Pack Rat Studios » Deals

307 days until end of Analog Broadcast

Grant — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:33:58 +0000

D-day is approaching rapidly. No, not that D-day, that already happened, this one is Digital Day. At the time of this article being written, there are 307 days left until analog TV broadcasts cease and the only thing left is digital over-the-air broadcasts. So you have an old 19 inch tube analog television or maybe even a Flat panel that you bought 5 years ago when they first surfaced at your local retail store that doesn’t have a ATSC tuner (That’s digital of course) and you don’t have the 700 to 3000 dollars to invest in a new HDTV, what do you do? There are a couple of options.

1. If you have cable TV or satellite your probably just fine. The cable companies will still be broadcasting their content in standard definition. They do have digital content on their systems but you wont be able to see it.

2. Buy a new TV

3. Purchase a digital to analog converter box. This is a unit that will accept the digital broadcast and down convert it to a standard definitions analog signal that your 1970’s console TV will accept.

If you fall into the group that never purchased cable or satellite TV and are still watching Opie and Aunt Bee crunk it up in Mayberry, you will need a set-top box. This is more than likely, partly, due to the fact that many people cannot afford to pay for cable or sat TV. There is help out there though. Congress created the set-top converter box coupon program to help lower income families continue to use their analog televisions after the transition deadline of February 17th 2009. The program allows households to acquire up to 2 coupons worth 40 dollars each that can be applied to the purchase of qualified converter boxes. You can then take these coupons to any participating store which include Wal-Mart, BestBuy, Circuit City, and Radio Shack to purchase a converter box. To apply for this coupon, go to www.dtv2009.gov .

Remember February 17th 2009

Walmart giving back? When it comes to HD-DVD that is

Grant — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:09:47 +0000

Wal-mart is offering refunds for HD-DVD players bought in their stores after Nov 1st 2007. Any player with original receipt will be accepted. You however do not need the original packaging. This offer is only good till April 30th, so hurry up and get that paperweight back to the store and go buy a Blu-ray. If you have any HD-DVD discs, Best buy is doing a buy back program. You get about 2.70 per disc so its not alot but its something. This must be a customer appreciation promotion on best buys behalf for ripping you off all the time.

Nintendo Wii Wheel $14.99

Grant — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:33:51 +0000

If you are a Mario fanatic then you probably already know that Mario Kart for the Wii will be released at the end of April. The game is said to be a package deal that will include the game and a wheel apparatus that your Wii remote will snap into giving you that NASCAR feel while smashing into the Princess and Toad. If one wheel isn’t enough, you can pick up another wheel at Gamestop for just 14.99. Tailgaters rejoice. You can have your own wheel and slam into your friends. Just remember that he didn’t hit you, slam into you or crash into your backend. He rubbed you, and rubbin son is racing.

Mario Kart Wii Wii Game Nintendo

One day Dell deal. $1000 off all XPS™ M1730 World of Warcraft Edition Laptops.

Mike — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:42:53 +0000

If you are looking for deals on Dell laptops and desktops they have moved here.

This Dell deal has expired.

$1000 off all XPS™ M1730 World of Warcraft Edition laptops + free standard shipping

Wow players take notice. Dell is offering $1000 off all XPS™ M1730 World of Warcraft Edition laptops + free standard shipping. This deal is for one day only. 3/26/2008.

17″ Hi-Def Widescreen customized with World of Warcraft themed LCD back
Get invited to participate in the World of Warcraft Beta Club
Receive World of Warcraft and The Burning Crusade Collector’s Edition Account Upgrade Certificates
Redeem your Golden Ticket for a custom FigurePrint of your in-game character
Choose your faction: Horde or Alliance
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
CD / DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
2GB² Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Speed: 120GB³ SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor
NVIDIA®GeForce®8700M GT graphics
High Definition Audio 2.0
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 a/g Mini Card
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Batter

Coupon Code: GQ$5ZLCQ1W1JVF
Applicable e-value codes: 6VAFF-DYCWOW1, 6VAFF-DYCWOW2, 6VAFF-DYCZOW1
Limited time and quantity offer: Beginning 3/26/2008 7:00 AM CT through 3/26/2008 5:55 AM CT or after 200 redemptions (whichever occurs first)

Check our deals page for coupon codes.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.

It is Friday. Actually its Good Friday.

Mike — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:51:47 +0000

Its Good Friday and that means I can offer new deals on some of the the tech you have been craving. Forget the kids and let the Easter Bunny bring you something besides a hard boiled egg.

Packrat Deals

One day Dell deal.

Mike — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:07:28 +0000

I got this in my email this morning and thought I should pass it on ASAP.

One Day Sale! Inspiron 1525 laptop $699 (before tax, fees, shipping & handling) after $395 instant savings

Applicable e-value code: 6VAFF-DNDAPA2

That’s a pretty good deal .

Update

This deal has ended but, check out our deals section for the current Dell coupon codes. Only a cat would pay retail. Never a rat. Hey. That rhymes. Huh…