Top secret camera deals revealed

^M00:00:00 [ Music ] ^M00:00:08 >> Brian: Oh, hey folks. How are you? Good to see you. It's Holiday Help Desk again. It's a Monday. Getting back on the horse. It's Brian Cooley and Molly Wood. >> Molly: Hello, everyone. >> Brian: And we're doing thing Batman style as you can see. My camera is tilted kind of like the lair of any Batman villain. [ Molly laughs ] If you want to win a $500 B&H photo gift card, guess if I'm the Riddler or the Joker by the end of the show. You might win if you're right. So we take your calls and questions and such for the next half-hour. Someone trying to help you find the right tech gifts, and you know the ones we're biased towards is the one where you're trying to get someone else a gift when you're calling about your own technical problems to fix your computer. Those are the ones we're less likely to take. >> Molly: Yeah, we don't like that. >> Brian: Hint-hint. >> Molly: By less likely we mean hey, there's a drop button here. Ooh. >> Brian: Right. Guess what. >> Molly: And then that's the end of that call. >> Brian: And it works. >> Molly: Yeah. Plus this is show number 15, so we're getting a little bit grouchy. So we mean it about that tech support thing. No, we're not that grouchy. Uh-huh. We're just mostly drowning. Fifteen of a total of 22 Holiday Help Desk calls. We will be doing this every weekday. Every weekday up until December 23rd. >> Brian: Every day and weekday up until December 23rd. >> Molly: Oh! >> Brian: But we're getting close. And if you're joining us live call in with your questions at 888-900-CNET. 888-900-2638. We've also got the chat room going of course at cnet.com/live/holidayhelpdesk if you want to zip right in there directly. >> Molly: Uh-huh. And the chat room is really where you're going to find all the good answers. I don't think that. >> Brian: Right. We can Google for you all day but. >> Molly: Yeah. There's no. We shouldn't lie about that anymore. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: That is our giant. >> Brian: We're done. >> Molly: Fact check organization. >> Brian: That was the huge fallacy we had around CNET Live for so long, and we're here to come clean finally. >> Molly: All about. >> Brian: God, that feels good. >> Molly: The chat room. >> Brian: Wow. >> Molly: I know, right? >> Brian: That feels so liberating. >> Molly: Doing this free? >> Brian: I don't think Tom would feel good about it, but I do. >> Molly: I do. >> Brian: I do. >> Molly: Confessions. >> Brian: Okay? >> Molly: Confessions of an ex-CNET Liver. You can also, you want to tune into our show, or at least our website, because you can win prizes there at crave.cnet.com is where you go to enter the daily giveaway. Today's giveaway is an HP Mini 311 Net Book 311. I just don't want to say 311 because it's a bad thing and it's weird. But we're giving away this HP Mini Net Book. >> Brian: There it is. >> Molly: And this is actually a slick little Net Book. In fact, who wrote this? David Karnoi [assumed spelling] said he's personally had his eye on, his eye on it because of the NVIDIA ion graphics. >> Brian: Oh. >> Molly: So you actually get HD video on a Net Book, and some gaming capabilities. And it's a $399 Net Book and you can have it, huh, for free! >> Brian: That's nice. >> Molly: This is one of the good ones. >> Brian: That's nice. And that's coming from a woman who spent a lot of money. >> Molly: Sshh. >> Brian: On Vivienne Tam edition. >> Molly: Ex-nay on the oney-may. >> Brian: Just saying. Just saying. >> Molly: That's true. I pay the fashion tax and you won't have to pay any tax. >> Brian: Any tax. >> Molly: Of any sort. >> Brian: That's a great phrase right there. And we've also got a winner from Thursday? >> Molly: We do on the line. We have Wayne on the line. Congratulations, Wayne! >> Brian: Wayne? Where are you, Wayne? >> Molly: Where are you? You won. >> Wayne: I'm here, Brian and Molly. Thank you. Thank you. >> Molly: Hey, welcome to the show. So you won the $500 Crutchfield gift certificate which. >> Wayne: I did. I, I'm. I was skeptical at first, but actually I won it so I'm, I'm delighted. >> Molly: I, I will be amazed if that thing makes it out of the building and that's no lie. >> Brian: Right. Stay skeptical until it arrives. Some just real advice. >> Wayne: Well, I haven't won anything since high school. This is the first time I think in X number of years so I'm. I'm, I'm still in a daze. >> Molly: Oh, congratulations! >> Wayne: Thank you. >> Molly: What did you win in high school? >> Wayne: I got a kiss. I got to kiss the homecoming queen. >> Brian: Oh! >> Wayne: It wasn't a very good kiss by the way. >> Molly: Oh! Ho-ho. That's a good prize. Come on. >> Wayne: Yeah, I guess. >> Molly: It's not bad. I think the last thing I won was a coloring contest. All right. But what are going to do. >> Brian: Uh-huh. >> Wayne: What am I going to do with it? >> Molly: Yeah. What are you going to do? What are you going to buy? >> Wayne: Probably a voice recorder. A high-level music recorder. The other. My wife and I are arguing right now and that probably hasn't helped our marriage. >> Molly: Oh, no! >> Wayne: But we're arguing about how to spent it but it's one of those things. >> Brian: Okay. So the question is. >> Wayne: It's one of those things. >> Brian: Can you convert the coupon into counseling? That's the issue right now. I don't know. >> Molly: Just leave a little left over for flowers and/or jewelry and you'll be just fine. >> Brian: Uh-huh. Yeah. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Wayne: Yeah. >> Molly: Congratulations, Wayne, and have a great holiday season. That's, that's excellent. >> Wayne: Thank you very much. You too. >> Molly: Maybe this is going to be a whole new winning streak for you. >> Wayne: Oh, great. >> Brian: It all begins now. >> Molly: Yeah. Go buy a lottery ticket. >> Brian: 2010. >> Wayne: Okay, I will. >> Brian: 2010, crazy with winnings. You won't even have room in the garage for all the stuff. All right, Wayne. >> Wayne: Okay. >> Brian: Congratulations. >> Wayne: Thank you very much to all of you. >> Brian: Happy holidays. Nice guy. >> Molly: I know. That's so exciting. >> Brian: Nice guy. >> Molly: He's so happy to win stuff. >> Brian: That's a good one. That's a good one. Nothing since the homecoming queen. >> Molly: Kiss the homecoming queen. Aw. >> Brian: All right. Well, going to CNET Shoppers is kind of like kissing the homecoming queen except not. But we have great deals there like this. >> Molly: That's true. I did try to kiss CNET Shopper and it did not go for it. >> Brian: And no, it was like cold and flat and LCD-ish. >> Molly: Uh-uh. And flappy. >> Brian: Here's what we got. We got a. We. See, see what I mean? We've got some damn network cables. Are they kidding me? Let's find something better. How about this? >> Molly: No. We have a whole good, a MacBook Pro rebate going. >> Brian: Yeah, not we're talking. Okay. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: So we've got let's see, MacBook Pro. This is a 13-inch with 4-gig blah-blah-blah, $1317 after rebate. >> Molly: Oh, wah-wah. It's a $30 rebate. >> Brian: Let's move on like I said. >> Molly: [Inaudible]. >> Brian: That's crappy. How about this Quad Core laptop from Hewlett Packard? >> Molly: Ooh, that's pretty hot. >> Brian: $1280, free shipping. A Quad Core laptop's pretty hot. >> Molly: Yeah, that is hot. >> Brian: I mean that's. >> Molly: And a Core i7, which is basically, THE top-of-the-line in processors right now. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: It's the best you can do. >> Brian: That's nice. >> Molly: $220 off the lowest model price they could find. >> Brian: And that's good. And one more here we've got, of course Guitar Hero III, Legends of Rock bundle for the PS3 for $22 and free shipping? That strikes me as cheap knowing nothing about the price of Guitar Hero III. >> Molly: I think that's pretty cheap. Those games are usually for. >> Brian: Really cheap! >> Molly: PS3 games are like $50 or $60 bucks. >> Brian: And it comes with the electronic guitar, right? That's the whole kit right there. It's incredibly cheap. >> Molly: Wow! Ooh, really? >> Brian: That's just the. It's the whole, it's the whole apparatus, right? >> Molly: See, now this is going to cost me a lot though, because I'm going to have to get this and also a PS3. Wah-wah. >> Brian: No. Because, because that deal's so good you don't want to let go of it. >> Molly: Is that deal so good? And you can get and NFL comfy throw blanket, which apparently is a Snuggie knockoff. >> Brian: It's an armless Snuggie I think. >> Molly: For $20. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: And I. >> Brian: So it, it's a blanket. [ Background laughter ] Basically. >> Molly: Ha. Well, wow. >> Whoa! >> A blanket. >> Brian: With, with sports teams on it. >> Molly: Well, it's comfy. >> Brian: It's a blanket. >> Molly: I have to say the deals just keep going, and I personally. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: Have a little deal rant because I ordered a ZAGG screen cover for my Droid. They cost like $25 and then now today on Slick Deals half off. >> Brian: Ooh! >> Molly: I know! >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: So pretty much the lesson is don't buy anything this holiday season. >> Brian: Right. Right. >> Molly: Keep waiting for it to get cheaper. >> Brian: Just wait until top of the year. >> Molly: In 10. So give all your, give all your people under the tree like little notes that say. >> Brian: Coming soon! >> Molly: Oh, it's going to get cheaper. >> Brian: Coming soon! It's going to get cheaper. >> Molly: Just wait. >> Brian: And that's how much I feel about you. All right. Let's get into. You want to get some calls now? >> No way! >> Brian: No, shopper deals. What am I saying? No [inaudible]. We have to go to The Cheapskate, Rick. >> Molly: Oh, of course. >> Brian: Why don't we back into this show slowly? >> Molly: Wow! >> Brian: Okay. Here we go. Let's [inaudible]. >> Molly: We're awake. We are awake. Rick! >> Brian: Bring out Dr. Broida. >> Rick: Hey! >> Molly: Help us out, buddy. >> Rick: You, don't tell me. You did not just say, Molly, that you spent $25 on a screen cover? >> Brian: You got busted by The Cheapskate. >> Molly: [ Clearing throat ] Well, maybe. No, I didn't. The $25 for the whole cover and then it was like $14 for the screen cover. So I spent $14 on the screen cover, but I could have only spent $7.00. >> Rick: Oh, Molly. >> Molly: I should have called you first. Oh, I know. How embarrassing. I at least went to Deal Coupons to see if there was a coupon available for the ZAGG screen cover. >> Brian: Apparently not. >> Rick: You know, we're going to have to. >> Molly: I suck at this. >> Rick: Set up like, like a hotline phone thing for you because this is dangerous. This is not good. [ Molly laughs ] >> Brian: Intervention, Rick. What do you got that is good? >> Molly: Can you try a rescue? >> Rick: Yeah, okay. So today we've got some stuff for, for the Wii sets. There's a, Buy.com has this really cool charger for, for the Wii remotes. And you know how those things are always sucking through batteries. Well, this is a, a package that comes with rechargeable batteries and it's an inductive charging station. So you just lay your controller right on top of it, even if it's in that silicon sleeve, and it'll just start recharging this. This is very, very cool and it's $18 bucks shipped out the door. You're good to go. >> Molly: Huh. That's not bad. >> Brian: That's cheap. >> Molly: Although I'm skeptical of those chargers. >> Brian: Be inductive. >> Molly: But for that price who cares? >> Brian: Works on a Sonicare, it'll work all day. >> Molly: That's true. That's. >> Brian: Right? It's a toothbrush technology. That's what it is. >> It's a good deal. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Rick: I got to go. >> Brian: You got another deal for us, Rick. One that's kind of a holdover, right? >> Rick: Yeah. If you happened to miss The Cheapskate on Saturday, eh, the Deal of the Day was a $78 blu-ray player at Wal-Mart. And if that sounds a little familiar, that's because that was the. That was the big black Friday door buster, so kind of their, bringing that back. Maybe they had some stock left over. Who knows? But I hope you didn't camp out for hours in the freezing cold to, to get that $78 player because you can get it right. >> Brian: [Inaudible]. >> Rick: You can even order it online. You don't have to go to the store. >> Brian: Just to find a palette open. >> Molly: This, this is what I'm talking about with the deals. They're just ongoing. And no matter how good a shopper you think you are, it turns out it's out, they're still out there. >> Brian: And Broida will make a fool of you every time. >> Molly: $78 blu-ray player. Of course that is, and we always have to say this because when somebody calls in and he goes does it do BD-Live? No. >> Brian: No. >> Molly: If it's under $100 just, it doesn't do BD-Live. >> Brian: No BD-Live. >> Molly: But you don't really care. >> Brian: No online stuff. >> Molly: Because all you're going to do is watch movies. >> Brian: Yeah. That's cheap. Okay, people? That's cheap. >> Rick: It's basic. It's basic. And most people are happy with basic I find. >> Brian: Yes. >> Molly: That is cheap as blazes. I think I might order that bad boy. >> Brian: Good enough is good enough. Let's make that our mantra. >> Rick: Okay. >> Molly: Yeah. I like it. >> Brian: It's good enough. >> Molly: It's good enough. >> Brian: Okay. >> Molly: Just like me. >> Brian: Rick, thanks. >> Rick: Thanks for those who [inaudible]. >> Brian: Thanks, Rick. >> Rick: You're welcome, guys. >> Molly: Have a good day. >> Brian: We'll talk to you tomorrow. Rick Broida's here. The Cheapskate. Is the cnet.com/cheapskate. We talk to him every day here on the Holiday Help Desk. >> Molly: That's right. I think now. >> Brian: Now we go to calls. >> Molly: Now we get to take your calls. >> Brian: God. All right. >> Molly: Don't forget to call us. If you're listening live give us a call. You actually have lines open and that hardly ever happens. 888-900-CNET, 2638. >> Brian: Which one scares you the most? PS3 or VAIO PC? >> Molly: Whoo! Let's go to. >> Brian: This is unrehearsed, folks. >> Molly: I know. >> Brian: We'll be Googling live right before you. >> Molly: Let's go to line. Let's go to line one. >> Brian: Okay. >> Molly: I want to know what this guy's three questions are all about. Are you there, Ravnit? Is that how you say that? >> Ravnit: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. >> Molly: How's it going? >> Ravnit: Yeah, I'm just sitting here until you're done. >> Brian: Good! You sound tired. >> Ravnit: Yeah. >> Brian: A long weekend? >> Molly: Come here. You sound tired, buddy. You need a nap? >> Ravnit: Sure. >> Brian: Come here. Rub my shoulder right now. >> Ravnit: Oh yeah, I just. I just got up actually. >> Molly: Oh, you need a Snuggie. >> Brian: Oh. >> Ravnit: Yeah. >> Brian: Where do you. Where on earth do you live that you just woke up or? Oh, Sacramento? You're here? Wow. >> Ravnit: Yeah. >> Brian: It's about 10:00. >> Molly: And you just woke up? >> Brian: Dude! >> Molly: Okay. >> Ravnit: Yes. >> Molly: Well, we hate you but I guess we'll answer your question I guess. >> Ravnit: Okay. >> Molly: Go ahead. >> Ravnit: I just got a MacBook Pro and I was hoping to play some games on it like Bias Hog [assumed spelling]. But they, when I installed it they weren't really playable. And on YouTube I saw that like many games like Crisis were playable on, on the same MacBook. So my question is to, if I should actually just get a PS3. Or is there a way for me to play games on my MacBook Pro? >> Brian: I knew it was going to go this way. >> Molly: So you're running Windows on the MacBook Pro, right? So that you can play Crisis and. >> Ravnit: Yeah. [Inaudible]. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: I. And you're finding there is just not quite enough hardware? >> Ravnit: No. They weren't really playable. >> Molly: Yeah. I just. I don't think the MacBook Pro. I mean it seems like it should be because it's a really high-end notebook, you know, supposedly. But. >> Ravnit: Yeah. >> Molly: But that. But Crisis and games like. I mean Crisis in particular, I feel like you need a Kroy super computer to run that thing to its, to its best. Its highest potential. I don't. I mean I think that is a PC game, but if you want to get a con. I mean, you know, console gaming is a whole different beast. Like if you're talking about PC gaming that's one thing. But I don't think you're going to get a very good PC gaming machine with a virtual operating system on a MacBook Pro. I just. I think that's probably not enough hardware. >> Ravnit: [Inaudible]. >> Molly: So I think if you really want to get into gaming the PS3 is, is, you know, you've got a lot more options there. Plus you get a blue-ray player, plus you get kind of the new networking and Netflix streaming and things like that. I don't know. I think the PS3 is the thing to buy this season to be honest. >> Ravnit: Okay. Yeah. >> Molly: Yeah. Otherwise it, you know. Because I feel like that's a $400 investment, but a really good gaming PC. And a gaming laptop is a $4500 investment, so. >> Brian: Yeah. Good point. >> Ravnit: Yeah. >> Molly: You know. >> Brian: You're not going to get anywhere near that kind of performance on a computer for anywhere near that price. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: All right? >> Molly: Okay? Enjoy your PS3. >> Ravnit: All right. [Inaudible]. >> Molly: And your nap. >> Brian: And your nap. >> Ravnit: Right. Thanks >> Brian: Sleepy boy. All right, Ravnit. Let's go to Adrian. He's in Florida with a question about a VAIO PC, but I don't know which one. So Adrian, what are you looking at? >> Adrian: Hello? >> Brian: Hello, Adrian. Welcome to Holiday Help Desk. >> Adrian: Oh, thank you. Just seeing how the Sony VAIO P compares to a regular Net Book. >> Brian: Sony VAIO P? >> Molly: Oh, yeah. Well, it's a lot more money, I can tell you that. >> Brian: There's one right off the bat. How you doing? >> Adrian: Good. >> Molly: That's the one that's. That's the one that's like we call it a Not Book. It's the one that they. >> Brian: It's the little super-wide. >> Molly: The super-wide screen. >> Brian: It came out of CES almost a year ago. >> Molly: Uh-huh. >> Brian: And we were not sure, and they were very careful not to call it a Net Book. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: Let's pull one of these up here so folks can see the form factor. It's very wide and narrow. It's beyond a 16.9 form factor. >> Molly: And they, they say that it's not a net. I mean here's how it's not a Net Book. It's just thinner, you know. Like it's wider. It really is a Net Book. >> Adrian: Exactly. >> Molly: It's the same kind of specs. It's 1.3 gigahertz. You've got, only got 2 gigs of RAM in there and a 64-gig drive. It does run, I think it's running Vista now. >> Brian: It came with a 2 gig CPU now. >> Molly: It's, you probably can get it with Windows 7. >> Brian: They bumped the spec up a little bit. >> Molly: But that's still not. >> Brian: It's still not a high-powered ship [assumed spelling]. >> Molly: You know, compared to like our HP Mini. Let's see. Do we have our specs on our HP Mini 311 that we're giving away? >> Adrian: Yes. When I was looking at this it wasn't much. >> Brian: Oh, let me check that. Yeah. What this is $850. The HP Mini that we're giving away, not that we can necessarily guarantee you that. But that one is going to come in with let's see here. We'll pull up the Mini 311. >> Molly: That, that's a 1.6 gigahertz processor with 1 gig of RAM. You can option that up of course. And 160 gig drive. I mean with the Sony VAIO P you're just paying for the style, and it's almost a $1000. >> Brian: And it's extraordinary light as I recall. >> Adrian: Yeah [inaudible]. >> Molly: Yeah. It's super light. Well, it's 1.4 pounds. >> Brian: Less than most Net Books. That's pretty light, by about a pound. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Adrian: [Inaudible]. >> Brian: Sorry? >> Adrian: Is that the size of a laptop? >> Brian: No, it's much smaller than a laptop. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: Much smaller. >> Molly: Is that what you're talking about? The Sony VAIO P Series? Or do you mean a different? >> Adrian: Yeah. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: Yeah. The P is nowhere near a laptop. >> Adrian: No. I was saying it's the price of a laptop. >> Brian: Oh, the price? >> Molly: Oh, yeah. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: Exactly. It's the price of a laptop for, you know, [inaudible]. >> Brian: And the power of a Net Book. >> Molly: And the power of a Net Book. Yeah, sure it's 1.5 pounds, but I don't think three times the price of the HP. So that's 1.4 pounds. The HP Mini for example is 3.3. I, I don't see a compelling reason to buy this unless you are really like a style icon. And you might be, Adrianne. >> Brian: Yeah, we don't know about you. >> Molly: I don't know. >> Brian: But it's really. Yeah, it's an accessory as much as it's a technology product. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: And it will fit into a coat pocket, you know. You can actually stick it down a coat pocket end-wise, so it is more carryable in some ways. There's no Net Book that'll fit in a piece of clothing. >> Adrian: No. I don't care about how small it is. It's like a performance thing first. >> Molly: Oh, no. Get a Net Book for sure. >> Brian: Then you get a Net Book. Done. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: Done. >> Molly: Done. >> Adrian: Okay. >> Molly: Just ignore that overpriced thing. >> Brian: Here's why no one you know has a Sony VAIO P. >> Molly: That's right. >> Brian: Because it's a dumb purchase. >> Molly: Because who would buy that? >> Brian: That's why. >> Molly: Yeah. No-no-no. >> Adrian: Okay. >> Molly: Get yourself a Net Book. You'll love it. >> Brian: Okay, Adrian. Thanks. >> Adrian: Yeah. Thank you. >> Molly: All right. >> Brian: Love you. Okay. Coming right up a short break right here, and then we're going to come right back and talk to our friends over at B&H Photo, one of my favorite of the CNET merchants and I truly mean that. And we're talking to Dave Flores there from B&H Photo in New York. They've got three great deals for us coming up, and that's all coming up as well as more of your calls at 888-900-CNET as the Holiday Help Desk continues. ^M00:14:30 [ Music ] ^M00:14:37 >> If you think all batteries are the same, consider this. These Duracell batteries were given to the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA. Because when it comes to kids and healing, you're not just powering a toy. You're powering a smile. Duracell. Trusted everywhere. >> Everywhere you look new gadgets are popping up. To get the real story on them there's really only one place to go. CNET.com. Discover something net at CNET. >> Last.fm now on Xbox Live. Discover new music and explore endless personalized radio stations. Find out more on www.lastfm.com/xbox. ^M00:15:20 [ Ping-Pong click ] [ Whoosh ] [ Music ] ^M00:15:27 >> Molly: Welcome back to the Holiday Help Desk. We do still have lines open. If you want to give us a call please do. No type four questions, seriously. >> Brian: Oh, please. >> Molly: 888-900-CNET. >> Brian: If there's one in there now we're never getting to you, just so you know. >> Molly: 2638. >> Brian: I'm not going to say who you are, but that lines. >> Molly: That thing about the mother board and the soldering, no! >> Brian: That's right. >> Molly: It's not a Tom day. >> Brian: Like one, that one says is Tom there? Can I speak to Tom? We're not taking that one. >> Molly: Can I talk to Tom? I want to know about the Linux things. >> Brian: No. Yeah, can I put that on a pen drive? Oh, he must hate us. >> Molly: He must hate us. I hope he's not in the chat room. >> Brian: No. Wow. >> Molly: Are you there, Tom? Do you hate us? >> Brian: When is he not? >> Molly: Anyways, we. >> Brian: Yeah. Good to be here. So. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: And good to have David Flores here with us from B&H Photo. B&H Photo and Video to be honest, and B&H Photo, Video, and Other Stuff in New York City. A great, legendary imaging retailer from so many years ago. But if you talked last time you guys got so much more going on, David. And in fact, I don't think we have anything that really fits in the traditional. Well, we have one camera from you guys today. Let's kick it off with that Nikon you're pretty excited about. What you got? >> David: This is a sweet deal, Brian. We've got the Nikon COOLPIX S570. It's an amazing entry-level point-and-shoot camera. Slimmer than an inch so it easily fits into your pocket. Has a 5X optical zoom, 12 megapixel resolution. But what's really nice about it is that is has a lot of the features that you find on Nikon's higher-end point-and-shoot cameras, particularly the Smart Portrait System which is great. It softens skin tones. It, it can track up to 12 faces as you're moving. It has blink detection, smile detection. All these wonderful features for a price that is so low I actually can't say it on CNET. >> Brian: Oh, come on. >> Molly: What! >> David: So you have to come on our website. >> Brian: Come on! >> Molly: That's not cool. >> David: That's, it's true. >> Brian: Wait a minute. Well, I. >> Molly: We're hanging up. >> Brian: Well, guess what? >> David: It's true. >> Brian: I can shot it on CNET. >> David: You can! >> Brian: Go to the screen and there it is. Bam! >> Molly: Oh, snap [assumed spelling]! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! >> Brian: How do you like me now, David? >> Molly: Uh-huh. That's how we roll. >> David: What do you think about it? >> Brian: Okay. Let me give you some love because our review on this one is yeah, we like the lens on it a lot. And we do like that Smart Portrait System. It's not just a gimmick. We find that it worked really well like you say. >> David: Yeah. It's a fantastic camera. It's really easy to use. If you're accustomed to using a point-and-shoot digital camera you can pick it up, get going. If you're new to a point-and-shoot digital, which most people aren't anymore, but it, it's fairly intuitive. >> Brian: Yeah. >> David: It's great to pick up and take with you anywhere. And you can get that in four colors. >> Brian: You got a Net Book. Speaking of things that people don't always think you guys sell. You've got an ASUS Eee in there. Which one is this? >> David: That's right. The ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-VU1X. And this is an awesome Net Book computer. You got a 1.6 gigahertz Intel atom processor. A gigabyte of RAM, 160 gigabytes of hard drive. So it's perfect for toting your media files with you. What really sets this guy apart from the other Net Books that are in the segment is its power. It uses a 6-cell battery so you can get about 8-1/2 hours of productivity on it. >> Brian: Oh. >> David: Which is awesome. You know, if you're stuck in an airport this holiday season. >> Brian: Right. >> David: You can watch a movie or flip through photos, listen to music for a long time. >> Brian: That's good life. Yeah. >> Molly: I know. >> Brian: Price on that is what? >> David: Price on that's $307 and you know, you're right at. >> Brian: I see a register. >> Molly: God, $307? >> Brian: And free shipping. >> Molly: I'm still mad. I just want to buy that. I want to buy it. >> Brian: And free shipping in New York. >> David: That's right. >> Molly: Save my Net Book. >> Brian: Did I mention free shipping? >> David: I don't think we have free shipping. >> Brian: You're real mad. >> David: I don't think we have free shipping on that one. >> Brian: It does. Free shipping USA right here. Let me see. Maybe it's not. Let's, let's click on it. We're going to work with you live. Yeah, it says right here, this item qualifies for free UPS ground. >> Molly: Oh! >> Brian: Look at that, David. >> David: Free shipping. >> Brian: You guys are better than you knew. >> Molly: Wow. >> David: Well it's. I don't know about the Nikon actually. We have free overnight shipping on the Nikon. >> Molly: What! >> David: So if you're. If you're looking for a really great last-minute deal, you want to make sure you have it in time for the holidays. >> Brian: Yeah. >> David: Free overnight on the Nikon. >> Brian: I do like you people. >> Molly: Yeah. >> David: Last five [inaudible]. >> Molly: Oh, that's pretty great right there. >> Brian: Let's wrap it up with, uh, let's see, an e-Reader you've got here from Sony. This might raise a little eyebrow or two. What's going on with this one. >> David: Yeah. The e-Readers I think are becoming a lot more popular. We're seeing them, particularly in New York City or anywhere where there's a lot of mass transit. We're seeing these replace books. Extremely thin. Very, very easy to use. This is actually smaller than the journal I take with me. Has 512 megabytes of internal memory, so you can carry about 350 books on this anywhere that you go. It's, it's open to all of the popular formats, e-Pub, PDF. And it works with DR and protected formats and, and open formats as well. Price is right at $189.99, and we do have free shipping on this. >> Brian: Free shipping on that. So everything's free shipping that you've talked about today. That's nice. >> David: Everything's free shipping that we've talked about today. And free overnight shipping on that Nikon COOLPIX S570. >> Molly: Great deal. >> Brian: And we, we like that Sony. Our CNET review on that is, you know, 3.5 stars. Pretty good for our step. That's a very good. And, you know, didn't find any enormous knocks on it. A lot more good than bad on that guy. Let me scroll down here and take a look and you can see. And no user ratings on that one yet which I like to check. >> Molly: Hmm. >> Brian: But anyway, that's. Those are the deals coming in from B&H Photo. David, was. This is supposed to be FedEx's biggest day of the season for what it's worth. Is this, does this correspond to you guys? Is this some kind of a crunch day we didn't know about? The big ten days out? >> David: No. We're open. >> Molly: I like that. This is the get it there in time day. >> Brian: Without paying extra for shipping. >> Molly: It's kind of considered the deadline, yeah. >> Brian: It's the. >> Molly: Where you can order now and you can still get it there in time. It's, I call the Oh Crap Day. >> Brian: Oh crap, and it's cheap. I don't want to pay for a bad shipping day. >> Molly: I personally am having [inaudible]. >> David: And it's [inaudible]. >> Brian: Yeah. >> David: You still have some time. >> Molly: No! >> David: And a great thing about B&H is that when you shop with us you can buy confidently that we're going to have in stock what we say we have in stock. And, and we move more than a lot of the other guys that are out there. And our sales staff's always great at helping you out whether you want to check us out online or give us a call. We're here to help you. >> Molly: He is so smooth. You are so smooth. >> Brian: I can vouch for that. I can vouch for that! They're good people at B&H, I got to tell you. Spent a couple bucks there over the years. All right, David. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. >> David: All right. Thanks, Molly. Thanks, Brian. Have a great holiday. >> Molly: Bye. You too. >> Brian: Good stuff. Okay. B&H Photo Video. They've got all those deals and a lot more at bhphotovideo.com. Okay. Back to the calls now, I think. >> Molly: I guess so, but I'm. I, I have to take a break because I'm going to buy that laptop right now. >> Brian: Oh. Relax. Wait for free shipping. >> Molly: Oh, all right. Okay, okay. Yeah, no. It's free. It's free standard shipping, expires today, right? On B&H or everywhere? >> No, I'm seeing it in general. >> Molly: Everywhere. That's why today is the Oh Crap Day, because today is the day. >> Brian: Today is the day. Okay. >> Well, we're just. >> Molly: That's the free standard shipping usually. >> Brian: Just get in there and go get it if you want it. Don't wait. >> Molly: Go get stuff. Go! >> Brian: All right. >> Molly: Go shopping. >> Brian: I'm not saying go buy something you don't want to buy. But go. If you want it, go get it. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: All right. We've got a. >> Molly: Ooh. >> Brian: We've got an interesting product to take a look at here. >> Molly: Oh yes, we do. >> Brian: The XM Sky Dock is our first look of the day today on Holiday Help Desk. And this is going to take your iPhone and turn it into an in-car satellite radio receiver and interface. Check this out. >> Antoine: So you want to add satellite radio to your car but don't want to go through an involved installation. Well, the XM Sky Dock claims to add live satellite radio to your iPhone with easy installation. Sound interesting? I managed on good one. Let's take a closer look at the XM Sky Dock to see how well it delivers on that promise. The XM Sky Dock is a standard cradle-on-an-arm design with adjustable arm to allow it to accommodate and charge all three generations of iPhone and both generations of iPod Touch with or without a case. The flexible neck allows the iPhone to be positioned for optimal viewing. And at the base of the arm is the 12-volt power adaptor that features an input for the satellite radio antennae and audio output. The power adaptor features a rubber ring that locks the unit in place requiring a consider amount of force to insert or remove the Sky Dock. There's no way this puppy's coming loose unintentionally. The Sky Dock connects to your car's speakers through either an analog output, the built-in FM transmitter, or an FM output for use with an optional FM direct connection kit. Once powered up just download the free XM Sky Dock app to take control of the Dock's tuner. Of course an XM satellite service plan is also required. And those plans are going to start at about $10 a month and max out at about $17 a month for the most exhaustive package. Users can browse stations with now-playing previews and store up to 12 of their favorite channels. You hear songs you like. Hit the tag button to save the artist and title with a link to purchase in the iTune store. Users can also set up alerts to be notified when a tagged artist or a song is playing on another station. The app also supports weather and traffic notifications, alert for your favorite sports team, and a stock ticker. Now one of the main annoyances that we had with the XM Sky Dock is that the application must be running in order for the music to play. If you pop out of the app to, say, respond to a text message or check out your map, then the music stops. It would have been nice if the hardware would continue playing the last selected station when you're multitasking. So if you're interested in also using your iPhone for navigation, then perhaps the Sky Dock isn't the best satellite radio option for you. Also, while the installation is by no means difficult, it is a bit more involved than simple plug-and-play. Requiring the mounting of an external magnetic antennae to your vehicle's roof, deck lid, or hood. So you can't very easily transport the Sky Dock from vehicle-to-vehicle. That being said, we were able to get the Sky Dock up and running in our test vehicle in about 15 minutes with no tools required. Overall, the XM Sky Dock does deliver on its promise of being an easy to install and easy to use XM radio tuner for users who just want to listen to music. However, multi-taskers need not apply. For more details check out our full review. Until next time, I'm Antoine Goodwin and this has been our first look at the XM Sky Dock. >> Brian: Let's take some calls. We've got four to get through in a hurry. >> Molly: Okay. Let's roll. >> Brian: Okay. Let's have four people stump us in a very short time. First one is Chuck calling in from Connecticut. And Chuck, welcome to Holiday Help Desk. Make us look foolish. >> Molly: Go! >> Chuck: Ha-ha! That's going to be difficult. >> Molly: He's fired up. >> Brian: Hmm. >> Chuck: I have. I have speakers installed in three rooms in my home, and I don't have them hooked up yet. So I have a three-zone system. Kitchen, living room, and an exterior porch. >> Molly: Uh-huh? >> Chuck: I need the right piece of equipment to be able to hook them up and be able to run them independently simultaneously. And be able to use an iPod and satellite. >> Molly: Run it on cable. >> Brian: Sonos. Done. >> Molly: I know. Look, I already. >> Brian: Sonos. Go! >> Molly: I had actually typed. >> Brian: So you got it up. >> Molly: I had typed Sonos into the awesome bar here. [Inaudible]. >> Brian: Yes. It's just Sonos. I mean it could be. >> Molly: Yeah. It's Sonos. >> Brian: It's a Sonos music system. Not the cheapest. Logitech makes one like this too, right? >> Molly: Uh-huh. >> Brian: Logitech Squeezebox-something. >> Molly: They've got the Squeezebox Duet. Yeah. >> Brian: Okay. That's the other one at a little lower cost. Let me try and pull up this Sonos music system. This is the great way to do this. They just rolled out this model you see right here if I pull this up. This is the newest one, the Sonos Zone Player S5. It's been out for a few weeks. >> Molly: Uh-huh. >> Brian: I think it's $250, the price on that. And it is amplification, speakers, and the wireless receiver all in one. So you just drag this thing anywhere and it's got your repeater technology. But you've already got the speakers in there. So what you would go to is a different module. Do you have amplifiers next to your speakers now? Or you need amps as well? >> Chuck: I need amps too. I have everything going to an AB Quad. >> Brian: Okay. So the way to go with this is, let's see, what to buy. They have these things here called zone players. And what you want to do is go to get one of those that is amplified. So I forget what the wattage is on these, but it's this thing that has the connectivity in it and it's also got amplification. I think the ZP120 is one of these. Uh, yes. And on the back you've got speaker lugs like you have on the back of a receiver and you hook up your speakers. And the nice thing about the Sonos, like you talk about, is it will do independent zones, any number of them. It'll couple any number of rooms. And the real magic here is it'll keep all or any number of rooms in sync which I, I don't think anyone else can do. Maybe the Logitech can, but it's not traditional just Wi-Fi. They've got a way of keeping the music from like a slap at go by being in longer delay from unit to unit, which would make it unusable. So this is a really good technology. >> Molly: And I have to say though our. Check out the Logitech Squeezebox Duet before you buy. >> Brian: Yes. >> Molly: Because that currently is our editor's choice and it's more like $400 compared to the Sonos $1000. It may not have all of the same features, but they're. That. It sounds like that is. That's certainly our price choice. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: And it looks like it might be a little bit easier to use. The chat room also suggested the Apple Airport Express. >> Brian: Oh, yeah. Right. >> Molly: As a, as a. As another option. >> Chuck: That's great. >> Brian: And don't forget the Sonos lets you your iPhone as a controller. It's also got that advantage to it. >> Molly: That is nice. The Squeezebox Duet comes with its own controllers. >> Brian: If you. >> Molly: If you don't want to add a whole other remote control you can always the iPod. Plus the Sonos is fancy. >> Brian: The Sonos is real fancy. It's real fussy stuff. But the Logitech's good gear. Good gear. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: All right, Chuck. Good work. Good luck with that. >> Molly: Whew! >> Brian: Where do you want to go next? >> Molly: I thought we came out okay on that one. >> Brian: We did. We got lucky. >> Molly: Let's. Let's try this Lenovo Idea Pad here from, from Eli. Are you there, Eli? Hello? >> Eli: Yeah. >> Molly: Hi. How's it going? >> Eli: It's going pretty good. >> Molly: What you got for us today? What's your question for the Holiday Help Desk? >> Eli: Well. Well, I was just trying to figure out how to optimize my computer a little bit more. Maybe for gaming. Just to maybe make it run a little bit better. But I got an Idea Pad Y450 with a Core 2 Duo 2 gigahertz, 4 gigs of RAM, 320 gigabyte hard drive. >> Molly: So you. So you. >> Eli: Now I'm just trying to figure out if there's anything free that I, that is out there that allows me to optimize maybe some Windows 7 stuff or. >> Brian: You took it. You answer it. >> Molly: Well, I mean no. >> Brian: Chat room? Work for us. >> Molly: Sadly no. So you. So you have 4 gigs of RAM in there. That's probably the max on this machine, right? You've maxed out your, your RAM expansion? >> Eli: Well, it, it could take up to eight, but I only spent like $620 bucks on this machine and to get 8 gigs of RAM is costs like $600. >> Molly: Right. >> Eli: So I'm not spending that much on it. >> Molly: Yeah, I mean you can. You, the chat room is suggesting that you try a RAM Booster, which is something I was going to suggest to you. Because usually RAM is the, is the only [inaudible]. Especially on a machine like this where you're not going to be able to swap out the graphics card and it's pretty weak, the integrated graphic. That is in, increasing the RAM is usually the kind of the only way that you can improve performance. And I think RAM Booster is a free download, so you might want to try that just to get a little extra speed out of it. But I can't lie to you. You're not going to be able to suddenly get to game on this thing. Especially not [inaudible], you know? >> Eli: Yeah. >> Molly: Like there are a couple kind of very obscure-sounding external graphics devices. But most of them are discontinued and, you know, they wouldn't be for you anyway. So try RAM Booster. Yeah, the chat room says that is free. And that at least is a, is an attempt to, you know, speed things up just in day-to-day use. And then beyond that I mean, you know, you bought like a middling machine and that's okay. You got a good price on it but I think there's. >> Brian: But it does what it goes. >> Molly: It does what it does. >> Eli: Yeah. I bought it because it was a good price for what I got, and I'm a student so I needed a computer. >> Molly: Right. And what is it. What are. What are you missing out on right now? Like have you. I mean have you done all the kind of speed boost thing? Did you like defrag your drive? Have you reinstalled your operating system? Have you cleared out, you know. >> Eli: Yeah. Well, I installed Windows 7 on a fresh partition. >> Molly: Okay. >> Eli: But I used C Cleaner and I defrag regularly. I do all that stuff. >> Molly: And you've turned off all of the items that load at start-up and all that stuff. >> Eli: No. I can run some games. I'm just trying to figure out how to make them run better because I can run them on some of the lower settings. Like I can run Dune III on a medium setting and it runs 30 [inaudible] per sec. >> Molly: Right. >> Eli: [Inaudible]. >> Molly: Yeah. I mean unfortunately that is the one. That's our biggest complaint about this machine specifically, is that it doesn't have very, a very good graphics. >> Eli: Yeah. >> Molly: Package unfortunately. And there's not much you can. >> Eli: But I will say compared to, you know, Vista if anybody's having problems with that get Windows 7 on there because it made a world of difference. >> Molly: Yeah. Big difference. Well, try RAM Booster and see if that helps out the gaming any. >> Eli: Yeah, I will. Thank you very much. >> Molly: Okay. Sure. >> Brian: Okay? >> Molly: Good luck. >> Brian: Good luck, Eli. Let's see. We've got one more we'll get into here before we break out, and that's going to be Charles who is in Kansas. Has a question about, he's been waiting forever and a day. Charles, welcome to CNET-Live. You've got a problem with a wireless mouse and keyboard I understand? >> Charles: Not really a problem. I just wondered what you guys rec, recommend for something that would have some distance to it. The pretty much the standard ones have a range of about six feet. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Charles: And I want to be able to do it across the room. >> Brian: Okay. So we don't have any reviews on these that I know of. But a company called Gyration is known for making particularly these, these Air Mice that can be used on a table. But can also be used in mid-air with a motion control. And they also have keyboard combinations to go with them. And a number of users in the CNET forums have gotten 35 to 40-foot range. >> Charles: Wow! >> Molly: Wow! >> Brian: So that's good stuff. And they're meant for a 10-foot experience as we call it. The living room experience, so obviously and they go a little bit further than that. And it's well, almost like it's a presentation line of products, but they're made for the home or, or for business. It doesn't really matter. >> Charles: Good. >> Brian: They'll work just fine. So I'm trying to find you some prices on these because they could be expensive. Let me just check this one here which is called the Air Mouse on the right. It's one of the. Right. So $80 bucks list on just the Air Mouse. >> Molly: Whew! >> Brian: Let me try and find you an Air Mouse/keyboard combo here. >> Molly: Well, you might. While you're searching that you might also want to look into Bluetooth options. Because the range on Bluetooth. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: Theoretically is 30 feet. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: And a lot of times, especially if you're using an RF wireless keyboard and mouse, you might be getting interference from other devices in your house. You might be getting. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Charles: That's. >> Molly: I don't know, cordless interference. >> Charles: That's what I was concerned with. >> Molly: Yeah. That is. That is a distinct possibility because that's, that's kind of happening all over, right? Everybody's having Wi-Fi router problems and this and that because of cordless phones and baby monitors and microwaves. All kinds of things can reduce your range there. >> Charles: So if I go Bluetooth it'll get around that. >> Molly: If you go Bluetooth yeah, you should get the full 30-foot range because there's not that much that actually, you know, interferes with Bluetooth. Let's see, the chat room is giving me a link to look at because they are awesome like that. The Logitech Dynovo. Let's see. Let me make sure. >> Brian: Well, I've got. Yeah, I've got one of those I used to use. >> Molly: Yeah. >> Brian: I didn't check it for range. It was a very flat keyboard that's a style. It's a stylized keyboard. >> Molly: It's very stylish, yeah. >> Brian: With really flat keys [inaudible]. >> Molly: And again a little expensive. About $135. >> Brian: Yeah. >> Molly: Also I, you know. I came across one forum where they said try different batteries. They're using NiCad and NiMH batteries. Cripples the range if you put in brand new high-end alkaline. >> Brian: That's right. >> Molly: So that can sometimes increase your range a little bit. >> Charles: Okay. Thanks. >> Molly: So there's that. That's a cheaper option than buying a whole new Bluetooth keyboard. But that sounds like probably the best way to get all that range. >> Charles: Okay. >> Brian: And the other suggestion, which probably isn't much to laugh at, is put a Pringles can over the receiver of. Seriously. It, it'll funnel FM into it if you aim it right and just keep it that way, aimed at where you are. It's, it's worked before. Just saying. >> Charles: Oh, well. Thanks. >> Brian: And you cut the bottom out. It's got to be a tube, you know. And you get this little thingy. >> Molly: And if you try that will you. >> Charles: I like. I like low-tech. >> Brian: You'll send us a picture. >> Molly: Will you please. You will call us back, right? You will send us a picture and tell us. >> Brian: Okay. That's all we ask. >> Charles: Well, if I do that. >> Brian: And I want that many of the chips. You know, I need that many, right? >> Charles: At least [inaudible]. >> Molly: Ooh, yeah. I need the chips too. >> Charles: I want a little quick to say thanks to CNET for making me a winner the last two years. I got a Wii and a, a iPod Touch from you guys. >> Brian: Really? >> Molly: Oh, really? Oh, that's [inaudible]. >> Charles: Yeah. >> Brian: Oh, you know somebody in legal. >> Molly: You're entering every day, right? Because you need to be a three-winner other [inaudible] Patrick. >> Charles: Absolutely I'm entering every day, but I don't count on it. >> Molly: I don't know. It sounds like you could. >> Brian: Did you ever. Did you ever kiss the homecoming queen? >> Charles: Nope. >> Brian: All right. So that's the payback. >> Molly: That's right. >> Brian: You didn't get that, so you get this. >> Molly: That's right. >> Charles: Okay. >> Molly: All right. >> Brian: You get a damn Wii or something instead of kissing her, so. >> Molly: Good luck with these, this year's contests, Charles. >> Brian: Wow. Okay, what a bunch. >> Molly: All right, speaking of winners actually before we wrap we need to announce the winner of Friday's Crave Holiday Giveaway, which was the Netgear Wireless Router actually. I was pretty hot on this router, the dual vent. >> Brian: Wow. >> Molly: The winner is c_renville. When are we going to get. >> Brian: That was, was a name? >> Molly: I would like to get their names. Anyway, congratulations c_. You should have an email from Liz Darvey at CNET in your inbox. Look and see if it's in your junk mail because you have a pretty, actually a pretty sweet wireless router coming your way. >> Brian: A great router coming. A greater router, dude. >> Molly: It looks pretty sweet. I like it. >> Brian: Well, if you're a dude. We don't know because of your c_. >> Molly: Girls like it too. >> Brian: Yeah, okay. So it's time to wrap this show up. Holiday Help Desk comes back at you tomorrow again, 1:00 Pacific, another half-hour show. It's Tom and B.T. tomorrow so that should be a barrel of monkeys. And CNET's camera and camcorder expert Laurie Grunen is going to be joining from the New York office as well. >> Molly: Oh, you do not want to miss that show. >> Brian: Let me tell you, you don't want to miss that one. >> Molly: Uh-uh. >> Brian: It's going to get interesting. >> Molly: Uh-hum. >> Brian: She will take nothing from those two. >> Molly: Let me just. >> Brian: Nothing! >> Molly: I'm calling it like it is. That girl's mean as hell. >> Brian: Okay. >> Molly: If you want to know the truth about cameras. >> Brian: Okay. Okay. >> Molly: You call here tomorrow. >> Brian: She kicked everyone in Canon's office's ass once. >> Molly: She did. >> Brian: I mean everybody. >> Molly: She's a Ninja. >. Brian: Yeah. Love Laurie. Love Laurie. Okay. That's going to be tomorrow at 1:00 Pacific, 4:00 Eastern. You know where to do it. Same place. Bye folks. >> Molly: Bye. ^M00:35:13 [ Music ]