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Motorola
I can just hear Android users laughing all the way to, um, wherever Android users like to go to laugh at the Apple faithful. “$400 for a watch? My Moto 360 cost me $170.”
Yep, that’s the deal o’ the day: Amazon has the Motorola Moto 360 smartwatch for $169.99 shipped. That’s for the black model with the matching leather wristband. Regular price: $249.99.
For those who might be new to the Cheapskate or deal blogs in general, let me clarify a couple things. First, I have no idea how long the Moto will be available at this price, nor how much inventory Amazon has. Second, if Amazon burns through its stock and/or ends the promotional price, you may end up seeing a different price and/or different seller.
This is not a “scam” or a “bait and switch.” It’s just the reality of how these things work sometimes. Deals expire, stock runs out — often suddenly and without warning.
Anyway, the Moto 360 is a really attractive Android Wear-powered watch — far more attractive than the Apple Watch, if you ask me. Much fuss has been made about the little black bar at the bottom of the display, but to my thinking that’s much ado about nothing.
I had the chance to wrist-drive one of these last fall, and I came away with two conclusions. First, forget the heart-monitoring and other fitness features. They’re awkwardly implemented, not especially useful and a big drain on the battery.
Second, if you use the Moto for just two things — to tell time and get notifications on your wrist — you’ll love it. Okay, it’s also pretty cool to search Google just by talking into your wrist.
Want more insight? Check out Scott Stein’s review . He rightly pointed out the flaws in the Android Wear software (perhaps it’s been improved since then?), but I maintain that if you limit your expectations to time-telling and notification-getting, you’ll be a happy camper. Especially after paying $170, which is less even than last year’s monochrome Pebble Steel.
Your thoughts?
Bonus deal: Need a new or second monitor? Newegg has a stupid-good deal: the Acer G7 24-inch LED monitor for $119.99 shipped. That’s after applying coupon code EMCASKP22 at checkout. Key specs include VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs; a 6ms response time; and, best of all, a three-year warranty. And although it lacks built-in speakers, the user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. The code expires tomorrow; supplies may not last that long.
