Best back-to-school bargains: 29 January

[[Artnid:333254|Epson Stylus Photo TX810FW]]

Price: $308 (Save $91)

Epson's high-end inkjet multifunction is handy for printing off photos or labeling CDs, and it isn't too bad around the office either. The touch-sensitive control panel makes it a breeze to use, while the automatic duplexer lets you save paper. Harvey Norman is currently offering it [[xref:http://harveynorman.dynamiccatalogue.com.au/portal/offerdetails/epson_stylus_tx810fw_photo_multi_f___/12645454607559?CatalogueID=12634462730722&CatalogueID=&source=catalogueoffer&jump=&pageview=two|for $378]]. There's also $70 cashback via redemption, bringing the multifunction's total cost down to $308, making it an even cheaper option for printing school homework and photos.
[[Artnid:323017|Western Digital My Passport]] Elite 500GB

Price: $169 (Save $30)

The Elite flavour of Western Digital's [[Artnid:323017|My Passport]] external hard drive range gives you AES hardware encryption, a capacity gauge and a cute little dock that makes it easier to prop up when connected. DickSmith is making it even more appealing by dropping the price to [[xref:http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4b62131f010c8a502742c0a87e010620/Product/View/XH1195|$169]].
[[artnid:326571|Canon G11 compact digital camera|Review: Canon G11 compact digital camera]]

Price: $749.95 (save $100)

The Canon G11 is one of the most feature-packed compact digital cameras you can buy, with a fast 28mm wide-angle lens, a 10-megapixel sensor and a whole swag of easy-access buttons and dials. It's quite expensive, though — nudging into the realm of more capable DSLR cameras — but you can find it for a $100 discount [[xref:http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/compact-digital-cameras/canon-powershot-g11-compact-digital/4h9rt8dtd.html?source=retailer|at Ted's|Lasoo: Canon G11 digital camera]].
[[artnid:315275|Nikon D3000 digital SLR camera|Review: Nikon D3000 digital SLR camera]]

Price: $915

The Nikon D3000 is a great entry point into the world of digital SLR photography. In-built guides help you to learn about how to set the correct exposure, and there are also many automatic scene modes to choose from as well as many filters that can make photography fun. Its picture quality is very good and it's very responsive, so you can use it for just about any type of photography. [[xref:http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/nikond3000.htm|Discount Digital Photographics|Web site: Discount Digital Photographics]] currently has the Nikon D3000 for $915 in a kit with two lenses: an 18-55mm VR lens and a 55-200mm VR lens. They also throw in a 4GB SD card. Students who need a good camera should look into this deal, and so should anybody else who has ever wanted to have more control over their shots than a point and shoot offers.
Netcomm Turbo HomePlug NP285 Ethernet over power line adapters

Price: $121.77

If wireless networking is getting you down, try a pair of Ethernet over power line adapters. Netcomm's Turbo HomePlug NP285 kit is available for $121.77 from [[xref:http://www.eyo.com.au/prod_M-NP285-2_proddesc_Netcomm_Turbo_HomePlug_Ethernet_over_Power_NP285_Twin_Pack.html|EYO|Web site: EYO]] and it's worth considering — especially if you have a media streamer or PC that isn't performing too well on a wireless network. The NP285 gives a theoretical throughput of 85 megabits per second, though both adapters need to be on the same physical circuit in order to communicate. We've reviewed the faster [[artnid:209103|Netcomm NP200AV|Review: Netcomm NP200AV Ethernet over power line kit]] kit before, and liked its ease of use. They're also great if you want to use wired networking between two rooms and don't want to trip over cables lying in the hallway.
[[artnid:327877|RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone]]

Price: Free on $69 cap plan

RIM's new flagship BlackBerry may not offer anything revolutionary, but it still improves slightly on its predecessor and is an excellent smartphone overall. It's a sleeker and more compact device than the original Bold and the new trackpad works very well for general navigation. You can grab it now for [[xref:http://shop.three.com.au/mobile-details/Blackberry-Bold-9700-Black|$0 on 3's $69 cap plan]] — giving you unlimited BlackBerry Internet and e-mail access, as well as $350 worth of calls and text. Online purchasers will also receive $50 of credit for free.
[[artnid:316847|Garmin nuvi 1390T GPS unit]]

Price: $294 (Save: $255)

Though not as flashy as GPS units from competitors, the ease of use and excellent overall navigational experience make the Garmin nuvi 1390T one of the best units currently available. It has effective maps, clear voice instructions, fantastic lane guidance and a speedy GPS receiver. Best of all, you can pick it up from [[xref:http://www.jbhifi.com.au/car-sound-gps-navigation/gps/garmin/4-3-inch-portable-navigation-25360/|JB Hi-Fi for just $294]], a massive saving of $255 off the recommended retail price.
[[artnid:296157|LG BD370]]

Price: $349 (Save $100)

The [[artnid:296157|LG BD370]] is an excellent entry-level Blu-ray player that will suit any home theatre system. It boasts excellent picture quality and DVD upscaling, BD-Live support, USB playback and the ability to display YouTube videos. Originally retailing for $449, the LG BD370 can be [[xref:http://binglee.com.au/Blu-ray/3874/LG+BD370+Blu+Ray+Disc+Player+and+YouTube|purchased from Bing Lee for $349]]. That's a saving of $100.
[[artnid:334044|Mass Effect 2]]

Price: Free (with game trade-in)

[[artnid:334044|Mass Effect 2]], the sequel to the critically acclaimed Mass Effect, is a science fiction role-playing game for the Xbox 360. Blending disparate gameplay styles into a genuinely exciting sci-fi epic, it is one of the highest rated games of all time. Retailing for $109.95, you can [[xref:http://www.jbhifi.com.au/games/microsoft/x-box/360/|currently pick up Mass Effect 2 for free from JB Hi-Fi]], when you trade in three pre-owned Xbox 360 games.
Samsung UA46B6000 LED TV

Price: $3299 (save $500)

The Samsung UA46B6000 is a step down from the [[artnid:304879|7 Series model|Review: Samsung UA46B7100 LED television]], without any Internet@TV multimedia features. You still get USB 2.0 for photo and music playback, though. This is a thin, elegant and good-looking screen, and you can save $500 off the RRP by shopping [[xref:http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4b62131f010c8a502742c0a87e010620/Product/View/GE6448|at Dick Smith Electronics|Dick Smith Electronics: Samsung UA46B6000 LED television]]

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