len_mullen

Bring a friend and it won't matter.

Amazon has updated their listing for a TiVo Roamio OTA indicating it will be in stock on 11/26/2015 and can be pre-ordered now. The Roamio/OTA is my wife’s favorite DVR. We don’t love the TiVo ‘paradigm’, but do like that it streams Amazon Instant Video/Prime, Vudu, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, MLB.tv, and Plex. It’s truly a single box solution for OTA first cord cutters. At $299.99 with four tuners and a 500g disk, it is actually less expensive than the DVR+. If you want to have a TiVo in a second or third room, you can buy a TiVo Mini for ~$130 or less. The mini shares tuners and disk with a four/six tuner TiVo. My caution is that TiVo makes their money on monthly and annual fees. These Lifetime offers are fleeting and often prohibitively expensive. If you get a single DVR and a couple Minis, you may feel compelled to replace a broken fee-free TiVo with one which has a monthly or annual fee. I recommend you buy at least two for this reason. If you cannot decide between a TiVo and a DVR+, post a comment below and we can figure things out together. (I have three Roamios and three DVR+s.)

Mine arrived this afternoon. Thank you!

Only bad doorbusters will keep people from shopping!

The threat is that we kick their a$$es if they try to cut in line!

My favorite DVR is steeply discounted on Black Friday and you do not have to leave home to get one. Channel Master’s DVR+ will be on sale for $199 from 4-8 am Pacific Time on Black Friday. (That’s 7-11 am for those of us on the east coast.) That’s a pretty good deal. Buy a pair for $299. That’s a GREAT deal! You will need to buy a disk for these, but 1 t usb disks are going for $50 these days, so you can shelve a $200 DVR with no monthly fees. While the DVR+ is primarily an OTA DVR (which requires no internet or phone connection), plugging in to the internet enables additional features like an Enhanced Program Guide and Linear OTT or Channel Master TV (CMTV). The enhanced program guide extends the length of the guide from a few days to a couple weeks while adding additional information. CMTV streams media from the internet to your television continuously. In other words, words select a CMTV station and watch television continuously until you change the channel. I like Bloomberg TV, ABC News, WeatherNation TV, Biz TV, WGN TV, The Hunt Channel, Foody TV, Outdoor Cooking Channel, VevoTV-hits, RT Television, RT Documentaries, and Catholic TV (I’m not Catholic, but I enjoy some of the programming). WeatherNation TV, on the other hand, is great when the weather is on my mind. I actually seek out that channel regularly. They have recently added some new channels. I will be paying attention to DRTV (Doctor TV). I’ve stopped for a movie or a show on Backlight TV a few times. Got caught up in that. Stream Shift TV has been running a video called Blokes TV which is a bunch of Aussies riding dirt bikes across Southeast Asia, eating ‘happy pizzas’, and hanging out in strip joints. (It’s more entertaining than it should be.) Rivals is a good channel — when something is on. I have watched a couple college football games on Rivals. TWIT TV is terrific background noise. The DVR+ is the DVR built for cord cutters and is worthy of your consideration next Friday.

I like the Fire TV @ $75 and the stick @ $25.

where do you see this?

are they good?

I would not get a k-cup brewer for anyone who has not expressly shared a desire to own one. k-cups are expensive, refillables are inconvenient, the smaller brewers are not especially convenient to use, and a lot of people think they are an environmental problem. In other words, there are a lot of reasons for a recipient not to like your gift. I own three. It took me a long time to get my first one (see above). I like them a lot. I would try to avoid the 2.0 models just because of the 'copy protection' on the device. You can defeat this, but don't expect a giftee to do that. I did try the refillable cups. Gave them to my sister last night. She is willing to do that. I am not. I did a lot of research and math and jumped on a good deal at staples back in 2014. All three of mine are the OfficePro model. I selected this model because most pro reviews claimed the commercial quality pump would last a lot longer than the pump in the home brewers. So far, so good. I also think the reservoir makes the OfficePro much more convenient to use. I bought all three at Staples at times when stackable promotions reduced the cost below $40. For instance (my first)... Obviously, not helpful for you except that you should pay attention to sale prices, coupons, and rebates at Staples. Note that Easy Rebates do not require a UPC, so box looks good for gifting. There is a long time until Christmas and last year Staples had the OfficePro for $108.07 on BF. They had $15 off $100 and a 25% off breakroom stackable coupons. There was a $20 gift card after easy rebate, so $50ish net. Of course, the cost of the k-cups can quickly gobble up any savings on the brewer. k-cups can cost more than $1 per cup. While this is inexpensive compared to Starbucks or even Dunkin Donuts, you can brew very good coffee for ~$0.30/cup in a conventional brewer. Because you are looking at these as gifts, you should not assume the recipient will be interested in bulk purchasing via Amazon or ebay. I have found Staples once again to be the most reasonable place to purchase 18-48 count boxes of my favorite cups. They allow coupons and discounts on the k-cups (kohls no longer allows this) and you can use those shop discover gift cards for an additional 20% discount. I like Caribou blend. This morning, 18 cups is $11.99 on Staples.com and in store. That's $0.66/cup -- twice as much as Dunkin Donuts from a Mr. Coffee. That is about the best you can do without jumping through hoops. If you know someone who covets a single serve coffee brewer, make sure the brewer is easy to use and durable. Be aware that some people (http://www.killthekcup.org) think the k-cup is destroying the planet. Don't expect your gift recipient to jump through hoops to save on coffee (refillables and discounts). Do not expect someone who goes to a high end coffee shop to find the k-cup experience to be just as good. Otherwise, sure these make great gifts. If you just want a recommendation, here you go... http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/black-friday-2529-KeurigK145OfficeProBrewer.html It's going to be $99.99 and you get a $20 gift card via Easy Rebate.

My Xbox One Plan of attack... I will be watching Staples for an online %off coupon between now and BF. I have $85 in rewards plus $125 in gift cards to apply to their Microsoft Xbox One Halo: The Master Chief Collection Bundle which is listed as in stock for $349. I like the Dell Home Gears of War Ultimate bundle with Fallout 4 and an extra controller for $299.99 or the Walmart 1 hour guaranteed $299.99 Gears of War Bundle with the $30 gift card. Sam's Club has the Gears of War Bundle for $299.99 and you can get $100 off $300 if you open a credit card account.

Best Buy PlayStation 4 500GB Star Wars Battlefront Bundle $349.99 Sam's Club PlayStation 4 500GB Star Wars Battlefront Bundle (Online Only) $389.00 Sam's Club PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Bundle $299.00 GameStop PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Bundle $299.99 Kohl's PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Bundle $299.99 Target PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Bundle $299.99 Toys R Us PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Bundle $299.99 Walmart PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Collection Bundle $299.00 Best Buy PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Collection Bundle $299.99 GameStop PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Collection Bundle $299.99 Best Buy Samsung 40" 1080p LED HDTV & Xbox One LEGO Movie Bundle $499.98

http://img-w.zeebox.com/images/proxy/cb356d5663fa65c12a4e1c71c856e473283b6a88:preview?src=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.inquisitr.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F04%2FPS4-VS-Xbox-One-Sheldon-Cooper-Of-Big-Bang-Theory-Ends-The-Debate-By-Choosing-The-Xbone...-Sort-Of-665x385.jpg Mission Impossible -- parents buying video games for kids! Even future Nobel Peace Prize winner Sheldon Cooper is stymied. There are a lot of factors to consider. We all care about the price of the console, games, and accessories, but there is also the cost of online gaming services -- a bill you will pay every month for the life of your console. We know it matters what console your kid's friends have and what games they are playing, but does it matter what which console is most popular in the world? US? The answer is yes. Obviously, game selection matters. So does 'interoperability' and backwards compatibility. If you have more than one kid, split screen may matter as much. To my surprise, the PS4 is crushing the Xbox One in total sales and monthly sales... http://www.vgchartz.com/articles_media/images/vs-may-global-2.png http://www.vgchartz.com/articles_media/images/vs-may-global-1.png This is a funny statistic. If Microsoft were dominating sales, I would be concerned that Sony would be leaving the business as they have left other unprofitable segments. Microsoft is going nowhere and playing catch-up has benefited consumers by driving features (backwards compatibility) and price. Also, the two are very competitive in the US while Sony really dominates in Europe and Asia, so US sales may be a secondary concern for Sony. http://www.vgchartz.com/articles_media/images/october-2015-sales-4-2.png http://www.vgchartz.com/articles_media/images/october-2015-sales-4-1.png Most agree that the PS4 is slightly better hardware, but not many will notice except when the consoles are playing the same games side-by-side. Exclusives are games which are released for one platform only. Both consoles have impressive lists of exclusives. The PS4 exclusives include God of War, Uncharted, and Ratchet and Clank plus upcoming Until Dawn, Horizon: Zero Dawn, No Man's Sky, and The Last Guardian. Xbox One exclusives include Halo, Gears of War, Killer Instinct,Banjo-Kazooie, Forza, Quantum Break, Crackdown 3, Scalebound, and Fable. Microsoft is also bringing hundreds of the best Xbox 360 titles to the Xbox One via emulation. If you have a library of Xbox 360 games, many may be free to play on the Xbox One. A lot of the fun of gaming is social and even when the same game is available for multiple platforms, it's rare that players with one console can engage players with another console. Minecraft is hoping to change this and Microsoft has announced that it will be possible to play between PCs and Xbox Ones. Given that the PS4 hardware is very similar to modern PCs and the Xbox One, there is no reason to believe, someday, separate but equal game will be a bad memory. Not in my lifetime, though. How long before Minecraft players on the PS4 can join the fun? Microsoft owns the Minecraft IP and its developers, so... Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service is $60/yr. Sony's PlayStation Plus is $50/yr. You'll need a subscription to play games online. For me, PC interplay and backwards compatibility make the Xbox One a very attractive console, but having the same console as your kid's BFF or posse is probably most important. This is one of those gifts which really should not be a surprise. Ask your kid which of his friends have each, which friends are getting one under the tree (they all talk about this), and which games they play. That's the console you want to get -- don't forget the right games! If you have a posse under your roof or your kid's friends get together to play games, you can forgo the cost of online services and get a console with great co-op play. The split screen is fading, but each console still has some great co-op/same tv games... Star Wars Battlefront is a much anticipated game which offers split screen on both consolesRayman Legends offers same screen co-op on the PS4 and Xbox OneCall of Duty Advanced Warfare has split screen on the Xbox One and PS4 You can research your favorite game's co-op capabilities here... http://www.co-optimus.com/system/22/playstation-4.html then search YouTube for video demonstrations. Good luck!

Not excited about deals on the new streamers except for the new Fire TV, but there are a couple no brainer deals for those who stream or think they may want to try streaming... The Roku SE is selling for $25 at Kohls, Best Buy, and Walmart. This Roku has a slower processor than the current Roku 2/3 models which are slower than the new Roku 4, but it has standard RCA composite out for older televisions. Great stocking stuffer. The composite cable is not included, but get one on ebay for $0.99 shipped! Roku has great apps for Vudu, the Simple DVR, and the TabloTV DVR. Amazon's Fire TV Stick is $25 at Best Buy and Staples. It's faster than the Roku SE and supports a voice remote. Two features make it a no brainer. Captive portal makes it easier to use hotel wifi with the Fire TV Stick. Kodi support plus FireStarter allows the FTV Stick to easily slip in and out of a slick Media Center mode with virtually unlimited programming. Fire TV is $75 at Staples. That's about half the price of the new Apple and Roku streamers. With wired or wireless game controllers, the Fire TV is a terrific, inexpensive video game console that also happens to be an awesome streamer. The new model is more powerful, adds 4k support, Alexa integration, and 801.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO, for better Wi-Fi video streaming. Like the Fire TV Stick, this model supports Kodi and FireStarter. Walmart is going to have the 1st gen Chromecast for $20. Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, and Costco will all have the 2nd gen Chromecast at two for $50. Happy streaming!

I have an HP CP2025DN color laser which has not been powered on for more than a year -- despite the fact that I have three complete sets of toner carts in stock. It's a workhorse and makes nice prints, but is much more expensive to operate than the MX882 that sits beside it. It uses more electricity and the toner carts are $100 per set via Meritline and $500 per set via Staples. The MX882 cost $60 at Staples a long time ago. We bought it as a scanner because it had an ADH and can scan two sided documents unattended. It's also a fax and does edge to edge photos. We started printing with it when ink cartridges dropped to $0.75 on Meritline. We pay $0.75 per ink cartridge, print, then recycle the cartridges at Staples for $2 each. In other words, I am literally printing money! The MX882 is no longer being made, but the MX922 has replaced it. The math is not quite as good with the MX922, but it is still a good deal. It's $69.99 on BF, has been $79.99 recently, and is $99.99 starting Sunday... http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/black-friday-2621-CanonPixmaMX922WirelessAllinOne.html The ink is $17/set of six via Meritline, but is routinely discounted via a code in their daily email. The last set I purchased was $17 for two sets -- $1.42/cartridge even if you do not recycle. http://www.meritline.com/canon-pgi-250xl-plus-cli-251xl-ink-compatible-high-yield-with-new-chip-combo-6-2-black---p-124409.aspx?strcoup=MLCV15MN&dealid=26&sectionid=N755&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter151015&hq_e=el&hq_m=3166285&hq_l=58&hq_v=0b317170b4 Product Quantity Sub Total: Canon PGI-250XL + CLI-251XL Compatible High Yield Inkjet Cartridges With New Chip Combo: Two Pgi Black and One Each of Cli Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow-2 Sets (12 Cartridges) SKU:125-454-002, Ships from U.S warehouse. Most customers receive within one week. Sold by Meritline.com 1 $26.95 Subtotal $26.95 Coupon(MLCV15MN): -$10.00 Shipping (Ground Service): $0.00 Tax: $0.00 Total: $16.95 The recycling thing required a Staples rewards membership. Staples Rewards members receive $2 back in Staples Rewards for every eligible cartridge recycled in person at a Staples store or online at staples.com/rewards. Base members can earn $2 back on up to 10 recycled cartridges per calendar month and up to 20 for Plus & Premier members, if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days. Ink Recycling rewards are issued monthly, separately from the standard Staples Rewards statement. Ink resellers and remanufactures are strictly prohibited from earning Ink Recycling Rewards. Assuming a base membership, even if you have to buy ink every time you recycle to meet the 180 day requirement, you will be paying $34+$17 for 15 cartridges and getting $30 back in rewards. That is a net cost of $21 for two sets of ink plus four cartridges.

yes

This would be the worst reason to spend on a 4k television. Going forward, sets will be better and less expensive. I would also argue that it costs more than $200 to move from comparable 1080p to 4k sets. When you go to buy your television, set a budget and buy the one that looks best with the features you want at that price. If that set happens to be 1080p, don't fret. When you are looking at sets, watch television not the demos they are running. I used to bring a couple BDs with me. The guys in the Magnolia room knew me by name. A few times, I have purchased two televisions because I was not sure which I liked better. I always have my wife and kids independently rate the sets side by side after I fine tune everything. It sounds crazy, but I have a house full of fantastic televisions at all price points.

Most NFL games are broadcast over the air and carried on cable. I do not think streaming will help with that. Sling TV and HBO work on Fire TV and the Roku. If you are going to subscribe to Sling TV, check out their promotions. You can get $50 off a Roku or a free Roku Stick or $50 off a Fire TV or a free Chromecast with a three month subscription. For BF, Best Buy and Kohls have a Roku SE (which looks like a Roku 1 to me) for $25, Best Buy and Staples have the Fire TV Stick for $25 and Staples has the Fire TV for $75.

Be sure to give FireStarter a try. Even if you are not interested in installing Kodi, you can use it to quick launch a favorite app like Netflix.

Best Buy: VIZIO 65" 2160p LED Smart 4K Ultra HDTV $999.99

Sams has posted a link to their ad... http://catalog.samsclub.com/blackfriday/app.php?RelId=6.5.7.3.2 Some of the deals are appealing... - $99.88 Garmin 55LM bundle - $89.98 Fitbit Charge - $199.98 3600 watt generator - $599 8000 watt generator - $299.98 49" 1080p LED - $199.98 43" 1080p LED

We're spoiled because everything has been on sale everyday for so long. Make your list and watch the ads. If your item comes up at, near, or below the BF price, avoid the crush! It's late enough now that you can price match, return/rebuy, or otherwise adjust prices.

Fire TV Stick: the Little Streamer that Could I bought two Fire TV Sticks at launch for ~$25. Hadn't really played with them because I have been busy with a fleet of DVRs and my Plex server. Last month I read an article on AFTVNews.com about a new release of FireStarter and decided to give Kodi a try. I'm glad I did. After a short installation process that did not require me to root or otherwise compromise my FTV Stick, I was enjoying web sourced media on my television. https://freetvforme.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/kodi-for-ftv/ One of the things I like about the FTV Stick is that it can be powered using the USB port on my television. Since the remote is RF, there is no hint of the device from the front of the television. The full size Fire TV is faster than the FTV Stick and can support devices on the USB port. It's a great, inexpensive game console. Staples has the Fire TV for 25% off on Black Friday. Happy streaming!

Maybe not, but there are some good deals... - $99.99 for a 24" LED is a good deal. I will probably get one. - $74.99 for the Fire TV is a good deal - $99.99 for the K145 is a good deal -- that's $79.99 after gift card (use 25% off on k-cups) - $25 Chromecasts if you buy two - $69.99 MX922 takes cheap ink from Meritline

You enter information from your receipt on a web form, so there is nothing to mail in. Otherwise, no difference.