Tablets

Does it still make sense to buy a Nook HD?

I suppose the writing was on the tablet. Back in May, ostensibly in honor of Mother's Day, Barnes & Noble whipped out some pretty hefty discounts on its Nook HD and Nook HD+.

Then, earlier this month, the cuts went even deeper for Father's Day, with the 7-inch and 8.9-inch slates selling for $129 and $149, respectively. But even after the holiday came and went, the discounted prices remained -- and now we know why: B&N is getting out of the color-tablet business.

Bummer. The company produced good hardware from the get-go, and although this … Read more

Lenovo Yoga 11S convertible laptop now available

Consumers eyeing Lenovo's Yoga 11S hybrid laptop/tablet now no longer have to wait to get one.

Lenovo kicked off preorders for the new Yoga on May 16, promising that the convertible would be available for shipping and on store shelves starting June 23. Buyers can now pick one up directly at Lenovo's online store, which estimates a June 27 ship date based on an order date of June 24.

The 11S is also available through Best Buy, both online and at the company's retail outlets.

At this point, the new convertible is available in the U.… Read more

Get a Kobo Mini e-reader for $39.99

This is an update of a deal I wrote about back in February.

With tablet prices dipping below $150 and even $100, it's no surprise to see e-reader prices in free-fall. So why not scoop one up and enjoy the benefits of an eye-friendly screen, ultra-light design, amazing battery life, and distraction-free reading?

And here's one of the best deals I've seen yet: For a limited time, you can get the Kobo Mini e-reader for $39.99, plus $8 for shipping. That's $20 less than the last time I wrote about it and $30 less than … Read more

Rumor Has It: What're you going to do now, Microsoft?

This week has been just crazy.

Among all the fun and games: At WWDC, Apple announced a completely revamped iOS 7, iTunes Radio, new MacBook Airs, a new Mac Pro, and a new OS X. At E3, Microsoft announced a price and release date for the Xbox One. And Sony announced the price, release date, and used-games policy for the PlayStation 4. Everyone cheered, and then passed out from exhaustion.

But because of all the hoopla, I think that Microsoft is going to ease up on its restrictions. What do you think?

Also, Samsung could beef up its Galaxy Note lineup, and an analyst predicts you'll be wearing an iWatch by the end of the year. … Read more

Acer's 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet now up for preorder

Consumers looking for a small Windows 8 tablet can now preorder the Acer Iconia W3 through Amazon or Staples.

Dubbed the world's first 8.1-inch Windows 8 tablet, the 32GB flavor of Iconia W3 is going for $379 through both Amazon and Staples. Amazon also lists a 64GB version for $429.

Staples promises a delivery date of anywhere from Tuesday, June 11, to Wednesday, June 19. Amazon isn't nearly as quick, listing an estimated delivery time of three to five weeks for both models of the tablet.

Equipped with Windows 8, the Iconia W3 comes with an 8.… Read more

Barnes & Noble slashes Nook HD prices for one week

Wow.

Remember last month, when Barnes & Noble chopped Nook HD and Nook HD+ prices the week leading up to Mother's Day? Turns out they like Dad a little more.

This week only, you can get the Nook HD (8GB) 7-inch tablet for $129 shipped and the Nook HD+ (16GB) 8.9-inch tablet for $149 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

Those are unprecedented deals, especially considering that these are new units, not refurbs. The Nook HD normally sells for $199; the Nook HD+, for $269.

I've written about both these models before, and you can learn … Read more

Get a refurbished 1st-gen iPad for $149 shipped

The original iPad may seem a bit like of a dinosaur nowadays, but, well, it's still an iPad. Big screen. Endless apps. iTunes ecosystem. All good.

Today only, and while supplies last, DailySteals has the refurbished first-gen Apple iPad (16GB) for $149 shipped. That may be the lowest price I've seen on any iPad ever.

Consequently, this may sell out very quickly, so I'm going to toss in an extra bonus deal just in case. But as of around 8:45 a.m. ET, they were in stock -- and a company rep told me they have … Read more

Windows 8.1 to let you secure folders with your fingerprint

Windows 8.1 will have a couple of tricks up its sleeve for people who use fingerprint readers.

One of Monday's sessions at Microsoft's TechEd conference highlighted the support that Windows 8.1 will offer for fingerprint recognition, as described by The Verge. Prior versions of Windows handled fingerprint readers through third-party software. But Windows 8.1 will be the first edition of Windows to natively support the technology.

Users will be able to log into their PCs via a Microsoft Account, purchase apps, and open different programs with a swipe of the finger. They'll even be … Read more

Father's Day deal: $20 off any Kindle Fire HD

Attention, everyone in my family (immediate and extended): Father's Day is Sunday, June 16. You have less than two weeks left to shop. That is all.

Oh, I mean, just being a dad is gift enough. Heh. Heh. (Seriously, though, where's my cake?)

Never one to let a holiday go by undiscounted, Amazon is offering $20 off any Kindle Fire HD tablet when you apply coupon code DADSFIRE at checkout.

That means you can get the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD (16GB) for $179 shipped, the Fire HD 8.9 (32GB) for $279 shipped, the Fire HD 8.9 … Read more

Dell to challenge Lenovo's Yoga with 11-inch convertible laptop

Dell plans to offer consumers its own flavor of an 11.6-inch convertible laptop with Windows 8 by year's end.

Due out in time for the 2013 holiday season, the Dell XPS 11 ultrabook will sport a hinged keyboard that allows it to transform into a Windows 8 tablet, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

Demoed at the Computex computer show in Taipei on Monday, the XPS 11 will offer a high-resolution screen with a 2,560x1,440 IPS (in-plane switching) display, say the folks at Engadget who checked out one of the prototypes. The IPS screen ensures that … Read more