Beware of the Upsell

It's something worth repeating every holiday season: When retailers take a hit on TVs, they often make up the difference on ridiculously overpriced extras. You may find a genuine deal or two on a big ticket item at a giant tech retailer like Best Buy, but, as far as I am concerned, you would have to be a damned fool to buy any of their extras and accessories. You know about HDMI cables, but there's a lot more profit-driven accessorizing where that came from.

Even if you already did buy the accessories needed for your gadget gifts, go online and do some calculations before you toss out those receipts. You may want to return them when you see how much you could have saved. As for late shoppers—listen up. Getting batteries, cables, controllers, mounts and other necessities can really nickel-and-dime your holiday budget. Time may be running out to shop, but that doesn't mean you should allow retailers to take advantage of you.

Let's go over this again. Retailers like Best Buy are not above bending you over with sucker warranties and massively overpriced or deceptive services.

And how about those high-margin extras? For example, I selected a random low-profile wall mount from Sanus designed for HDTVs measuring 30 to 60 inches diagonal. It's the kind of wall mount the average Joe would probably select for their new TV—a TV they may well have got a reasonable deal on. Best Buy is selling it for $169. Buy.com is selling it via Amazon for $94 with free shipping. Guess what, Best Buy—bite me. I can wait for the UPS guy if it means saving $75 or more.

The Rewards of Patience

So, I have to ask: Is the convenience worth spending $50 or more on that "high quality" 6-foot HDMI cable upsell in a store when you can get basically the same performance from a $3 version (shipped) from Amazon? Best Buy's cheapest 6-foot HDMI cables will still run you $13. Even discount giant Walmart can't get anywhere near the prices you can find online at places like Amazon and Monoprice. When you consider all of the various cables you might need to buy for your gadgets this holiday, the costs can really add up. My advice with cables is to suck it up, shop online and and wait if necessary.

For other products, you may not need to wait for an online shipment because the best price is just up the road. I don't know why anyone would spend $50 on a wireless Xbox 360 controller and $100 on a wireless-N adapter at Best Buy when they can hop in the car and head to Walmart and get them for $38 and $83 respectively. I know shopping can be hectic, and I understand why you would just want to get it over with, but saving money is going to be worth the inconvenience. As always, it is best to do your price comparisons before heading out. And if your local store is sold out, you can always order them.

Other Extras You Might Need

Now that you're good and aware of the nature of this problem, let's go over all of the things you might still need, even after Santa has left the building.

Batteries: I don't expect you to order batteries online last minute, but the good news is that you can probably find great prices in your area. We recommend Duracell rechargeables, but if you try and pick up a basic 6-hour charger with 4 AA batteries from Best Buy, it is going to run you $28 compared to $20 at Target. Futhermore—if you already have the charger or are buying it separately—a 4-pack of extra pre-charged NiMH AAs runs you $18 at Best Buy and only $13 at Target.

Storage: Everyone who buys a new computer or even upgrades their OS suddenly finds themselves in need of a backup hard drive. Generally speaking, a big ole USB desktop unit is the best value. The going rate for a 1TB brand-name USB 2.0 drive is around $100, and while Amazon, NewEgg and Walmart all beat Best Buy on price in some ways, only Walmart, strangely enough, offers either the 1TB Seagate FreeAgent desktop drive or the 1TB WD My Book desktop drive for $99.

If you have several computers (especially with different OS platforms), you're going to want to check out setting up a network drive or array. We really liked the Iomega's Ix2-200 as a cheap but full-featured NAS solution. I actually ended up picking one of these up myself for about $40 off list at Amazon, but you can find a slightly (and I do mean slightly) better deal on Next Warehouse right now. NewEgg also has a great reputation for good prices on storage devices. In this case however, they come in third because of shipping charges.

Powerline Networking Kit: If you're getting a connected Blu-ray player, TV, Roku Box, game console, HD media player or other assorted networked thingamajigs, you may want to think about a powerline adapter, like Linksys' PLK300. It's a simpler and usually more broadband friendly alternative to Wi-Fi. But the PLK300 sells for $155 on Best Buy and a shocking $169 at Walmart. Amazon will hook you up for $122, but if you don't mind a little risk, NewEgg has an "open box" offer for $93.

Bags and Camera Packs: There are countless options when it comes to cases and bags for your gadgets, but one of our faves is the Timbuk2 HAL backpack. It has all of the storage you would need, and you can score it for as little as $96 on Amazon shipped. In other stores, it might cost as much as $120. eBags also has the Timbuk2 for $96 with a free 2-day air upgrade. Some cool bags aren't as easy to find on sale—Matt loved the Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home camera bag, and we can't really find it anywhere (respectable) for under $80.

Gadget Cases: When it comes to cases for iPhones and iPods, profit is the name of the game, so be careful about any potential screwings. Our best advice is to try doing generic searches—instead of a brand name, type in "silicone iphone case" or "rugged iphone case" and weigh your options. For the former, Amazon and NewEgg yield a huge selection of cases in the $15, while Walmart only shows just two $20 cases, and Best Buy has a similar two, for $25 a piece. A combination of thinking—and thinking ahead—is what works here.

iPhone and Smartphone Car Mounts: With many of us relying on our cellphones for GPS guidance these days, a good car mount is becoming essential. Unfortunately, those fancy iPhone docks with a GPS-boosting receiver like the TomTom and the Magellan are pretty overpriced (especially when you have GPS already built into the phone), and besides, they're in pretty short supply, as is the official car mount for Droid phones. So where does that leave you? Well, it leaves you with a lot of basic, no-frills options that do the job just fine. For the iPhone, you could get something as dirt-ass cheap as this $6 windshield mount from DealExtreme. Here's a secret, the Droid fits in many iPhone docks, especially ones that hold at just one end. But if you're gonna fudge it, go cheap, or else hold out for the official dock.

In-Car Phone Chargers: Don't ever ever ever spend money on specialized, phone-specific chargers if your phone happens to charge with USB. That's just a con. Just take the same cord you plug your phone into your computer with—regardless of whether you have an iPhone, a Droid, a Pre, really anything "smart"—and plug it into one of these super-cheap 12V USB adapters. Griffin's dual-USB one sells on Amazon for $7.50. With all the money you can finally save not buying proprietary car chargers, you may just want to buy a few of those, and while you're at it, stock up on extra USB cables.

Universal Remotes: You can get cheap universal remotes anywhere, but if you want something more high end, the Logitech Harmony 900 should fit the bill. On Amazon it's $280 shipped. How about Best Buy? Oooh, $380. See a pattern developing here?

As I mentioned in my recent article championing the HTPC, you can get something as simple as the HA-IR01SV from Mediagate to control Windows Media Center for only $25.41 shipped from Amazon. If you absolutely need it now you will have to pay a few extra bucks at Walmart.

Conclusion

When it comes to buying all of those extras for your holiday gadgets this year, my advice is simple: Use common sense and don't settle. Stores like Best Buy, Staples, Office Max and Gamestop are probably not the places you want to go to score your accessories. Look at the local discount stores like Walmart and Target first—and if you can't find a good enough price without ordering online, you're just gonna have to wait it out. As tough as that might be with a new gadget to play with, the savings will be worth it.

And if any of you have come across any good deals of your own on stuff to make your gadgets run at 100%, just throw them into comments—with pricing and a photo, if possible.

Image via Link

Here are some of the most overpriced cables we've encountered over time. Feel free to chime in with any of your favorites that I might've missed (or with justifications for an $1800 wire purchase).

$300: Virtual Dynamics Power 3 Cables

The Virtual Dynamics Power 3 Cable is actually on the cheaper end of this collection of overpriced wires, but to me it's a product straight outta Cable Hell.

Why am I so harsh about something innocently overpriced? Because once upon a time, some guy's cat torn up one of these cables and he discovered that the $300 pile of crap contained only about $15 worth of components.

$500: Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable

When it comes to the Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable, a cool $500 gets you 1.5 meters of "high-purity copper wire" which speciallly structured to "thoroughly eliminate adverse effects from vibration." Seriously? I think I'd rather cope with my cables vibrating instead of listening to an empty echo in my wallet. [Amazon]

$1000: Wireworld's Platinum Starlight HDMI Cable

At $1000 per meter, Wireworld's Platinum Starlight HDMI cables oughta contain actual platinum conductors instead of solid silver ones. Don't worry though, you can get that "patent-pending DNA Helix conductor design" in versions up to 30 meters long.[Engadget]

$1800: Piezo Powerflux Power Cord

I don't recall hearing about the Piezo Powerflux Power Cord ever actually being for sale since it was announced long, long ago. Maybe someone realized that whether it's the "Most Sophisticated Power Cord and Connectors in the World" or not, a $1800 power cord just won't fly.

Any Monster Brand Cable

I doubt that I even need to say why Monster's cables fall into the "seriously overpriced" category. After all, this is the company who thinks that lowering a cable's prices down to $100 will make us jump for joy and race to the store when we could just as well use coat hangers instead.

The LaCie cables are more than just looks however. The flat design makes them easier to coil and less likely to get tangled (although it seems like it would be more difficult to twist them on a meandering path from one gadget to another). The only thing missing is a clasp that would allow it to double as a bracelet for tweens. Available in several USB configurations, Firewire and eSATA. [LaCie via Unplggd]

570,937,778 computers are online, with the average weight of 88 pounds, with monitors, printers, and any other peripherals. Ehhh...I'm still a bit skeptical of that number, given the popularity of laptops, but let's keep coming because this is fun!

There are an additional 175,480,931 servers, and about 100 million Blackberries/iPhone/iPod touches to worry about. Plus, there's a 9,320-mile transatlantic cable connecting one half of the digital world to the other (it in itself weighs 191,802,168 pounds) to account for.

Anyway, the final number they come up with is 1,098,868,920,000 pounds (or just over a trillion pounds, for those too lazy to count commas).

To put that number in better perspective, it's about the same weight as 25,000 cloned Sears/Willis Towers. [Crave UK and image]

"Cable Drawings" is a series of installations by artist Maisie Maud Broadhead in which pesky cords are incorporated into the very decor of one's home.

But as Lifehacker points out, this technique need not be for the pretentious class alone. Adhesive wire clips, like those used in the lead photo, are available on the cheap. And you've spent years perfecting your perspective of the crudest of body parts already. [Maisie Maud Broadhead via Design Lounge via Unplggd via Lifehacker]

The full story is over at Wired, and is quite interesting, but one of the effects achieved was to basically reverse Parkinson's disease in mice. You should head over to find more, including what they'll do to get around the need to thread fiber through your skull. [Wired]

The products are all packaged in "frustration free" packaging, and include HDMI cables, Ethernet cords, and blank DVDs, to name a few.

This has to irk the consumer electronics companies that currently sell marked up cables and other items in Amazon's virtual marketplace already, but Paul Ryder, Amazon's vice president for consumer electronics and wireless, said all they'll need is a little re-education.

"I'm sure some vendors of cables and blank media are going to ask us, ‘What just happened?' We'll educate them that we saw value available to the customer in the market, and with our relationship with the vendor, we wanted to give that value to customers," he said over at the New York Times Bits blog. [Amazon via Bits]

Available to system builders for a steep $380, the Y95054 doesn't seem like a fully baked product: despite adhering to some parts of the HDMI 1.4 spec, it doesn't yet have full certification, and the feature list seems to imply that the cable might not even support 1080p, much less the super-resolved 4k sets on the distant horizon—although in the future, maybe lowly, ancient 1080p output is just taken for granted? Who knows! In any case, the gates have officially opened on what may be the lamest "first on your block" race in recent memory. [DBL via Engadget]

ITLawMan: Yes. That is a boom box. Its for music on hold. Sue me.
FannyGaia: this is my setup in my basement - note the wifi router suspended from a pipe using and old phone cord to boost reception upstairs
sixty4: Here you have it folks your chance to see cable management at its best and I sell my services for $4.99 an hour! That's right, for $4.99 an hour I will come to your house and hose your wires up too!...

This add ends in 25 seconds so act fast before its gone!

These wires are for 2 computers + 1 Altec Lansing sub woofer and 4 surround sound speakers and at least 2 computers that are no longer a part of the network but I have not removed the wires. There may be other misc wires from cell phone from a year ago, a battery charger and keyboards that are hooked to nothing but pure air :( There are 3 daisy chained surge protectors as well, covered in skin dust.The 2 monitors and 2 printers are about 5 feet away so the additional wires run behind the white floor cabinet pictured; hidden and out of site. There are several books and clean printer paper on the white floor cabinet pictured as well, hidden. In addition its a glass tabled top so you can see the arrangement from above while you wait for Twitter to come back online. These all run off one plug, the other wall plug on the adjacent wall is for the air conditioner and router. I did use 3 cable ties to tidy up a bit; red ones to match the color of fire hazard.
Excelcior: 2 PDAs, 2 kbds, 2 mice, 3 printers, 2 scanners, a router, a cable modem, 2 switches, 5 game controllers, 2 game consoles, a monitor, a VCR, an FM antenna, and 2 sound systems. And that's just what's hooked to the 4 computers.
It's hard to see just how many there are because of the brown desk top, but they're stacked about 12" deep. Cheers!
karateelf: It really needs some organization!!
emmetation: I think about this every day...
retardedbaboon: real deal
stillinbeta: Our Media Center. Two TVs, 4 game consoles, hard drives, routers, etc.
Cubcicals: Here is my hell. only part of it/save me nothing helps
asanya: i think i need a bit more than cable management lol lots of old PC parts the PC its self is old run windows xp with a amd athlon 850MHz

If you have neatly organized your cables, feel free to show that in the comments too. Even if it's just zip ties, well-organized cabling can be like a work of art.

To be honest, this is my favorite solution on the list—so much so that I am planning on doing this one myself. Going to your local hardware store and picking up a rain gutter and accessories then installing it under your desk or along the wall is a cheap and effective DIY solution. [Lifehacker via Link]
Cablox adhesive pads stick to the bottom of your desk, allowing you to wind cables out of the way through the nodules on the business end. [Cablox via Link]
If you are creative enough, you might find something around the house that can serve as a basic cord wrangler. In this case, Wolverine Mighty Muggs toys decently handle small jobs. [Geeksugar via Link]
The Cordotz cable organizing system goes beyond simple zip ties and colored tape with candy-colored cordwraps, cordstraps and cordidentifiers. [Cordotz via Link]
This snake-like contraption conceals your cords and channels them down to the floor. [CableOrganizer]
Many of the workstation desks coming out these days have built-in cord management systems. The Swan Desk concept pictured here takes that idea a step further by allowing you to weave your cables through the desk in an artistic way. [Les Chics Types via Link]
Cablebox is a simple box with open slots that tucks away cords and power strips that would otherwise be lying in a heap on the floor. [Bluelounge via Link]
The Cable-Safe is basically a shelving system that you can neatly hang cords and power strips from. Aesthetics aren't addressed so much with this solution, but it will keep your cords off the floor. [CableOrganizer]
Inside the WireMate, users can wrap and fasten cords in place. After the cover is attached, the unit can be mounted anywhere that's convenient or out of sight. [CableOrganizer]
Why fight with power strips—all you need are more outlets. This extreme solution is only a concept, which is just as well considering that practicality and safety don't seem to factor into the design. [Ironic Sans via Link]

They actually seem pretty useful if, like me, you have a really nasty tendency to kick loose cables by accident and put undue stress on whatever they're plugged into, since it stretches the cables tight. They're available for $20 for two, if you're okay with navigating a site full of scary foreign consonants. [Cablox via Wired]

Their contacts in the Tawianese PC industry predict the first machines to include the hardware will start rolling off the line by the end of the year, citing rapid development in integrated circuits and the shipment of compliant controllers to PC manufacturers. The date is a bit earlier than the "early 2010" prediction that's been bandied around recently, and inline with initial predictions of a 2009 release.

A quick reminder of what this means:

With transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps, it'll dump a 25GB HD file in about 70 seconds, and the architecture has been beefed up with extra data lanes to make for more sustained, rather than bursty transfer speeds, making it better for camcorders and the like. Even though it delivers more power than USB 2.0 to charge gadgets faster (and it'll revive a completely dead one too), its new polling architecture makes it more efficient.

Unfortunately, full 5Gbps speeds won't be reached for some time. [Tech-on]

The National Electric Code (NEC) states:

NEC ARTICLE 400 Flexible Cords and Cables General 400.1 Scope.
This article covers general requirements, applications, and construction specifications for flexible cords and flexible cables.
400.8 Uses Not Permitted.
Flexible cords and cables shall not be used for the following:
(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
(3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
(4) Where attached to building surfaces
Exception: Flexible cord and cable shall be permitted to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with the provisions of 368.8.
(5) Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings

In other words, running power cords through the walls is not a substitute for permanent wiring. You're supposed to have a new electric socket installed directly behind the TV, where you can plug in the power cord and coil up the slack to tuck underneath. If you drilled some holes and ran cable yourself all willy nilly, in and back out to a power socket, chances are you are in violation of these codes. Should a fire result, your insurance may find reason to get out of covering your losses. Naturally, it is in your best interests to hire a professional to check out your setup and make sure everything is as it should be. That having been said, let's clarify the original poll and focus on how many of you might be on the wrong side of the NEC.

[Powerbridge and Avsforum and ECM and NEC/ Image via CEA]

Most cable-tamers we've seen manage to untangle wires and keep them somewhat organized, but these gizmos lying around on our desks also tend to add to the clutter. With the $600 StudioDesk, there's no need for external cable organizers because it completely conceals all of the wires—except for one—connected to your laptop. Now if only they can figure out how to hide cables snaking down your wall. [BlueLounge via Uncrate]

To be honest, I have this thing about cables running from a wall-mounted TV. It...it just bothers me. So, do you make an effort to hide them? How do you do it?

Being Monsters, you know they're gonna cost a ton. Four feet of "high speed" SuperThin cable has a suggested price of $90, going up to $100 for 8 feet, and $120 for 16 feet. Standard speed cables start at $80 for 1 meter, $90 for 2 meters, $100 for 4 meters and $120 for 5 meters. I'll leave the judgments to you guys in the comments.

Monster Introduces Breakthrough "SuperThin Cable™ for HDMI™"
— Developed in Collaboration with RedMere, New Powered SuperThin Cables for HDMI Are
Ideal for Elegant Flat-Panel TV Installations and Use with Mobile HD Devices —

New York, NY, June 10, 2009 - Monster, the world's leading manufacturer of cables,
AV accessories, and power conditioning products, today announced the introduction of
a new line of "Powered" SuperThin Cables™ for HDMI™ Cables specifically designed
for use with a wide variety of electronics devices, ranging from today's super-slim flat-
panel TVs to digital video cameras, home theater systems, gaming systems or portable
computers. The new Monster SuperThin Cables for HDMI are the first fruits of a
recently announced collaboration with RedMere, a leader in advanced silicon chip
development. Monster Super Thin Cable for HDMI products will be available in 4-, 8-,
and 16-foot versions in the DigitalLife line of products (DL HDMI HSMI-4, DL HDMI
HSMI-8, DL HDMI HSMI-16).Monster's Core line of cables for HDMI will also offer a
SuperThin cable design in 1, 2, 4 and 5 meter lengths.

HD Signals Are Boosted in the Cable Itself
With the introduction of SuperThin Cable for HDMI, Monster is continuing to follow
through on its commitment to provide consumers with a comprehensive range of high-
quality, reliable connectivity solutions for every need and budget. The key innovation
that made the creation of Monster SuperThin Cables for HDMI possible is the
RedMere™ MagnifEye™ Active technology. Requiring no external power supply the
technology enables industry-leading data speeds and ultimate-quality performance by
boosting the HD signals directly in the SuperThin cable itself. This eliminates the need
for heavy-gauge copper, making the cables extremely light, thin and portable.
SuperThin cables measure just 3.5 mm in diameter, approximately 65% thinner than
normal HDMI cables.

Noted Noel Lee, the Head Monster: "Monster built our reputation on thick, heavy
gauge high-quality cables with unequalled performance capabilities. Now, thanks to
our alliance with RedMere and the leading-edge MagnifEye Active technology, we're
able to provide our customers with the same level of Monster quality and reliability in
a brand new type of ‘magically thin' cable. The difference is immediately apparent –
SuperThin cables are much smaller and lighter, matching the sleek appearance of
the consumer electronics products they connect. Whether you want a totally clean-
looking virtually invisible installation option for your HDTV or you just want a much
better and more convenient way to access HD content while on-the-go, there's never
been anything like our new super-thin cables."

Digital Life™ SuperThin High Speed Powered Cable for HDMI (SRP) 4ft. $89.95, 8ft.
$99.95 and 16ft $119.95

Digital Life SuperThin High Speed Powered Cable for camcorder; Mini HDMI to HDMI
8ft (SRP) $99.95

Monster's Core Line of SuperThin Powered Cables for HDMI 1m $79.95, 2m $89.95 4m
$99.95, 5m $119.95.

"Super-Slim TVs Need Monster SuperThin Cables"
Monster's new SuperThin cables for HDMI are poised to usher in a new era of
convenience and elegance in high-performance cable management, both at home and
on-the-go. Featuring a built-in LED indicator that instantly lets users know they are
active, the virtually invisible cables are ideal for use in aesthetically designed home
theater installations utilizing flat-panel TVs. Consumers can literally hide the cables
away in plain sight, as well as fit them into any tight corners for a new level of
installation flexibility. Additionally, the compact and lightweight cables, which include
handy cable ties, are ideal for taking on the road with camcorders or other mobile digital
devices. Their easy portability provides users with a fast and convenient way to connect
camcorders or other digital devices to notebook computers or other display. For total
reliability and performance, the new cables feature corrosion-resistant 24k gold
contacts.

[Monster]

The 100Mbps data deal happens through HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) which will let internet-connected TVs share internet with other HEC devices through the HEC-enabled HDMI port. In other words, internet through HDMI ports, if it's got the right brand mojo. There's also easier audio streaming, and Automatic Content Enhancement will automagically optimize the picture based on the type of content, besides already being ready for future 3D video stuff.

Ah yes, stupid, stupid cables. Looks like I need to update the master list, since HDMI 1.4 not only requires special HDMI 1.4 cables, there are two new kinds: Low data rate, and high data rate. Hurray for confusion and new business opportunities for Best Buy. [Engadget]