123 Copy DVD Software Free-After-Rebate

If you want to make copies of movie DVDs you have created, or if you want some tools to make your videos into better movies, you may want to take a look at this offer. Office Depot is selling 123 Copy DVD software for $29.99. And there is a $30.00 rebate if you buy it by February 20th, making the final expense nothing save the cost of a stamp.

To get free shipping you would need to combine this with another item to bring the total over $50.00, but you can choose in-store pick-up to saving on shipping.

This easy-to-use copying utility lets you make a backup DVD copy to protect against any future damage such as scratches, ensuring playability. You can also convert your favorite videos from one format to another. Convert DVDs to DivX, XVID, MPEG4 and WMV formats, to watch on your PC, Xbox 360 and other media devices. Video Editor lets you create custom DVD movies. Versatile tools allow you to add or remove music, scenes, etc.

To take a look at this software and see if it would come in handy, click here.

For the rebate form, use this link.

Canon PIXMA™ MP490 Photo All-In-One Printer, Copier, Scanner $29.99 (70% Off)

If you are looking for a small photo printer that can also handle scanning and copying, here's a nice deal today and tomorrow at Office Depot. They are selling the Canon PIXMA™ MP490 Photo All-In-One Printer, Copier, Scanner for $29.99. It retails for $99.99 so you vare getting 70% off.

It features:
- Prints 4" x 6" borderless photos in as fast as 43 seconds
- Prints documents at up to 8.4 images per minute black/4.8 in color
- Print photos with or without a PC
- Flip-up 1.8" color screen lets you preview your photos
- Maximum 4800 x 1200 color dpi resolution delivers clear photos and documents
- Auto Photo Fix II automatically adjusts and corrects your photos

To check it out, click PIXMA™ MP490

Lexar™ 4GB JumpDrive® TwistTurn USB Flash Drive - $7.99

Here's a nice price for a decent amount of memory on a USB drive to hold and move those files between computers. Office Depot is selling the Lexar™ JumpDrive® TwistTurn USB Flash Drive, 4GB, for $7.99. That price even includes next business day delivery.

This drive features a durable hinged jacket rotates to protect the drive and contents. There's no cap to lose. LED activity light blinks during file transfers, providing feedback. It's compatible with both Windows PCs and Macs.

To check it out, click this link.

Lots of Free After Rebate Software at Office Depot®This Week

If you're looking for software, this is a terrific week for deals at Office Depot. They have a lot of titles available that come free after rebate. There are entertainment software titles, educational ones like languages, computer utility and security software and more.

The list is long but it really looks likes it's worth checking out. I know there are people out there who aren't fans of rebates and don't trust them, but I have been using rebates for years and have almost always gotten them without problem -- and in the relatively few instances where there have been problems, the customer service people have stepped up and corrected the issue.

The important thing with rebates is to read and follow the rules to a T, and to make sure you send everything in ahead of the deadline (plus keep copies for the occasions where there is a problem).

So here's a list -- you can shop online and with over $50.00 you can get free delivery:

2009 Card, Mahjongg & Solitaire Game (by Masque) $20.00
Slots WMS Double Pack (Masque) $20.00
$20.00 rebate per title: H635663 (Limit one per product per address)

Corel Photo Album 7 $34.99
$35.00 rebate: 09-81869

LogoDesign Studio Pro (by SummitSoft) $9.99
$10.00 rebate: 536-1

QuickBooks Credit Card Processing Kit 2009 $39.99
$40 rebate: 09-84221 (Limit one per person/company/address per year)
Intuit rebates can generally be presubmitted at www.intuitrebates.com

QuickBooks Simple Start 2009 $79.99
$80 rebate: 09-84201 (Limit one rebate per person, company or address per year)

The following offers require some sort of upgrade or competitive product:

AVG Anti-Virus Anti-Spyware $39.99
$20.00 standard rebate 09-86261
$20.00 upgrader rebate 09-87562

Norton AntiVirus 2009 for 1 User $39.99
$20.00 standard rebate 09-83681
$20.00 upgrader rebate: 08-35687 (continuing*)
Norton rebates can generally be pre-submitted at www.symantecrebates.com

Trend Micro AntiVirus/AntiSpyware 2009 $39.99
$25.00 standard rebate: 09-87782
$15 upgrader rebate 09-87783
Presubmit at www.rebateshq.com

The following rebates combine a standard rebate with an on-box/in-box offer (the in-box/on-box offer is based on information gathered elsewhere so it's not 100% sure these are there) So only get these if you're sure you want the software (you can also return them if they turn out not to have those on-box offers if you don't open the package):

Drive Scrubber (iolo) $29.99
$20.00 standard rebate 09-87141
$10.00 in-box upgrade rebate? 07-91478 as shown here

System Mechanic® 8 (iolo) $49.99
$30.00 standard rebate 09-87142
$20.00 in box upgrade rebate? 07-91479 as shown here

Panda Anti-Virus Pro 3 User $39.99
$30.00 standard rebate 25085
$10.00 in box rebate? 18582 as shown here

Print Artist Gold 22 (Nova) $29.99
$20.00 standard rebate 489-22
$10.00 on box rebate? TAW10 as shown here

Ringtone Media Studio 3 (Avanquest) $19.99
$10.00 standard rebate 492-8
$10.00 on/in box rebate?


With these following language software packs, you can pick one language -- you can't order several and get them all free -- they also rely on an in-box rebate:

Berlitz® Premier Language Titles listed below are $39.99
Berlitz® German Premier
Berlitz® English Premier
Berlitz® English Premier For Mac
Berlitz® French Premier
Berlitz® Mandarin Chinese & Japanese Premier
Berlitz® Italian Premier
Berlitz® Spanish Premier
Berlitz® Spanish Premier For Macintosh
$30.00 rebate: 489-25 (Limit one rebate per household, not per title)
$10.00 in box rebate? ZXX10 as shown here

There are also a couple of Free after Rebate items not in the Office Depot printed advertisement:

Smilebox (Encore) $39.99
$40.00 rebate 09-89141

Art Explosion T-Shirt Factory® Deluxe 3.0 (Nova) $29.99
$20.00 rebate 489-24
$10.00 rebate on box? (continuing*)

McAfee 2009 Internet Security 3-User $69.99
$40.00 standard rebate 0906-89825
$30.00 upgrader rebate 0906-89822

Mcafee 2009 VirusScan Plus 3-user $59.99
$30.00 standard rebate 0906-89824
$30.00 upgrader rebate 0906-89823
Mcafee rebates can generally be pre-submitted at www.mcafeerebates.com

* The "continuing" reference for Norton and Art Explosion means this is a long-term rebate, so it's a no-go if you have submitted these in the past.

That's a lot of software options, available to you for free after sending in rebate documentation. Like I said, I've used rebates often, especially for software, and probably have put a couple of thousands of dollars on my system with no final out of pocket cost except for stamps and sales tax.

I hope you find some items that will come in handy and can save money getting them now.

Office Depot On-Line Clearance Sale Up to 40% Off

Office Depot is running a clearance sale on a wide variety of items -- not just office supplies but all sorts of things for the home, entertainment, travel accessories and more. When you get to the sale, you click on the area of the country where you live -- different items are available for clearance at different places around the country, so I can't tell you for sure what you might find when you click your state.

As examples, I found these items near me (eastern PA):
- Coby® DVD211 Progressive Scan DVD Player $14.99
- Global® MP3 Docking Station With AM/FM Clock Radio $19.06
- Portable Warm And Cold Mini Fridge, Blue $7.99

Who knows what you might find. The sooner you shop, the more items they'll have available. To take a look, click the link below.

McAfee Total Protection 2009 for 1-3 Users, Free After Rebate

A while back I wrote about how computer security software is one place you can save money by shopping diligently and timely. I've been able to maintain my security software for several years at no cost by timing my purchases with free-after-rebate offers. Most of these involve some part of the rebate requiring that you currently use some anti-virus or similar software from either that same company or a competitor. But right now, you can get McAfee Total Protection 2009 at Office Depot free after rebate without even needing to show any existing/competitor product.

Office Depot has this software for $79.99, and there's an $80.00 mail-in rebate that's valid for purchases there by February 28th.

And because the original price is over $50.00, you even get free next-business-day delivery!

This version of the software is licensed for up to three users, so it's great for a home where there are more than one computer.

McAfee Total Protection includes antivirus, antispyware, antispam, antiphishing, two-way firewall, parental controls and identity protection. A powerful website safety advisor is also included that identifies and shields you from risky websites and prevents you from clicking on harmful web links in your browser, email or instant messages. McAfee Total Protection also includes as a bonus McAfee Anti-Theft File Protection, available via free download, that helps secure your valuable files and keep them private. Continuous and automatic updates for one year ensure that your security stays up to date.

And then during the year, you can check again for a time that McAfee has another updated version available free-after-rebate to update the product and get a new year of protection.

To check it out and see if this would be useful in your computing environment, click McAfee Total Protection free-after-rebate offer.

Global® MP3 Docking Station With AM/FM Clock Radio $12.18 After Coupon

Looking for a way to wake up to some of your favorite music? Or maybe you have a teenager who's hard to wake up and want to combine their MP3 player with an alarm clock. Office Depot may have an answer right now. They have a clearance going on the Global® MP3 Docking Station With AM/FM Clock Radio reduced down to $15.23 with free shipping. And if you add coupon code 67427790 during checkout, it drops the price down to $12.18.

This stylish MP3 docking station is compatible with most MP3 players and features an AM/FM radio alarm clock —wake to music, radio or the buzzer! It also charges MP3 players when docked. AC operated.

When going through checkout, on the page where you enter address and payment information, you will see a little button near the top that says 'add coupon.' Click on that and enter 67427790, and when it returns to the payment screen you should see the savings applied.

To take a look and see if this belongs on your (or your teenager's) nightstand, click the picture below.

Coupon at Office Depot - $20 Off $75+ Purchase

If you need to stock up on office supplies or are looking for some non-technology items at Office Depot, here's a coupon link that can save you $20 off your next purchase of $75 or more. It's not valid for technology items, gift cards etc., but for a variety of other needs like paper, storage items, furniture and such, it can save you a nice bit of change.

This code is valid till December 13th, so if you have some office needs, check it out soon. If you prefer to do your shopping in the store, mention coupon code 51119757 and you can get the savings there too.

Get $20 off your purchase of $75 or more at OfficeDepot.com! Shop Today!

Here's the list of restrictions:
1) from Office Depot clearance stores;
2) by contract customers with Store Purchasing or Procurement Cards;
3) of Gift Cards;
4) of any technology or consumer electronic products and accessories or media and software products;
5) of postage stamps;
6) of product protection plans;
7) of HP ink and toner products; or
8) of wireless, satellite, internet, technology, installation, mailing, shipping or third party services.

Coupon for $10 Off $40 Purchase at Office Depot

Looking for some office supplies and want to save a bit? Office Depot has a coupon available that gives you $10 off a purchase of $40 or more. The coupon is printable if you want to go into a store, but is also usable by phone or for on-line purchases.

It's valid until Wednesday, November 26th.

It does have restrictions: no gift cards; no computers, electronics, technology accessories, media or software; no HP ink/toner cartridges; no postage stamps; no wireless services.

But if you want to stock up on paper, non-HP ink or other applicable purchases that you need to get sooner or later anyway, isn't $10 off a nice deal?

Click here for the coupon you can print out. To use it on-line, go to this link and enter the code 21239096 (savings will appear at checkout).

Acer 14.1" Notebook with 2GB Memory, 120GB Hard Drive and SuperMulti Dual Layer DVD Drive $399.99

I try and keep an eye on nice deals for PCs and notebooks in case people are in the market, especially with some kids going back to school. Here's a price under $400 after rebate at Office Depot for an Acer® Extensa laptop that's loaded with some nice features.

The model is the Acer® Extensa EX4420-5239 14.1" Widescreen Notebook Computer With AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-57. It's priced at $524.99 and has a $125.00 rebate until August 16th -- plus shipping is free. That makes the cost a very attractive $399.99 (plus tax) for a much-more-than-bare-bones notebook computer.

It comes with 2GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory, rather than the 1GB you see on many lower-end notebooks. That extra gig can make a big difference in performance especially with the Vista Home Premium that's already loaded on the system.

Some other highlights:
- 14.1" (diagonal) widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) CrystalBright™ LCD screen
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor TK-57 operating at 1.9GHz
- 120GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive
- SuperMulti DVD drive -Double Layer support (reads/writes many format DVDs)
- Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g wireless LAN
- Ethernet network interface (RJ-45)
- 4 USB 2.0 ports
- 1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port (not always found on lower-end laptops)
- 1 S-video port
- Fast infrared port
- Integrated 0.3-megapixel webcam, for video chat and still photos
- 5-in-1 memory card reader for SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, xD
- ExpressCard/54 slot: also supports ExpressCard/34
- ATI Radeon X1250 graphics with up to 896MB shared memory
- High Definition Audio with built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers
...and even more.

Acer is one of the systems I've used and have been pleased with the quality and performance. PC's are such a personal preference that you should pick one that fits your own needs and style, as far as screen size, features and such; but for the money, this one seems to offer quite a bit.

To take a further look and see if this one's for you (or a student in your family), click the image below.

Laptop on Sale at Office Depot Next Week for $329.99 After Rebate

If you're looking for a laptop, whether as a spare, for a student, or if you're using a PC that's a few years old, there's a deal next week that may be worth checking out. Starting Sunday May 18th, Office Depot will be offering the Compaq Presario Notebook Computer with Intel® Pentium® dual-core Mobile processor T2370 for $329.99 after rebate. That's more than half off the original price of $679.99 ($350 total off).

This has to be ordered in the store, you can't get it on-line. They then ship you the PC with any configuration upgrades you might want (see below). The price in the store will be $509.99 and there are $180 Mail-In Savings.

They have 6,000 of these units available nationwide, so they may not last long. If you're interested, the sooner you can get to your Office Depot the better your chance of getting it.

The configuration at this price is:
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 80GB hard drive
• 15.4" Brightview Widescreen
• Reads and writes dual layer DVDs & CDs
• Integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN
Model C700T, Configuration Code 66514876

If you want to upgrade the system, here are some choices and the prices:
Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1, add $35.00
160GB Hard Drive, add $45.00
2GB DDR2 System Memory, add $65.00

Again, this offer isn't valid till Sunday, but if you're in the market, some advance notice might help.

Here's the link for the offer details.

TomTom One GPS $119.99 After Rebate

If you're on the lookout for a basic GPS system by a popular brand name, Office Depot has the TomTom One unit, which retails for $199.99, on sale now for $169.99. In addition, they have a $50 mail-in rebate which makes the final deal a nice $119.99.

The rebate is valid for purchases made until April 12th. Shipping is free as well, so it's a nice deal all around.

The unit has the basic GPS features, and they indicate their satellite augmentation signal improves tracking accuracy. They also have a built-in Help-Me feature to locate nearby emergency services should you have any sort of emergency needs on the road. Unlike the Navigon and Nextar units I listed lately, this GPS does not have text-to-speech capability so it doesn't give you names of the roads, just where to make turns etc. However, for a basic unit, it's not a bad starting point and some people swear by TomTom.

If you want to take a look, click this link.

At the prices of these portable GPS units, there's no excuse for getting lost on the roads anymore!

Portable GPS Systems (Don't Order an In-Dash System When You Buy a Car) - Navigon GPS On Sale Now at $119.99

I've seen a few friends who've gotten the GPS systems built into the car dashboard, and while they look slick, I think you're paying way more than needed and getting a lot less usability. The way portable GPS systems have come to market, you'd be better off not having a system installed in your car but going for one of the smaller portable systems.

With the portable GPS systems, you get to choose a system that meets your needs rather than just taking the kind offered by the car manufacturer. And with the variety of models and levels available, you can find those that fit your needs. For some people, it's important to have text-to-speech, so the device tells you the name of the street onto which to make the turn. For some people, having it speak in a foreign language might be nice (my parents' native tongue isn't English, and perhaps a GPS that can give directions in Polish would be easier for them to use). You can get them with larger or smaller screens, depending on how important the visual is, compared with getting the directions in audio.

But having a portable one also gets you some additional flexibility. When you travel, you can bring your unit along and have it available in a rental car. First it saves money from having to rent one from the rental company (if they offer it). But it also lets you travel using one with which you're already familiar instead of wasting time learning how the rental company's unit works. After all, do you really want to spend a part of your vacation figuring out how to program a different GPS to find your destination?

A portable unit can even be used when walking around a town. If you're walking through a neighborhood and want to find out the location of, say, the nearest Chinese restaurant, most units have lots of points of interest loaded and can give you their address and distance from your current position. The GPS in your dashboard can't help you while you're taking a stroll.

As maps and points of interest get updated, the portable units allow for simpler updating with the new information, something you can do at your own PC. I'm not sure how an in-dash GPS would be updated but I'd be surprised if it's quite as straightforward (or if it's something you'd need to have the dealer do).

Finally, the best reason to stick with the portables is the price. They've come down a lot, and since there is always competition not just between the manufacturers but also between electronics stores, sale prices will often be available.

Right now there is a sale at Office Depot on the Navigon 2100 GPS system for $119.00. This is the system I purchased last Black Friday (the 2100 system on sale is the basic GPS and has an option to also subscribe to traffic reports so the device can suggest alternate routing). I've been very pleased with the performance of my Navigon. The GPS positioning has been accurate. It includes text-to-speech, so it tells me that a turn/maneuver will be coming up and state the name of the road onto which I'm making the turn. At major highway intersections, it includes a visual representation of what the road signs will look like (which can be nice if you're traveling on unfamiliar highways and want a more accurate idea of which lane to follow). It's small and easy with which to travel. Occasionally it is quirky (it always indicates it will take longer from my home to a destination because the two roads near my house are programmed in as 10 mph instead of 35 mph) but I really like this one. If you're looking for a fairly basic unit that still has a good feature range, I'd say the deal at Office Depot is a nice price. Here's the link for that offer. If you're closer to another store such as Staples (where the unit is currently priced at $199.99) you can ask them to do a price match.

I also own a Mio 310x system (that was my first GPS, and I got it at about half retail doing a price match at Staples with a coupon too). This one also has a nice feature set, although it doesn't have text-to-speech (it's just says 'turn right in 50 feet'). However, this one has 26 language choices (Italian, Polish, Greek, so many more... even English with a British accent), it includes a MP3 player so you can listen to your choice of music in between it giving you directions, it's customizable with how you want distances described (yards/feet, kilometers/meters). At the time I bought it, users complained about the maps being out of date, but Mio released an updated map to solve the problem.

The 310x is no longer their base model (although you can sometimes still find them on eBay). They now sell the Mio 220 at the base end and the 230 as the step up with text-to-speech. I haven't tested these but I would presume much of the functionality of the 310x has been kept in these newer models.

Other popular names of portable GPS systems are Garmin, Tom Tom and Magellan. They all have their own followings, and each one seems to have its own advantages. That's the best part of shopping for a portable unit. You can really compare the models, see which best fits your personal needs and then check various stores and sales to see how to get your own best price.

Quicken Starter Edition Free After Rebate

Update October 14th - CompUSA has expired but Office Depot is now offering this free after rebate until October 20th. Here's the link to the current offer.

Quicken is one of the leading names in financial recordkeeping software, and CompUSA is offering the Starter level software free after rebate.

It's a $30 software package, and there's a $30 rebate valid for purchases until October 13th. It's good for in-store or delivery purchases.

Here's the link.

This level of software is meant for new users to Quicken, so if that fits you, why not be quick and take advantage of the rebate?

Video Software Free-After-Rebate (and a small step gets you free shipping too)

Office Depot is carrying VideoShow Expressions software free-after-rebate until September 8th. The price is $49.99 and there are two rebates which combine for $50. This software lets you edit and enhance your films with effects, titles, sharpening and so on.

Here's the link.

Now normally you would have to pay shipping because the purchase price is just under $50. So just find a small item you might be able to use (paper clips, rubber bands) and add it to the order so the shipping becomes free! You'll probably save more than the cost of the new item.

If you like playing with video you've taken, here's a way to get your hands on some software that might help make it more fun, and have the fun of ending up paying nothing when all is said and done!

Office Depot Coupon - $10 off $25 Purchase - Through July 15

Here's a link for a coupon that may be worthwhile if you need to stock up on some supplies... Office Depot is offering $10 off a purchase of $25 or more. It has some restrictions, such as not valid on technology items, HP ink, photocopies and some more, but it still may come in handy if you need to stock up on paper, supplies, other inks or the like -- a chance to save up to 40% and if you combine it with other sale items it can balloon to bigger savings. It expires 7/15 so use it soon if you have a chance.

Free-after-Rebate Stapler Today/Tomorrow

Found this deal at Office Depot... good only for in-store purchases. May not be worth a special trip (what with the price of gas) but if you're going out shopping anyway and are near an Office Depot, you might want to pop in.

They have a Swingline Stapler for $9.99 and there is a rebate of $9.99 for purchases made until July 7th. The sku for the stapler is 517136 and you can look at it here (but don't order it on-line -- the rebate is for in-store purchases only).

Funny thing is that even their website doesn't make a big deal of the rebate, you have to really look. But here's a link to the rebate form.

If a sturdy stapler would come in handy, this seems to fit the bill.

Price-Matching Policies, or How I Saved $75 on this PC!

If you look at the policies of many stores, one of the hidden benefits is the concept of price-matching. They will meet or beat any price if you show them proof a competitor is selling the same item at a lower cost. Some will even refund the difference if you buy something and then find a lower price elsewhere. It's a way of reversing the risk, making it a bit easier for the purchaser to go ahead with buying, having a little bit of 'insurance' against finding a better deal later and regretting it.

I saw a suggestion a few months back on a webpage board about asking for price-matching. I used it and got a store to drop the price an extra $75 on the laptop I'm using to post this blog. Here's what happened:

I had gotten to the point of being ready to upgrade my old PC and started researching what make/model/specs would meet my needs. I had found one laptop that seemed to offer good bang for the buck, with a 17" display, good processors and hard drive as well as brand reputation. Then looking through the Sunday paper one week I found that two retailers, Circuit City and Office Depot, were offering a sale on that model. Both of them had an ending price of $699 but the forms they took were different. Circuit City simply had a $699 price, while Office Depot offered an $849 price with a $150 rebate.

My normal way of thinking would have been to go to Circuit City as it would be less money out of pocket, less in sales tax and none of the rebate paperwork. But the price match suggestion I had read triggered me to try something else. The suggestion had been to ask in this kind of situation if the price-match policy for the store would be matched to the selling price at the other store. In other words, if Circuit City's price was $699, would Office Depot match that price? And the item would still be valid for rebate so the final cost would be lower.

The poster who made that suggestion said his local Office Depot had said yes to this kind of situation but that they knew him. One of the things about price-match is that it is largely at the interpretation and discretion of each store manager.

I figured it couldn't hurt to try. The two stores has locations about a mile apart so I wouldn't burn a lot of time or gas if I needed to go to both. So, ads in hand, I set off for Office Depot. I found the PC, double-checked the specs, model and price and then got some sales help. When I said I had a question about price-matching, the department manager came over and I asked if they would sell me the PC that day at the price offered by Circuit City (I told him I was ready to buy that day). He only took a few moments and then said he would do the price-match. I was thrilled. To get the better price and the rebate -- best of both worlds, right?

A couple of minutes later though, he returned with some bad news-- the store manager wouldn't do a full price-match because of the rebate offer, but they still would knock $50 off the price. Sounded good, but I figured it was an opening to negotiate a bit. I asked them if they would do $75. The store manager agreed, and voila! I had a computer + $75 less than I would have had to spend otherwise (actually about $71 with the sales tax difference).

I figure the store is still making money on the sale (they wouldn't agree otherwise) and I walked away a bit happier. I think it helped that I tried to create a win-win with my offer -- if they accepted it they would get my business on the spot. So my tip for the day is to check around for price-matching policies when you are looking for big-ticket items, the kinds that might be offered by a variety of stores. Know that it will be up to the store personnel's discretion, so use an approach that is positive and gives them a reason to want to match. And don't be afraid to at least ask.