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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.
Time for a rerun!
Don’t worry, this isn’t an episode of “Seinfeld” you’ve seen 18 times (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but rather one of my favorite laptop deals of the entire year.
Enlarge ImagePictures don’t do this skinny, sexy system justice.
Asus
For a limited time, and while supplies last, the Microsoft Store is offering the Asus ZenBook UX305FA 13.3-inch Ultrabook for $599 shipped (plus tax in some states). That’s $100 off the regular price, which was already a very solid deal for such a highly rated laptop.
The UX305 caused a stir earlier this year by delivering robust specs for hundreds of dollars less than competing models. Those specs include 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a native screen resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels. And that screen has a matte finish. In your face, glare!
Other noteworthy features include a fanless design, three USB 3.0 ports (one of which can quickly charge your phone), up to 10 hours of battery life and an aluminum chassis that’s just under half an inch thick. From the side you might be reminded of a MacBook Air.
Also, because this is a Signature Edition, it comes without the Asus shovelware you’d normally have to uninstall. And it now arrives with Windows 10, so there’s no need to upgrade it from Windows 8.
I do have a few complaints. First, the keyboard isn’t backlit, which is a bummer. Second, the built-in speakers sound pretty ragged — though if you plug in headphones you’ll be treated to an audio subsystem from no less than Bang & Olufsen. Finally, and worst of all, the power button is located right next to the “delete” key, a design decision that should result in someone getting fired, if not pelted with icy snowballs.
If it sounds like I know the UX305 pretty well, it’s because I bought one the last time it went on sale. To my thinking, it’s still the Ultrabook bargain to beat.
Bonus deal: Lots of you scooped up the $34 Martian Notifier smartwatch yesterday. Smart move, too. But I suspect some of you were waiting for something a little more versatile — a little, dare I say, smarter. Ending soon (possibly as soon as this morning or afternoon), Best Buy has the Pebble Time smartwatch for $149.99, the lowest price I’ve seen since its debut. It’s available in black, white or red, and although the screen isn’t fabulous, it’ll last nearly a full week between charges. Read CNET’s review to learn more. Update: Amazon is also selling it for $149.99.
Bonus deal 2: Do you love the ’80s? Google Play is offering the MP3 album “80’s Fundamentals” for 99 cents. It includes 20 tracks from the likes of Duran Duran, Fine Young Cannibals, Simply Red and Twisted Sister. Mostly great stuff if you’re into the era, though there’s one track here I’d never listen to on purpose. (Hint: It involves Peter Cetera. Barf.)
