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coupon posts

Filed under: OS Updates, Microsoft

Windows 7 upgrade coupons coming, could be monkey's paw for XP netbooks

With the drop date quickly approaching, the big OEMs are gearing up for Windows 7.

Acer, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and Shuttle have all announced their plans to begin shipping upgrade coupons with systems that are preloaded with Windows Vista. Coupons will be valid from June 26th until January 31, 2010. The conversation with your local shopkeeper will go something like this:

"The Windows Vista laptop is cursed"

"That's bad."

"But it comes with a free upgrade coupon for Windows 7."

"That's good!"

"The coupon is also cursed."

"Can I go now?"

While it's certainly good news for consumers, it could be a punch in the face for netbook sales. We've been told that WIndows 7 runs great on netbooks - heck, my MSI Wind was running the version that published Downloadsquad's first hands-on with the new OS.

What's the big deal? No upgrade coupon for Windows XP to 7, of course. And not many netbook makers have been stupid ballsy enough to ship Vista on the diminutive machines.

Since we've also been told that Windows 7 netbooks are right around the corner, this could definitely cause sales to slow significantly.

[via PC World]

Filed under: Business, Web services, Google

$10 free from Google Checkout - which stores are participating?

Google Checkout Promo Stores
Awhile back we reported that Google is really trying to push its Google Checkout payment processing service by offering a $10 coupon to everyone who signs up. They're still offering the coupon, and they've even dropped the if-you-spend-$30-or-more requirement, and today I decided to bite the bullet and grab my sweet, sweet coupon. But I was a little annoyed that Google doesn't tell you up front, before you sign up, exactly which stores are participating in the promotion. The promotion page just lists fifteen of them, and says "And many more!"

Where am I going with all this? Well, since I did bite the bullet, I thought I'd satisfy everyone's curiosity and list all of the web stores that are participating in Google Checkout's $10 coupon promotion (Google Checkout has many more stores under its umbrella, but not all of them are participating in the promo).

In case you're wondering, I found the whole Google Checkout process really streamlined and painless--much easier than PayPal, far easier than most stores' built-in checkout system. Now that I've finally signed up, I'll be using it whenever it's available.

Anyway, see the full list--234 stores by my count--after the jump!

Read more →

Filed under: Internet, News, Windows, Macintosh, Blogging, Windows Mobile, Web services, Shareware

NewsGator announces end-of-year sale

NewsGator announces end-of-year saleNewsGator, the cross-platform gurus of all things RSS and blogging, is feeling a bit festive this holiday season, as they have announced an end-of-year sale on all their products. This forum post has the short 'n sweet details: through the end of December, using coupon code NGHoliday at checkout will score you $10 off any of their products. As most of them are sitting around the $30 price point, this could also loosely be considered a 30% off sale - not a bad deal if you ask me.

Filed under: OS Updates, News, Windows, Microsoft

Free or discounted Vista upgrade, a good stocking stuffer

VistaEveryone who buys a PC after October 28th (as the rumor goes) will get either free or discounted Vista next year. Press releases indicate that anyone who buys a new computer with Windows XP Pro, XP Tablet PC, or XP 64-bit edition will be able to upgrade for free, and only those with Windows XP Home will have to pay a reduced rate (merely $49 fro Basic, $79 for Premium) to upgrade to Vista. This is good news both for consumers, for holiday computer sales, and for Microsoft also. Heck, I am even much more likely to buy a PC ready for Vista, knowing that I won't have to bite another bullet next year and pay full Vista price. Microsoft so far is not disclosing details except that they are "working with partners."

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, Social Software

Dealplumber: a community-driven bargain site

It seems like everything is going 'social' these days, and the tech bargain and coupon industry is the latest to join the list. Introducing: dealplumber, "a community-driven deals site that delivers the best deals and coupons from across the internet". Almost everything you might expect from a 'web 2.0-meets-discounts' site is here, including tags (complete with a cloud), comments, saving coupons, affiliate commission sharing, different views for deal lists (list - with pictures - and a grid view), RSS feeds and more.

As the first post in the dealplumber blog states, one of their main goals is to act as a unifying location for all deals on the web, instead of leaving the job to what they feel (and I agree) is a segmented toolbox of sites that don't seem to communicate or cooperate with each other, which ends in a lose-lose situation for everyone.

Being that they went public just this past Monday, I think they're already off to a great start. A click on their 'latest coupons' section gives me a list comprised of a laptop rebate, a Dreamhost discount, a deal on Adidas shoes and even an AVON bargain. I honestly never thought I'd see beauty product discounts next to rock-bottom RAM deals. Still, during my initial signup and browsing through the site, I find myself wishing for a couple of features, specifically: RSS feeds for all tags, as well as a more concrete system that tells the shopper who a deal is offered by. But hey: they can't reveal their entire hand this early in the game, right?

Like I said though: all things considered, dealplumber is off to a rockin' start, and they have already earned themselves a place at the top of my list of shopping sites. It'll be interesting to see how this social-bargain site evolves in the months to come.

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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