensitivity regularly used for shooting indoors without flash, photos get softer-looking, but noise and noise suppression are well balanced making 4×6 prints possible.” If you’re looking for a decent point-and-shoot camera that’s easy on the budget, be sure to check out this camera. Pricing starts at $87.00.

4. Casio Exilim EX-Z16 – Looking for a cheap but stylish camera? Then this device could shoot up to the top of your list. The Casio Exilim EX-716 isn’t just all about style, though. According to About.com, this device, albeit being inexpensive, still has a sharp and bright LCD without the screen glare that’s usually found in other cheap cameras. It has a resolution of 12.1 megapixels, has a 2.7-inch LCD, and can produce fairly high-quality photos in decent lighting. Planning to get one? Pricing starts at $69.00

5. Fujifilm FinePix JV200 – For a camera with a starting price of just $84.98, this device sure is packed with a lot of cool features. The Fujifilm FinePix JV200 has a 14-megapixel CCD sensor and 2.7-inch, 230K-resolution LCD. It also allows you to shoot HD video at 720p HD and share it on any HD-ready TV. When it comes to taking photos, Fuji threw in a few cool features including Smile/Blink detection, Red-eye romaval, and i-Flash Intelligent Flash that controls the flash level for a given exposure. It also has a Motion Panorama Mode that “automatically stitches up to three shots to create a panoramic picture.”

Image credit: Shermeee on Flickr

If you’re required to wear eyeglasses, learning that you need an upgrade probably isn’t the best news. Getting a new pair of eyeglasses from optometrists and well-known lens stores can send you back several hundreds of dollars, and that’s not even counting add-ons like anti-reflective or polarized sun lenses.

If you just found out that you need yet another pair of eyeglasses, don’t reach deep into your pocket just yet. The CheapStuff Team did a little research and uncovered a couple of ways for consumers to buy cheap eyeglasses. Curious? Then put on your glasses and read on.

1. Get them online – Do a little surfing on the Internet and you’ll find that you can get a decent pair of eyeglasses for as low as $20! No, it’s not a scam, and you won’t get second-rate products either. According to Farhad Manjoo of Slate.com, eyeglasses are so affordable over the Internet because of cheap overhead costs. The truth is, a lot of eyeglasses sold in the US are made in China and are sold at really low prices. However, optometrists and lens stores add a lot of fees, which cause that low price to shoot up. Manjoo furthered that when you’re purchasing eyeglasses in these places, “you’re paying mainly for rent, labor, marketing, designer licensing fees, and a huge markup.” Websites don’t need to add these many costs, because online retailers usually work directly with lens and frame manufacturers. Manjoo writes that, “When you place an order, lenses that fit your prescription are cut and molded into your frame, then shipped directly to you. The price competition between online retailers keeps markups low, too.”

Thinking of purchasing your next pair of eyeglasses online? You have to complete a few steps first. Matthew Haughey of 43Folders.com states that first thing you have to do is to get your measurements. Head to your eye doctor and get an eye exam to receive the most up-to-date prescription. He said to also ask for your pupil distance measurement which involves “looking through a binoculars-like device that measures the distance between your pupils.” Once you get your measurements, be sure to write them down, and keep them handy when you’re shopping.

Additionally, Haughey mentioned that it would be beneficial if you had the exact measurements of the type of eyeglasses that you want.  In his case, Haughey “took millimeter measurements of all aspects of my old glasses: lens height, lens width, length of bridge (distance between lenses), total width of lenses plus bridge, and the length of the side arms.”

Once you have all your measurements, head to an online lens store, and pick the style that you want. Add in your prescription details, and include additional options (i.e. high-index lenses, non-glare coatings, anti-reflective coating, etc). Once you’re done, enter your shipping details and you’re good to go.

2. Try Walmart or Costco – If you’re not comfortable with purchasing eyeglasses that you haven’t touched or tried on yourself, then you could head to the optical department of stores like Costco and Walmart. These shops may be relatively pricier than online retailers, but they’re still cheaper than what your optometrist would charge.

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Whether you’re looking for everyday-wear jewelry or some bling for special occasions such as weddings, exclusive events, or romantic dates (hey, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner), it pays to know where to shop. A lot of jewelry retailers have outrageously high prices that can leave people with the feeling that they can’t get a decent rock for a good price. However, great deals on jewelry and watches are just around the corner (sometimes literally). You don’t have to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for lovely rings, bracelets, or watches. Simply widen your horizons and think outside the box and you’ll find great bling for low prices. Not sure where to start? Here are few ideas:

1. Wholesale Websites – A quick Google search for “wholesale jewelry and watches” will lead you to a bunch of great websites that offer precious items at cheap rates. Banggood.com for instance, a wholesale based in China, has a wide selection of watches and jewelry with prices starting at less than a dollar! Additionally, the more items you buy, the lower the cost. For instance, one of their products, a copper crown pocket watch has a unit price of $2.99. However, buy 3, 5, or 10 units and the price will go down to $2.70, $2.61, and $2.54, respectively. Of course, a lot of wholesale websites are based overseas, so minimal shipping and custom charges may apply.

2. Jewelry District – Not comfortable with dealing with wholesale sellers online? Don’t worry, they exist in the “real” world as well. In Los Angeles, for example, there’s an area in Downtown called the Jewelry or “Diamond” District wherein several jewelry stores sell their items a wholesale prices. The great thing about this place is that customers can see and touch jewelry for themselves before making a purchase. Trying to determine which shops should you go to and which stores could possibly rip you off? It would be helpful to ask an experienced friend to accompany you. When inside a store, also ask the staff about the business (i.e. how long have they been in business, where they get their items etc.) Better yet, why not bring an independent appraiser with you? That way, you can really know if you’re purchasing the real thing. Does your city have a jewelry district of its own? Make it a point to head over there. You never know what you’re going to find.

3. Neighborhood Jewelry Shops – Every neighborhood has a “jewelry shop around the corner,” and you should really consider paying yours a visit. A lot of independent jewelry stores offer items at prices far below retail. Then there’s the loyalty factor. If you have already an independent jeweler of choice, then be sure to consistently go to them when it comes to your jewelry needs. Let them clean your jewelry on a regular basis. Refer friends. Window shop every once in a while. Once they get familiar with you, they’ll be more inclined to give you a discount.

Indeed, when it comes to affordable jewelry and watches, know that there are a lot of hidden gems out there. It may take some digging, but that effort will surely pay off once you find great pieces that actually agree with your budget.

Image credit: Etereal9 on Flickr

Missed the boat on Cyber Monday? Don’t fret! The CheapStuff Team surfed around the web in search of best laptop deals out there.

So was the search a success? You bet. Below are some great bargains on laptops, with discounts as high as $400! If you like what you see, be sure to grab ‘em quick, because these deals are not going to last.

1. Dell Inspiron Dell Inspiron 17R 17.3-in Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 Quad-core Laptop w/6GB RAM & 2GB NVIDIA Graphics – $824.99 from $1,293.99 (You save $469)

This 17-inch notebook got raving reviews for its vibrant and bright display. It’s equipped with a 1600 x 900 screen with a second generation Intel Core i5-2410M CPU, as well Nvidia GeForce GT525M graphics card—great for gamers! It also has a Blu-ray player for those who want to watch their movies in super high quality even when they’re on the go. Want to personalize it? You can swap out the lid for a color or design of your choice.

2. Toshiba Satellite L750 15-inch – $399.99

Described as “eye catching” by CNET, this device received a rating of 8.3. The L750 boasts of an AMD Quad-Core A6-3400M, Radeon HD 6520G. In non-techie terms, that’s a pretty decent processor, especially for its price now. In terms of storage, the laptop has a perfectly respectable 640GB internal hard drive, and 4GB of DDR3 memory. CNET tested device’s battery by disabling all battery-saving measures, setting up the screen to its brightest, and playing a full-screen video on loop the whole time. The result? 3 hours and 42 minutes. Not too shabby, don’t you think?

3. HP dv4t 14-inch – $499.99 from $599.99 (You save $150)

According to LaptopMag.com, the HP dv4t is a “notebook designed for entertainment seekers who want to stay productive and amused on the go.” It has responsive touchscreen controls and comes with MediaSmart, a software that allows users to quickly get to their photos, videos, and music. The downside?  It apparently has a relatively thick design, and a not-so-stellar battery life. If you can get around that issue though, this notebook proves that it delivers good  value for its price.

4. Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook 13-inch – $799.99 from $899.99 (Save $100)

This Ultrabook may not have the sleekest design of all, with majority of the device being plastic, but according to Ars Technica, “it’s a solid performer with a good keyboard and trackpad, and great battery life—a combination that’s been a rare find so far.” If you’re looking for a responsive trackpad that supports multi-touch functions, then you’re going to love this device. It allows two-finger scrolling as well as pinch to zoom. Additionally, it’s pretty easy to type on  and doesn’t put a lot of stress into your fingers. Its display fares well even with sunlight, and is evenly lit albeit “cool, blue cast to it.” In terms of power, this laptop has a great battery life that can last up 6 hours of continuous battery life and a 50 days of standby.

Image credit: Môsieur J. [version 5.9a] on Flickr