Why You Can Trust CNET Get an Asus 802.11n Wi-Fi router for $14.99 shipped
That's after a $10 mail-in rebate--but even at the prerebate price of $24.99, this feature-packed router is a smokin' deal.
Well, I was hoping to round out this week of freebies with one last $0 deal, but nothing really jumped out. I mean, hey, there's always OpenOffice.org, the awesome free alternative to Microsoft Office, right?
Today's official deal isn't free, but it's downright dirt-cheap. Newegg has the Asus RT-N10+ 802.11b/g/n wireless router for $14.99 shipped. That's the price after redeeming a $10 mail-in rebate (PDF).
Update: Sorry folks, it's already sold out. But OpenOffice isn't! And neither is LibreOffice, which several commenters have noted is even better.
I know: you hate rebates. But look at it this way: even at $24.99, this is a sweet deal on an 802.11n router. And when you finally get your $10 American Express Prepaid Reward Card (which is as good as cash and more convenient than a check, IMHO), it'll just be icing on the cake.
What advantages does an "n" router offer over your old "g" (or, horrors, "b") model? The two big ones: better speed and better range. I made the switch from 802.11g years ago and haven't looked back.
The RT-N10+ is noteworthy for offering easy quality-of-service configuration (meaning you can divert bandwidth to the devices that need it the most, like, say, your voice-over-IP phone system) and a virtual SSID that guests can use to get on your network while keeping your password private. Good stuff. (See Asus' product page to learn more.)
This router also supports DD-WRT, an open-source, Linux-based firmware option that's mighty popular with the tech-savvy crowd.
At $14.99, you could even grab one of these just to have as a backup in case your current router goes kerflooie (something that happened to me not long ago). Just a thought.
That's all for me! Have a safe and happy holiday weekend, and I'll see you back here on Tuesday!
Bonus deal: Amazon is having a massive blowout on PC and Mac games. Highlights included Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for $4.99, Mass Effect 2 for $9.99, and Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition for $13.99.
Bonus deal No. 2: Got $66 to spare? Find out how you can turn an extra PC into a full-featured DVR for recording local stations--and pay absolutely no monthly fees.