Get a 1TB external hard drive for $50
Don't like rebates? Then don't read any further. But if you can live with a couple of them, you'll score a 1TB drive for just about the lowest price ever.
How low can a terabyte of external storage go? I've seen the drives hit $90, then $80, and even occasionally the $70 mark. But $50? That's new. And awesome.
MacMall has the Fantom GreenDrive GD1000EU 1TB external hard drive for $49.99 (plus $9 or so for shipping). What's the catch? I call it rebate No. 1 and rebate No. 2.
Yep, the drive will cost you $99.99 up front, then end up at $49.99 after a pair of $25 rebate checks roll in (one each from Fantom and MacMall). I know that's a deal-breaker for some, but if you're willing to jump through the hoops, you stand to save big.
If the GreenDrive sounds familiar, that's because I've featured it here several times before. The "green" designation comes from a promise to consume up to 40 percent less power than similar drives.
The enclosure offers both eSATA and USB 2.0 interfaces, the former a nice perk for the five or six users who have eSATA ports on their PCs. The drive is compatible with all Mac and Windows systems and comes with an impressive two-year warranty.
MacMall's 120 user reviews average out to 4.5 stars out of 5. There are a handful, however, that cite problems with the Fantom rebate. As always, read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. (I know, I know, it would be nice if MacMall could just sell the drive for $50 outright. Maybe someday.)
Both rebate offers end June 30, but there's every chance the drive could sell out before then.
Bonus deal: An outfit called CowBoom has a refurbished Asus Eee PC 1005HAB Netbook for $199.99 shipped. It's midnight blue with a 10-inch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a 6-cell battery. Awesome price, but there's one problem: mystery OS! The product page doesn't indicate whether it's Windows XP or 7. If anyone takes the time to call the company and find out, share the news in the comments.