Price Drops and Special Offers on Holiday Handhelds

Posted By: Ryan Monday, December 16, 2002 11:01:50 AM

As the Holiday machine kicks into high gear, several Handhelds have just received price drops and other companies are giving away special incentives on some of this season's hottest items. Read on for an overview and mini handheld gift guide.

PalmsPalm
Palm Inc has reduced prices on it's m125, m500 and i705 from $149, $199 and $399 to $125, $149 and $199 respectively. Also look for a $50 rebate on the m130 and m515. If you register your rebate online with Palm, you?ll have the option of a check for $50, Palm?s foldable keyboard (a $79 value) or $200 credit on your choice of Palm?s software selection. You won't see these options until you finish registering.

Handspring
HandSpringThe Visor Neo is no longer available; the Visor Platinum is $129, down from $149. Look for a free leather case, travel charger or DVD player offer depending on the model you choose.

Also today, Handspring announced a deal to get a Treo 180 for $99 with a new service activation from T-Mobile.

sonySony
Sony has reduced the Clié PEG-SL10 to $130 from $180 and the Clié PEG-SJ20 to $150 from $200. Right now there is FREE ground shipping on all Clié models and some come with a free case, depending on the model. Check out our reviews of the Clie T665 and SJ30 Special Editions if you?re looking for something unique for that gadget enthusiast.

t68iMobile Phones
If you?ve got Bluetooth on your PDA, you?re probably in the market for a mobile phone with Bluetooth. For a limited time, Amazon.com has the Sony Ericsson t68i on sale for $24.99 with a rebate and new service plan.

Thanks to Gary Ankney of EduPalm.org for contributions to this article.

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USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(

johnwin @ 12/9/2002 1:33:05 PM #
You guys over there are soooooooooo luck to get these deals, we here in the UK still have to pay top dollar (no pun intended)

http://johnspalm.blogspot.com/
What's a rebate
Zuber @ 12/9/2002 1:40:01 PM #
I have to admit, I get rather frustrated when I keep reading about all the rebate options that are available in the US. None of them ever seam to make it over hear.

Still, I got my Tungsten for £300 inc. VAT (around $450 including 17.5% tax) when it first came out, so I can't complain that much.

Zuber

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
johnwin @ 12/9/2002 1:54:41 PM #
Zuber,

Where did you get that deal?

http://johnspalm.blogspot.com/

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
Norm @ 12/9/2002 2:19:43 PM #
Zuber got it the same place as me (and about an hour later!).

Carphone Warehouse made a mistake on their website offering it at £299 instead of their intended £399.

They were very honourable and sold it at that price to everyone who had ordered before they corrected the mistake with no quibble.

I might not have bought mine otherwise but I'm really glad I did!

norm

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
plaid @ 12/9/2002 3:51:08 PM #
UK people: It's not just you. Almost all of these rebates/promotions can't even make the tiny jump over the US/Canada border :(

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
popko @ 12/10/2002 2:13:46 AM #
Yeah, and Sony Canada's price is normally 5%~10% more then what Sony USA is selling.

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
Fly-By-Night @ 12/10/2002 4:49:34 AM #
At least our mobiles are cheap/free! I would imagine the cost of a T|T and T68i combo in the UK is similarly priced to the USA.


FBN
RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
petew @ 12/12/2002 9:23:34 AM #
Just ordered a TT from, would you beleive it?, Dixons (online only) total price £332.95 all in, there is a "voucher" for £20 off of a spend >=£250, you type xmas20 in the voucher claim field on the order. I *think* this voucher expires on the 16th and only valid at www.dixons.co.uk
RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
johnwin @ 12/12/2002 9:33:05 AM #
thanks for the 'heads-up' on that - Dixons - WOW!!!!!

http://johnspalm.blogspot.com/
RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
Fly-By-Night @ 12/12/2002 10:06:17 AM #
Just for all you non-UK residents, Dixons is our largest electronics chain. Their stuff is usually overpriced, and their staff useless.

For example, a friend was wanting to buy a new hifi amplifier, so we thought we'd go into Dixons to 'have a play'. While fiddling with a Denon, a sales 'assistant' came over and asked if he could help. As my friend enjoys classical music, he thought it was important that it handled this well: he asked "What type of music is this good for". To this the assistant answered "Oh, both types". Huh! What on earth does he mean by *both* types? Both rock AND roll? Both rhythm AND blues?

Still, if they're selling the T|T cheap, I could be tempted to break a lifetime rule...


FBN

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
whitemiata @ 12/16/2002 3:33:26 PM #
>>Just for all you non-UK residents, Dixons is our
>>largest electronics chain. Their stuff is usually
>>overpriced, and their staff useless.

Ahhhh! Yet another way American English and British English differ....

Apartment = Flat
Subway = Underground
Elevator = Lift
Best Buy = Dixons

:-P

Alessandro
US & UK, two great countries separated by a common language <--- who said that?

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
simon.carroll @ 12/16/2002 9:08:26 PM #
Yeah, we get shafted even worse in Ireland, they're (www.palmdirect.com) charging €640 for the Tungsten, which is about the same in dollars at the moment.
It's not even advertised on the front page on their site, they're still trying to shift the M515s they've got.
I'm going to find a new friend who lives in a zero sales tax state and get Harmony to ship them one. Then it's FedEx to here. It'll take twice as long, but it'll save $/€200, so I think it's worth it.

Oh, that quote was Winston Churchill, and I think it was originally;
"Britain and America, two nations separated by a common language."

RE: USA Good :-), UK Bad :-(
miked @ 12/17/2002 9:23:29 AM #
From: The Columbia World of Quotations. 1996.

NUMBER: 64603

QUOTATION: We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.

ATTRIBUTION: Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. repr. In Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, ed. J.B. Foreman (1966). The Canterville Ghost, ch. 1, Court and Society Review (London, Feb. 23 and March 2, 1887).

The words, or similar ones, have often been attributed to George Bernard Shaw, though they are not to be found in Shaw’s published writings. Bertrand Russell made a similar point in Saturday Evening Post, June 3, 1944: “It is a misfortune for Anglo- American friendship that the two countries are supposed to have a common language.”

Another Promo from Handspring....

alanh @ 12/9/2002 1:46:36 PM #
http://www.handspring.com/promos/dvd_promo.jhtml

"Buy a Treo 90 organizer or Treo 270 or Treo 300 communicator—and get a FREE DVD player!"

RE: Another Promo from Handspring....
twalk @ 12/10/2002 12:55:49 PM #
Instead of a DVD player, I'm waiting for HS to drop the price of the treo90 down to $200 or so.

RE: Another Promo from Handspring....
lctaynton @ 12/10/2002 1:37:24 PM #
If you are a developer (or know one) you can get lower than that until 12/30.
RE: Another Promo from Handspring....
twalk @ 12/10/2002 1:55:41 PM #
I am a developer, and am registered with Handspring's dev program.

Where did you hear about this? (Was it in the HS emails that I routinely ignore?)


RE: Another Promo from Handspring....
lctaynton @ 12/11/2002 10:08:28 AM #
http://www.handspring.com/developers/promos/index.jhtml

Saw it on a Treo forum. Getting my 90 for $209 express shipped to NY. Ordered Monday, should be in my mailbox right now.

RE: Another Promo from Handspring....
alanh @ 12/17/2002 1:47:48 PM #
I was at BestBuy yesterday and noticed that they're now selling the Treo 90 for $200.

Amazon.com: Treo 300 for $300

relyons @ 12/9/2002 2:13:15 PM #
After the $50 Sprint rebate and Amazon's $150 rebate, the Treo 300 is $300 with any PCS service activation.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J42C615B2

Has anyone else found a better price for either the Treo 270 or 300?

RE: Amazon.com: Treo 300 for $300
kady @ 12/10/2002 1:37:27 PM #
Yeah, but you need to be a new customer.

No more T68i

sford @ 12/9/2002 3:16:44 PM #
At Amazon:

"This item is not stocked or has been discontinued."

That didn't last long....

RE: No more T68i
Admin @ 12/9/2002 4:39:00 PM #
Looks like it actually is still in stock, when you click through from that page.
RE: No more T68i
terrysalmi @ 12/9/2002 5:08:06 PM #
If you actually clicked past, you would find out you could purchase the phone only after entering in your zip code to see if you have GSM service in your area


______________________________________
Kappa Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1400 A.D.

The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it...

RE: No more T68i
dsm363 @ 12/9/2002 5:20:48 PM #
I already have T-mobile so I can't take advantage of this offer and have been waiting for this phone for months. Does anyone know if it's still possible to get this phone and transfer over the plan or of some other place to buy this phone at a reasonable price without a contract? Thanks.
RE: No more T68i
djh @ 12/17/2002 8:41:53 AM #
I ordered the T68i with T-mobile 5000 min service on November 17th.
Latest update from Amazon is that it will ship Dec 24. WTF?????
Still on their site (as of 12/15) at $24.99 after rebate.

Cheers!!
RE: No more T68i
gaia @ 12/18/2002 12:03:58 AM #
Here is what I did 2 months ago to get my T68i for the same price ($24.99):
Went to the local best buy to pick up a flyer having the same deal (but with no phone in stock), then bring it to your local AT&T (my service provider) and asked the clerk to pricematch it. They had doubt first, but I just told them that if you did not pricematch, I will just head to BB to get it. Well, guess what, they surrendered!!! You guys might want to try it (in fact, I found the BB flyer in Laf, IN area having this phone for FREE after rebate!)

Good luck!

SJ20 for $150?

binxboll @ 12/9/2002 9:40:43 PM #
Sony is selling the SJ20 for $180. Where can I find it for $150?

RE: SJ20 for $150?
cypher76 @ 12/10/2002 2:34:56 PM #
The numbers in the article are wrong...the SL10 was dropped to $130 from $150 (not $180) and the SJ20 was dropped to $180 (not $150) from $200. Also...while the SJ20 has great contrast (true white backlight), the screen suffers from ghosting...keep that in mind if you're planning on getting one.
RE: SJ20 for $150?
Palm Cow @ 12/10/2002 9:28:35 PM #
Radio Shack just announced a sale on the SJ20 for $149!

----------------
Hail the Cow!
RE: SJ20 for $150?
binxboll @ 12/11/2002 3:42:33 PM #
I just checked Radio Shack online. The online store does not have the SJ20 in stock. Assuming you can get the same price at a retail location, I assume that the $25 rebate and free leather case offers apply as well. This would make it a nice mid-range B&W pda for a low-end price.

No Tungsten Price Drop?

Gekko @ 12/9/2002 10:16:37 PM #
They must be either selling like hot cakes or Palm, Inc. is clueless. One or the other.

RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
Foo Fighter @ 12/9/2002 10:51:26 PM #
They are selling like hotcakes. So is Sony's NX series.

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs
RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
kidA @ 12/10/2002 12:15:05 AM #
hotcakes.
i was just at my local circuit city and they sold two of them in a matter of about 10 minutes. its the most expensive device on the shelf next to the e740 with rebates and the ipaq 38xx (the nx clies are over at another sony display), and people seem want 'em like there's no tomorrow. i'm anxious to see some actual sales numbers on the tungsten|t.
RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
sandbuck @ 12/10/2002 9:01:32 AM #
I can attest to that. I balked at the price at first with thoughts like "Yeah right, if I'm spending $500 this year, I'll be getting my Harmon Kardon reciever." But then, dammit I went into Circuit City and handled one for 5, then 10, then 20+ minutes. Give credit to Palm for pouring every ounce of what they learn from previous models into new ones. Using the TT is like driving a PDA Jaguar.

Of course, I ultimately bought one from Staples for $405 before tax, curetsey of the Golden Price Match. :-) Pass the syrup....



RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
pbarg @ 12/10/2002 12:08:28 PM #
How did you pull it off for $405 at Staples? Thanks for the scoop...
RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
Altema @ 12/10/2002 2:24:38 PM #
Yes, thanks for the tip. The only thing in the way now is finding out if the application "ptelnet" will work on the TT. It's not on any of the compatibility charts, but any device I purchase will need to run a serial telnet session so I can keep network switch configuration ability in my Palm.

RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
J Palm @ 12/11/2002 4:17:25 PM #
Hey sandbuck! Could you tell us how you did that Staples price match? The answer didn't appear in this forum!

Thanks!

RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
Foo Fighter @ 12/11/2002 10:15:12 PM #
Yeah, share with the rest of the class.

"it's better to be a pirate than join the navy." - Steve Jobs
RE: No Tungsten Price Drop?
sallen @ 12/16/2002 4:59:41 PM #
Hey, what is the scoop on the price match, would love to bring them in a printed out page from Harmony Computers($405) and be able to buy locally!!

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