cheap

On Thursday, Microsoft started running new anti-Mac ads that are designed to take a serious poke at the one spot where Apple has traditionally been vulnerable: pricing.

All you have to do is shop for a computer to know that Macs are more expensive than Windows machines on a spec-by-spec basis. But when you buy an Apple PC, you willfully know you're paying a little extra--or sometimes a lot extra--for an Apple-designed product.

Apple fans will tell you that Apple PCs are not only slicker-looking but that they're also built better, last longer, and run a better operating … Read more

The Audiophiliac's primary mission is turning readers on to high-quality audio products and great music, but today, it's more about super lo-fi.

Google's YouTube has loads of wacky videos on how to make cheap speakers. Check out my favorite so far, "How to Create a High-Def Speaker for Under a Buck," right. It doesn't work, but it's the most entertaining.

After that, watch "Attempting to Make a Homemade Speaker for Under a Buck." It's a response to that first one.

If you really want to give speaker building a try, … Read more

Here's a good way to build a cheap car: take out the airbags, power steering, rear seat belts, antilock brakes, and most cylinders, all frills, and other standard safety equipment. Do that and you'll end up with a four-door, four-seater, 33-hp two-cylinder car that you can sell to a hungry market with decidedly low expectations for about 100,000 rupees ($1,988). This still seems kind of expensive when you consider that you can buy a new Kia Rio for $10,000.

Often called the Model T of the 21st century, the Tata Nano is expected to go into production for the growing Indian automotive market on March 23, with orders being accepted in April.… Read more

Everyone loves to hate cell phone contracts, but if given a choice, I'd bet that many people would gladly sign one in exchange for a cheap cell phone.

If that logic applies to you, there are quite a few options available when the economy is sputtering, and even when it is firing on all cylinders. Yes, you're stuck with a carrier for two years, but you can walk away with a phone that may wind up costing no more than a night at the movies. And in some cases, that handset might even be free.

The exact deals … Read more

These days, looking for budget-friendly tech is more imperative than ever. It's surprisingly easy to break the bank on headphones--this seemingly innocuous gadget is often more expensive than the MP3 player you're pairing it with. Comfort, sound, and style are all important considerations when picking out new 'phones, but you needn't spend an arm and a leg. In fact, headphones are one of the few pieces of technology that are relatively timeless, meaning an older model can save you dough while still providing an excellent listening experience.

To help you sort through the seemingly endless array of … Read more

We've been keeping an eye on prices for Blu-ray players and it appears that a handful of budget brand models are starting to crack the $150 barrier. The other day Woot.com had the Memorex MVBD2510 player at $139.99 for a one-day sale and now TheNerds.net is selling it for $146.99 (shipping included) and Buy.com has it at $149.99. That's on top of both the Samsung BD-P1500 and the Sony BDP-S300 slipping in and out of sub-$200 territory at Amazon and other outlets.

While $150 isn't bad, I think we're … Read more

We've been keeping an eye on prices for Blu-ray players and it appears that a handful of budget-brand models are starting to crack the $150 barrier. The other day Woot.com had the Memorex MVBD2510 player at $139.99 for a one-day sale and now TheNerds.net is selling it for $146.99 (shipping included) and Buy.com has it at $149.99. That's on top of both the Samsung BD-P1500 and the Sony BDP-S300 slipping in and out of sub-$200 territory at Amazon and other outlets.

While $150 isn't bad, I think we're going … Read more

I remember when an MP3 player with 128MB of internal storage easily cost $100 and was the size of a fist. Sometimes, new product announcements make me feel old. Such is the case with today's release of an 8GB SanDisk Sansa Clip for $99. That's 64 times the memory you could find just four years ago for the same amount of money, and the Clip is a fantastic little player. You gotta love progress...and a fairly steady decline in flash memory prices.

Along with that 8GB of space (roughly 2,000 songs' worth), the Clip packs an … Read more

Last Friday, Wal-Mart announced a selection of in-store discounts, including a 15-inch Compaq laptop for $298, that would be part of a one-day, in-store sale. That day, November 8, has come and gone, but what about the remaining supplies of the participating laptop, the Compaq CQ50-139WM?

The laptop is listed on Wal-Mart's Web site, but you can't buy it online or even find out the price, which is listed as varying by store. I used Walmart.com's store locator earlier today and plugged in more than a dozen zip codes chosen at random to find out if … Read more