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CNET’s Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.

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TigerDirect

Hey, is it Black Friday already? Sure feels like it, because…

For a limited time, and while supplies last, TigerDirect has the HKC Innoview 24-inch LED monitor for $79.99, plus $9.21 for shipping. That’s after redeeming a $20 mail-in rebate (PDF) — but even at $99.99, this is an amazing buy. Typically a 24-inch monitor will run you $150, minimum.

HKC? Nope, me either. But I’m also the owner of a never-heard-of-it brand TV that has been spectacular. (Legend has it that all flat-panel displays come from the same three factories — not likely, but sometimes I wonder.)

Anyway, the Innoview is a 23.6-inch (so 24-inch “class”) display with a 1,920×1,080-pixel native resolution, 5ms response time and meaningless but impressive-sounding 3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

Defying my expectations, it also includes both VGA and HDMI inputs, along with stereo speakers. That means you can use it as a desktop monitor or standalone “TV” when paired with something like a Blu-ray player or game console.

I don’t love the one-year warranty — Acer monitors, for example, usually come with three-year coverage — and there aren’t a ton of user reviews, though the five that are there average out to 4.6 stars, which is encouraging.

I know many of you seriously dislike rebates, which I certainly get. (This one, FYI, comes in the form of a prepaid Amex card.) But if you’re in the market for a seriously roomy screen to sit on your desk, it’s really hard to argue with a final price tag that’s under $90. I’ve never seen a 24-inch monitor for less.

Bonus deal: Game time! Over the years there have been some great Tomb Raider games, and there have been some clunkers. Here’s your chance to try them all on the cheap: Steam has the Tomb Raider Collection for just $15.99, a price that includes all 11 games starring the thrill-seeking archeologist Lara Croft. You get everything from the original to the 2013 reboot, plus the often-overlooked but excellent Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

Bonus deal No. 2: Winter is coming! Echoing Vudu’s deal from last week, Amazon is offering “Game of Thrones” seasons 1-4, for 67 cents per episode. Unfortunately, these are still the SD versions, though if you’re buying them to view on a phone or tablet, that’s probably okay. Also unfortunate: There’s no way to buy entire seasons; you have to grab each episode, one at a time. At least it’s worth the effort; the show has rightly earned mountains of Emmys.

Bonus deal No. 3: Calling all Mac users! Digiarty Software is giving away three handy utilities: MacX Video Converter Pro, Cleverfiles DiskDrill and Eltima SyncMate, all in exchange for your email address. Don’t feel left out, Windows users: SharewareOnSale has WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro for free as well.

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seiki-24-inch-monitor.jpg
Not much to look at until it’s actually plugged into something.
Seiki

These days many of us spend our computing time hunched over a smallish laptop or even smaller tablet. But for maximum productivity (and comfort), you need a big ol’ monitor. Doesn’t matter what it’s connected to — desktop, laptop, Chromebook — just get one.

Like this: For a limited time, and while supplies last, TigerDirect has the Seiki SE24FA01-R 24-inch desktop monitor for $139.99 shipped. And after you redeem a $40 mail-in rebate (PDF), you end up with a final price of $99.99.

Let’s all agree that rebates are less than ideal, as they require two things most people hate: paperwork and waiting. This particular rebate is issued in the form of an American Express prepaid card (which is effectively as good as cash), and should reach your mailbox in 8-10 weeks.

However, you can fill out the necessary forms online, then just print and mail them along with the UPC from the box. What’s more, if you’re willing to sacrifice $4, you can opt for the “no-wait rebate” option, which gets your rebate into the mail in 5-7 business days. So now your final price is $103.99 — still awfully good.

Oh, right, guess I should talk about the actual monitor. It’s actually 23.5 inches, which I guess qualifies as “24-inch class” but I won’t quibble too much about half an inch.

As any monitor of this size should, it offers a 1,920×1, 080-pixel native resolution, LED backlighting and a 5ms response time. Of particular interest, it includes the “big three” inputs: VGA, DVI and HDMI. You also get stereo speakers, so you could pair this directly with something like a game console or Blu-ray player.

There aren’t a ton of reviews to be found; two of the three on TigerDirect’s product page are very positive, while the third gripes about the lack of drivers and 60Hz refresh rate — a bit odd given that drivers are rarely required for a monitor, and the vast majority run at 60Hz.

My take: If you spend a lot of time working at a desk, nothing beats a big monitor. Even at $140, this is a solid deal. But if you don’t mind waiting on a rebate, it rises to “killer” status.

Bonus deal: Any mobile charger can top off a phone or tablet, but precious few have enough juice (or the proper outputs) to handle a laptop. And those that do can cost upwards of $150 or more. Not today: StackSocial has the Intocircuit Power Castle 26,000mAh mobile charger for $84.99 shipped. That’s only $15 off the regular price, but it’s also way less than what you’d pay for most laptop-friendly external batteries. The slim, metallic power brick features one USB and one DC output, plus loads of tips for various laptop models. Do check the compatibility list, though, as well as the more detailed product description on Amazon’s listing. (Even if your laptop isn’t listed, the Power Castle may well work with it.) Also note that shipping can take 1-2 weeks.

You need one of these. You just do.
iClever

Bonus deal No. 2: The other barrier to charging your devices on the go? Never enough ports. For a limited time, Hisgadget (via Amazon) has the iClever six-port USB charging station for $18.99. That’s after applying coupon code WBRDD3GY at checkout. Shipping is free for Prime subscribers, or if you pad your cart to $35.

Although great for travel, it’s just as good as a permanent addition to your desk, kitchen counter or anywhere else you typically recharge your gear. It boasts “smart” tech to determine what kind of device is plugged in and supply the appropriate wattage.

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