Get a quadcopter mini-drone with camera for $89.10
That's 10 percent off an already-discounted price for this super-fun RC 'copter, which comes with a dual-stick remote.
Ever since I was a kid, I've loved radio-controlled toys. Like, loved them. And recently an extremely kind person (who I cannot adequately thank) sent me a Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, which is now my single favorite RC toy ever.
Just one problem: It's too big to fly indoors, at least within the narrow confines of Cheapskate Central. So I'm especially excited to hop on today's deal.
For a limited time, and while supplies last, StackSocial has the Trndlabs Skeye Mini Drone quad-copter with built-in camera for $89.10, shipped. That's after applying coupon code sdrone10 at checkout. Regular price on this bad-boy: $99 at StackSocial, and $199 direct from Trndlabs.
One important note: The terms say to allow three to four weeks for shipping. That bites. I want it now!
If you've ever flown one of those little RC helicopters, you know that they're pretty fun -- but often hard to control and not especially durable. Plus, they don't shoot video.
The Skeye offers a four-rotor design for more stability and maneuverability. Check out the demo vid:
Looks pretty cool, right? I only wish I had a warehouse to fly one around in.
The 'copter comes with a dual-stick remote and offers both beginner and advanced flying modes, with autostabilization if you take your hands off the sticks. That's a huge plus, as it can help reduce crashes. And speaking of that, the specs mention a "rotor blade protection cover," which I think is a removable outer frame similar to what the AR.Drone has. (Unfortunately this isn't shown in photos anywhere, so it's just a guess on my part.) It does come with four spare rotors, just in case you do end up needing repairs.
The front-facing camera shoots 720x420-pixel video and stores it on microSD cards (which you'll need to supply). According to the specs, the battery is good for 7 to 8 minutes of flight time and recharges in about 30 minutes -- all fairly typical for an RC product of this size. (Need a spare battery? Trndlabs has them for $19, though I suspect you could find them for less elsewhere.)
I haven't been able to find any user reviews of this particular 'copter, but based on the video, it looks pretty easy to fly and plenty of fun as well. Darn tootin' I just ordered one myself.
Bonus deal: Shopping for a big monitor? Here's one of the best deals in recent memory: TigerDirect has the Gateway KX2403 BD 24-inch LED monitor for $99.97, plus around $8 for shipping. That's after redeeming a $20 mail-in rebate, but still a smoking deal on this 1080p desktop display, which offers both VGA and DVI inputs. This Acer-made monitor comes with a one-year warranty.