Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Canon Pixma all-in-one printer for $19.99
Say what? It's true: This compact multifunction inkjet can print, scan and copy. It even comes bundled with photo-album software.
CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.
Hi, cheeps! Sorry about yesterday. I always do my best to vet the deals I share, but sometimes things go awry. Stock runs out, coupon codes expire. Calling the company rarely helps because customer-service departments rarely have any knowledge of online promotions. I know how frustrating this can be, but just remember: Any sweet deal that's gone before you get a shot at it is usually followed by a similar -- or even better -- deal down the road. You know what I always say: Cheap things come to those who wait!
In the meantime, an eagle-eyed reader found a similar smart thermostat for just a few bucks more. Woot!
Moving on. For a limited time, Adorama has the Canon Pixma MG2520 all-in-one inkjet printer for $19.99, plus a mere 80 cents for shipping. This is actually part of a bundle; to get it, scroll down just a bit, click the blue Add To Bundle button (next to the printer), then click Add Bundle To Cart.
Notice I didn't include my usual "while supplies last" disclaimer. When I spoke with an Adorama rep yesterday, he told me how much stock is available. Should be more than enough to satisfy even my legions of deal-hungry cheeps. (That said, the rest of the Interwebs got wind of this yesterday, so there's always the chance I could wind up with egg on my face.)
The Pixma MG2520 is a compact, entry-level multifunction that prints, scans and copies. Two things you should know straight away: It does come with ink cartridges, but does not come with a USB cable. And because it's not Wi-Fi-friendly, you'll need one of the latter. (Don't have one lying around? Here's one for $4. And here's one for $2.48.)
As for ink, you'll need PG-245 or PG-245 XL cartridges for black and CL-246/CL-246 XL cartridges for color. You can get remanufactured/OEM versions of each starting at around $18 -- fairly typical for ink. Like I've always said, you're forever going to be on the hook for ink or toner, so you might as well get the best deal you can on the printer itself.
The MG2520 has earned some surprisingly high marks from buyers, at least based on the reviews I've found at various stores. This despite it being a USB-only device that can produce a mere 8 pages per minute. And although the output tray can hold up to 60 sheets, nowhere in the specs does it mention the input tray. (Hopefully you don't have to feed paper in stacks of 10!)
What more can I say? It's an all-in-one printer for $20. Heck, if all you need is a copier, you don't even need to bother plugging it into your PC.
Bonus deal: I continue to be amazed by how much storage you can buy for cheap. For example, today only, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the SanDisk Cruzer Glide 128GB (!) USB flash drive for $23.99 shipped (plus tax). It features a retractable plug, two-year warranty and, alas, USB 2.0 interface. But that price! And those users reviews! (It has a 4.7-star average from over a thousand buyers.)