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Get a 26-inch HDTV for $229.99

It's a refurb, yes, but at least you don't have to mess with any rebates. And shipping is fairly reasonable at $11. Not a bad deal for a den or bedroom TV!

rickbroida
rickbroida
Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
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The Vizio VA26LHDTV10T is a bargain basement HDTV that's a nice choice for a den or bedroom.
The Vizio VA26LHDTV10T is a bargain basement HDTV that's a nice choice for a den or bedroom. Vizio

Is 26 the new 24? I'm talking about TV sizes, of course. As time goes on, bigger screens inevitably get lower prices.

Case in point: CompUSA has the refurbished Vizio VA26LHDTV10LT 26-inch HDTV for $229.99 (plus about $11 for shipping). If memory serves, that's the lowest price I've seen on a 26-incher. (Indeed, over at Wal-Mart, it sells new for $288 plus tax.)

The Vizio has fairly typical specs for a TV of this size: 1,366 by 768 resolution (i.e., 720p), 10-watt stereo speakers, a pair of HDMI inputs, one component-video input, and a VGA port in case you want it to pull monitor duty.

As you might expect, this refurbished set comes with a 90-day warranty. Is it worth giving up nine months of coverage to save $60 or so? I think so, but that's just because I'm, y'know, cheap.

CNET hasn't reviewed this model, but the user reviews on both CompUSA's and Wal-Mart's product pages are very positive overall, averaging a little over 4 stars out of 5. Definitely worth a look if you're in the market.

Bonus deal: Proof positive that it's always worth shopping around, even for digital downloads, Maroon 5's new album is available from Wal-Mart for $9. Amazon and iTunes charge $12.99 and $14.99, respectively, though I will admit those versions come with bonus tracks.