Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Canon SD1400 IS camera for $149.99
This tiny shooter can slip into just about any pocket, yet it snaps 14.1-megapixel photos and records 720p video.
In my experience, digital cameras generally give you 2 to 4 years of service before something breaks--and trust me, they're not worth fixing. (Usually the repairs cost nearly as much as a new camera.)
So if you're looking to replace a busted point-and-shoot or maybe just upgrade your clunky old 4-megapixel model, you've come to the right deal.
An outfit called eCrater has the Canon SD1400 IS (silver) for $159.99 shipped. It sells for $199 most other places, and I've also seen it as high as $229. And if you're into pink, Amazon has the SD1400 IS for $149.99 shipped.
Update: eCrater appears to be sold out (the price now shows $300 and stock is "on hold"). Unfortunately, the next best deal on the silver model is $176 shipped from J&R. Sorry about that, folks!
The SD1400 IS snaps 14.1-megapixel photos through a 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4x optical zoom. Other features include optical image stabilization, a 2.7-inch LCD, a 720p movie mode, and an HDMI output (though an HDMI cable, annoyingly, is not included).
The product shots don't do this camera justice: it's impressively compact, beautifully rounded at the edges, and just cute as the dickens overall. I've just spent some time playing with one, and while the control buttons are definitely on the small side (ham-handed users should look elsewhere), I really like the design and image quality.
That said, cameras are very subjective, so I recommend reading not only CNET's review, but also the user reviews on Amazon. (If you own this model, share your own review in the comments!)
Bonus deal: Walmart.com has the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire AS5551-4200 laptop for $478 with free site-to-store shipping. Specs include 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a Blu-ray drive! There's something you rarely see in a sub-$500 laptop.