The Palm Pre Plus (left) and Palm Pixi Plus
Photo: Palm

Verizon finally has a Palm Pre and Pixi of its own, complementing the very similar Sprint versions of these smart phones. Known as “Plus” models, and costing $150 and $100 respectively, the most interesting new capability of the Verizon versions is the ability of the Palm Pre Plus to act as a 3G hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a service called Mobile Hotspot.

The service is a free download from the Palm App Catalog. Not free is the service, which costs $40 on top of your data plan of $30 or more. What’s more, you’ll pay an extra 5 cents per megabyte if you exceed the monthly data allowance of 5 gigabytes.

But at least Mobile Hotspot is fairly easy to set up. When you launch it for the first time, it asks you to create a password (8 to 63 characters). You can also change the name of phone network from the default webOS Network. Then all you have to do just have to go into the Wi-Fi setting of your laptop or other wireless device, select the Palm network hotspot you created, type in the password, and voila.

Download speeds on 3G are noticeably slower than Wi-Fi—especially if you have several devices hooked up at the same time. But the connection can be a lifesaver when you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot and need to connect several devices to the Internet.

However, other smart phones, including the Motorola Droid, can attach to your laptop so that you can use their 3G data connections to access the Internet—also from an additional monthly fee.

The new Verizon Palm phones, are largely identical to their Sprint cousins, which remain available. The Pre Plus ($150 with a two-year contract and rebates) has double the memory of the Sprint Pre, offering 16 gigabytes (GB). It also drops the pearl-like hardware button for closing apps, leaving that job to a swipe on the gesture bar. The only improvement to the Pixi ($100), which I’m not reviewing but will soon be in our Ratings, is that it gains Wi-Fi capability.

One quibble about the Palm Pre Plus: As with the Pre that debuted on Sprint, the tiny keys on its tiny keyboard perform double duty for numbers, punctuation, and symbols. But at least on the Sprint Pre, the numbers are highlighted in bright orange. On the Pre Plus, however, the number keys are no longer highlighted, which further complicates the already difficult task of finding them.

—Mike Gikas

The Palm Pre Plus (left) and Palm Pixi Plus
Photo: Palm

Verizon finally has a Palm Pre and Pixi of its own, complementing the very similar Sprint versions of these smart phones. Known as “Plus” models, and costing $150 and $100 respectively, the most interesting new capability of the Verizon versions is the ability of the Palm Pre Plus to act as a 3G hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a service called Mobile Hotspot.

The service is a free download from the Palm App Catalog. Not free is the service, which costs $40 on top of your data plan of $30 or more. What’s more, you’ll pay an extra 5 cents per megabyte if you exceed the monthly data allowance of 5 gigabytes.

But at least Mobile Hotspot is fairly easy to set up. When you launch it for the first time, it asks you to create a password (8 to 63 characters). You can also change the name of phone network from the default webOS Network. Then all you have to do just have to go into the Wi-Fi setting of your laptop or other wireless device, select the Palm network hotspot you created, type in the password, and voila.

Download speeds on 3G are noticeably slower than Wi-Fi—especially if you have several devices hooked up at the same time. But the connection can be a lifesaver when you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot and need to connect several devices to the Internet.

However, other smart phones, including the Motorola Droid, can attach to your laptop so that you can use their 3G data connections to access the Internet—also from an additional monthly fee.

The new Verizon Palm phones, are largely identical to their Sprint cousins, which remain available. The Pre Plus ($150 with a two-year contract and rebates) has double the memory of the Sprint Pre, offering 16 gigabytes (GB). It also drops the pearl-like hardware button for closing apps, leaving that job to a swipe on the gesture bar. The only improvement to the Pixi ($100), which I’m not reviewing but will soon be in our Ratings, is that it gains Wi-Fi capability.

One quibble about the Palm Pre Plus: As with the Pre that debuted on Sprint, the tiny keys on its tiny keyboard perform double duty for numbers, punctuation, and symbols. But at least on the Sprint Pre, the numbers are highlighted in bright orange. On the Pre Plus, however, the number keys are no longer highlighted, which further complicates the already difficult task of finding them.

—Mike Gikas

If you’re still looking for a new TV for the Super Bowl, this year’s “Big Game” is looking a lot like Black Friday, when sub-$500 flat-panel TVs were used as a shopping enticement.

In fact, based on the recently released Super Bowl advertising circulars and online specials we’ve seen from the major retailers, $500 seems to be the new entry-level price point for a 42-inch plasma, while 50-inch 720p sets start at about $700—about the same price as a major-brand 42-inch 1080p plasma set.

The LCD pricing picture is a bit blurrier, due primarily to the wide range of potential features—such as 120Hz or 240Hz technology and LED backlights—being offered. But among major brands, we’re seeing 40- to 42-inch 60Hz 1080p LCDs start just above $600, while 46- or 47-inch 120Hz 1080p models begin at about $800. The least expensive LED-backlit models, in the 40-inch screen size, begin at about $1,200.

We’re also seeing some major-brand 720p 32-inch LCD sets as low as $350, and off-brands for even less.

Here’s a quick rundown on some of the specials we’ve seen from major consumer electronics retailers. We'll also be following up with deals from Walmart and Target.

Sears
Overall, Sears is offering a 5 percent instant savings on LCD TVs $499 or more online only, or 10 percent instant savings or 24 months no-interest financing for purchases $999 or more when you use a Sears charge card.

Among the key enticements is a $450 42-inch Zenith plasma, model Z42PQ20. For $600 you can get a 42-inch Panasonic 720p plasma (TC-P42X1) for $600, though its 50-inch sibling is just $100 more. If a 1080p model is in your sights, Panasonic’s 42-inch S1-series 1080p plasma is $700, or $1,000 for the 46-inch version.

If you’re looking for an LCD with an LED backlight, Sears is bundling a free Samsung Blu-ray player (we believe its the BD-P1600) and free delivery with certain Samsung LED-backlit models. For example, the Samsung UN40B6000 is priced at $1,400, while a larger 46-inch step-up model (UN46B7000) is priced at $1,930, and a 55-inch flagship UN55B8000 set is $2,800.

Among smaller sets, Sears has a 32-inch Sony 720- set (32L5000) for $400, and a 32-inch 720p Panasonic LCD (TC-L32C12) for $350. A 32-inch Samsung 720p set (LN32B360) is $380.

Best Buy
Like Sears, Best Buy has pursued a bundling strategy with many Samsung LED-backlit models 40-inches or larger, combining the TV, a BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, plus free delivery and a basic hookup (the TV paced on a stand and connected to one source component) and recycling in a single package price. For example, the bundle with Samsung’s 46-inch UN46B800XF LED-lit set with 240Hz technology is $2,000, while the package with a 40-inch 120Hz model (the UN40B6000VF) is $1,400, the same price as Sears.

Other Samsung deals include a 58-inch 1080p Samsung plasma (PN58B550) for $1,600, a 50-inch 720p (PB50B450B1D) plasma for $800, and a 42-inch 720p plasma (PN42B450B1D) for $625. A 50-inch 1080p plasma (PN50B550T2F) is $1,000.

Best Buy has also aggressively priced some of its Insignia-brand TVs, which act as a house brand. For example, a 42-inch, 720p plasma (NS-P42Q-10A) is priced at $550, and a 55-inch 1080p, 120Hz Insignia LCD (NS-L55X-10A) is $1,300. Best Buy is also offering a few Insignia TV/Blu-ray bundles, including a 46-inch 1080p LCD with 120 Hz technology (NS-L46Q120-10A) paired with a Wi-Fi enabled Insignia Blu-ray player (NS-WBRDVD ) for $900. A similar bundle, with a 42-inch 1080p, 120Hz set (NS-L42X-10A) LCD TV, is $800. The bundle deals include Geek Squad installation, including connecting the Blu-ray player to your home network.

Best Buy also has deals on several LG models, including a $1,500 55-inch 1080p set with 120Hz LCD (55LH40), a 42-inch 1080p LCD (42LH30-UA) for $615 and 47-inch version for $800. LG’s 55-inch LED-backlit LCD with 240Hz technology (55LH90, one of CR’s top-rated models) for $2,300, about $200 below its price when it was tested.

Among smaller sets, Best Buy has a 32-inch Insignia 720p LCD (NS-L32Q-10A) for $350, and a 26-inch 720p Dynex LCD for $280.

P.C. Richard
This NY-area retailer is leading its Big Game advertising with a 42-inch 720p Samsung plasma (PN42B430) for $580. A 40-inch 1080p Samsung LCD (LN40B550) is $755, and a 55-inch 1080p 120Hz Samsung LCD (LN55B650) is $1,800.

Also on sale are several LED-backlit Samsung LCDs, including the 40-inch B6000-series set for $1,400, comparable to what we’ve seen elsewhere. Other deals include the 46-inch UN46B6000 for $1,600, the 46-inch flagship UN46B8000 for $2,000, and
UN55B8000 for $2,800.

Note that these Samsung LED TVs are not bundled with “free” Blu-ray players. However, P.C. Richard is offering several Sony bundles that pair a Sony Bravia LCD TV with a Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray player. For example, a 40-inch “Eco” series Bravia LCD (KDL-40VE5) package is $800, while a bundle with Sony’s KDL-46XBR9, a flagship 240Hz set, is $1,590. Sony’s 46-inch 1080p Sony LCD (KDL-46S5100) for $780, but it doesn’t include a Blu-ray player.

There are also several deals on LG TVs, including a 60-inch 1080p plasma (60PS11) for $1,475, a 47-inch 1080p LCD (47LH30) for $780, and a 42-inch version of that set for $615. Also in the mix are a 46-inch Sharp Aquos LCD with an LED backlight (LC46E77U) for $1,260, and a 46-inch 1080p Toshiba LCD (46RV525R) for $757.

PC Richard offers free delivery, free set-up (placed on a stand and connected to a single source component), and free haul-away ad recycling.

Circuit City
Now an online retail brand owned by Systemax, the parent company of Tiger Direct, Circuit City gets into the Super Bowl fray with a few deals. For example, it’s offering Sony’s 52-inch V-series Bravia LCD (KDL52V5100), bundled with Sony’s BDP-N460 network Blu-ray player and free delivery, for $1,475. LG’s 42-inch 1080 LCD set (42LH30) is priced at $650 with free shipping.

The retailer’s price on Samsung’s 40-inch LED-backlit UN40B6000 set, which includes a bundled Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, is $1,200, $200 lower than other places. A similar package, but with the 46-inch B6000-series set, is $1,600, and the flagship 55-inch B8000-series bundle is $2,800. Oddly, however, there is often no difference between the price of just the TV and the TV/Blu-ray bundle. Also, some prices are for "open box" models from this dealer.

In plasma sets, Circuit has the 50-inch Panasonic X1-series 720p set for $765, $65 more than Sears.

Abe’s of Maine
During Black Friday, we saw a lot of great deals at Abe’s of Maine, so we decided to check its deals for the Super Bowl. Like then, Abe's prices can vary from very low to well above those offered buy competitors, so you'll need to do some legwork. For example, in plasma sets Abe’s has Panasonic’s 42-inch 720p X1-series set
(TC-P42X1) for $688, and the 50-inch version for $828, more than Sears. But its price on the 46-inch 1080p S1 model is $895, more than $100
cheaper than at Sears.

Abe's has Sony’s 52-inch Bravia KDL-52XBR9 model, a 1080p set with 240Hz technology, for $1,748. Its price on Samsung’s 40-inch B6000 LCD with an LED backlight (UN40B6000) is $1,148, a few hundred dollars less than Sears’ price. The 46-inch step-up 46UNB7000 is $1,638, but it doesn't include a bundled Samsung Blu-ray player, though we've seen that model for about $120, so it's still a good deal.

In the bigger sets, Abe’s has a 60-inch LG plasma (60PS60) for just under $1,700, and Panasonic’s 65-inch S1-series Viera for $2,728. It also has the increasingly hard to find 60-inch Pioneer Kuro PDP-6020FD, one of CR’s reference TVs, for just under $4,000.

Abe’s generally includes free delivery and a free wall mount.

One note of caution: Many retailers, including Best Buy, Sears and P.C. Richard, have extended their "no-interest; financing offers, sometimes to 24 months or more. While this can be an attractive option, you need to make sure that you don't miss a minimum monthly payment, and pay off the balance before the term expires. If not, you'll likely be responsible for the interest–perhaps as high as 25 percent—dating all the way back to the date of purchase.

Have you seen any great Super Bowl deals? If so, we'd like to hear about them, so hit the Comments section at the bottom of the blog and let us know about the best deals you're seeing.

—James K. Willcox

If you’re still looking for a new TV for the Super Bowl, this year’s “Big Game” is looking a lot like Black Friday, when sub-$500 flat-panel TVs were used as a shopping enticement.

In fact, based on the recently released Super Bowl advertising circulars and online specials we’ve seen from the major retailers, $500 seems to be the new entry-level price point for a 42-inch plasma, while 50-inch 720p sets start at about $700—about the same price as a major-brand 42-inch 1080p plasma set.

The LCD pricing picture is a bit blurrier, due primarily to the wide range of potential features—such as 120Hz or 240Hz technology and LED backlights—being offered. But among major brands, we’re seeing 40- to 42-inch 60Hz 1080p LCDs start just above $600, while 46- or 47-inch 120Hz 1080p models begin at about $800. The least expensive LED-backlit models, in the 40-inch screen size, begin at about $1,200.

We’re also seeing some major-brand 720p 32-inch LCD sets as low as $350, and off-brands for even less.

Here’s a quick rundown on some of the specials we’ve seen from major consumer electronics retailers. We'll also be following up with deals from Walmart and Target.

Sears
Overall, Sears is offering a 5 percent instant savings on LCD TVs $499 or more online only, or 10 percent instant savings or 24 months no-interest financing for purchases $999 or more when you use a Sears charge card.

Among the key enticements is a $450 42-inch Zenith plasma, model Z42PQ20. For $600 you can get a 42-inch Panasonic 720p plasma (TC-P42X1) for $600, though its 50-inch sibling is just $100 more. If a 1080p model is in your sights, Panasonic’s 42-inch S1-series 1080p plasma is $700, or $1,000 for the 46-inch version.

If you’re looking for an LCD with an LED backlight, Sears is bundling a free Samsung Blu-ray player (we believe its the BD-P1600) and free delivery with certain Samsung LED-backlit models. For example, the Samsung UN40B6000 is priced at $1,400, while a larger 46-inch step-up model (UN46B7000) is priced at $1,930, and a 55-inch flagship UN55B8000 set is $2,800.

Among smaller sets, Sears has a 32-inch Sony 720- set (32L5000) for $400, and a 32-inch 720p Panasonic LCD (TC-L32C12) for $350. A 32-inch Samsung 720p set (LN32B360) is $380.

Best Buy
Like Sears, Best Buy has pursued a bundling strategy with many Samsung LED-backlit models 40-inches or larger, combining the TV, a BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, plus free delivery and a basic hookup (the TV paced on a stand and connected to one source component) and recycling in a single package price. For example, the bundle with Samsung’s 46-inch UN46B800XF LED-lit set with 240Hz technology is $2,000, while the package with a 40-inch 120Hz model (the UN40B6000VF) is $1,400, the same price as Sears.

Other Samsung deals include a 58-inch 1080p Samsung plasma (PN58B550) for $1,600, a 50-inch 720p (PB50B450B1D) plasma for $800, and a 42-inch 720p plasma (PN42B450B1D) for $625. A 50-inch 1080p plasma (PN50B550T2F) is $1,000.

Best Buy has also aggressively priced some of its Insignia-brand TVs, which act as a house brand. For example, a 42-inch, 720p plasma (NS-P42Q-10A) is priced at $550, and a 55-inch 1080p, 120Hz Insignia LCD (NS-L55X-10A) is $1,300. Best Buy is also offering a few Insignia TV/Blu-ray bundles, including a 46-inch 1080p LCD with 120 Hz technology (NS-L46Q120-10A) paired with a Wi-Fi enabled Insignia Blu-ray player (NS-WBRDVD ) for $900. A similar bundle, with a 42-inch 1080p, 120Hz set (NS-L42X-10A) LCD TV, is $800. The bundle deals include Geek Squad installation, including connecting the Blu-ray player to your home network.

Best Buy also has deals on several LG models, including a $1,500 55-inch 1080p set with 120Hz LCD (55LH40), a 42-inch 1080p LCD (42LH30-UA) for $615 and 47-inch version for $800. LG’s 55-inch LED-backlit LCD with 240Hz technology (55LH90, one of CR’s top-rated models) for $2,300, about $200 below its price when it was tested.

Among smaller sets, Best Buy has a 32-inch Insignia 720p LCD (NS-L32Q-10A) for $350, and a 26-inch 720p Dynex LCD for $280.

P.C. Richard
This NY-area retailer is leading its Big Game advertising with a 42-inch 720p Samsung plasma (PN42B430) for $580. A 40-inch 1080p Samsung LCD (LN40B550) is $755, and a 55-inch 1080p 120Hz Samsung LCD (LN55B650) is $1,800.

Also on sale are several LED-backlit Samsung LCDs, including the 40-inch B6000-series set for $1,400, comparable to what we’ve seen elsewhere. Other deals include the 46-inch UN46B6000 for $1,600, the 46-inch flagship UN46B8000 for $2,000, and
UN55B8000 for $2,800.

Note that these Samsung LED TVs are not bundled with “free” Blu-ray players. However, P.C. Richard is offering several Sony bundles that pair a Sony Bravia LCD TV with a Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray player. For example, a 40-inch “Eco” series Bravia LCD (KDL-40VE5) package is $800, while a bundle with Sony’s KDL-46XBR9, a flagship 240Hz set, is $1,590. Sony’s 46-inch 1080p Sony LCD (KDL-46S5100) for $780, but it doesn’t include a Blu-ray player.

There are also several deals on LG TVs, including a 60-inch 1080p plasma (60PS11) for $1,475, a 47-inch 1080p LCD (47LH30) for $780, and a 42-inch version of that set for $615. Also in the mix are a 46-inch Sharp Aquos LCD with an LED backlight (LC46E77U) for $1,260, and a 46-inch 1080p Toshiba LCD (46RV525R) for $757.

PC Richard offers free delivery, free set-up (placed on a stand and connected to a single source component), and free haul-away ad recycling.

Circuit City
Now an online retail brand owned by Systemax, the parent company of Tiger Direct, Circuit City gets into the Super Bowl fray with a few deals. For example, it’s offering Sony’s 52-inch V-series Bravia LCD (KDL52V5100), bundled with Sony’s BDP-N460 network Blu-ray player and free delivery, for $1,475. LG’s 42-inch 1080 LCD set (42LH30) is priced at $650 with free shipping.

The retailer’s price on Samsung’s 40-inch LED-backlit UN40B6000 set, which includes a bundled Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray player, is $1,200, $200 lower than other places. A similar package, but with the 46-inch B6000-series set, is $1,600, and the flagship 55-inch B8000-series bundle is $2,800. Oddly, however, there is often no difference between the price of just the TV and the TV/Blu-ray bundle. Also, some prices are for "open box" models from this dealer.

In plasma sets, Circuit has the 50-inch Panasonic X1-series 720p set for $765, $65 more than Sears.

Abe’s of Maine
During Black Friday, we saw a lot of great deals at Abe’s of Maine, so we decided to check its deals for the Super Bowl. Like then, Abe's prices can vary from very low to well above those offered buy competitors, so you'll need to do some legwork. For example, in plasma sets Abe’s has Panasonic’s 42-inch 720p X1-series set
(TC-P42X1) for $688, and the 50-inch version for $828, more than Sears. But its price on the 46-inch 1080p S1 model is $895, more than $100
cheaper than at Sears.

Abe's has Sony’s 52-inch Bravia KDL-52XBR9 model, a 1080p set with 240Hz technology, for $1,748. Its price on Samsung’s 40-inch B6000 LCD with an LED backlight (UN40B6000) is $1,148, a few hundred dollars less than Sears’ price. The 46-inch step-up 46UNB7000 is $1,638, but it doesn't include a bundled Samsung Blu-ray player, though we've seen that model for about $120, so it's still a good deal.

In the bigger sets, Abe’s has a 60-inch LG plasma (60PS60) for just under $1,700, and Panasonic’s 65-inch S1-series Viera for $2,728. It also has the increasingly hard to find 60-inch Pioneer Kuro PDP-6020FD, one of CR’s reference TVs, for just under $4,000.

Abe’s generally includes free delivery and a free wall mount.

One note of caution: Many retailers, including Best Buy, Sears and P.C. Richard, have extended their "no-interest; financing offers, sometimes to 24 months or more. While this can be an attractive option, you need to make sure that you don't miss a minimum monthly payment, and pay off the balance before the term expires. If not, you'll likely be responsible for the interest–perhaps as high as 25 percent—dating all the way back to the date of purchase.

Have you seen any great Super Bowl deals? If so, we'd like to hear about them, so hit the Comments section at the bottom of the blog and let us know about the best deals you're seeing.

—James K. Willcox

The Palm Pre Plus (left) and Palm Pixi Plus
Photo: Palm

Verizon finally has a Palm Pre and Pixi of its own, complementing the very similar Sprint versions of these smart phones. Known as “Plus” models, and costing $150 and $100 respectively, the most interesting new capability of the Verizon versions is the ability of the Palm Pre Plus to act as a 3G hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a service called Mobile Hotspot.

The service is a free download from the Palm App Catalog. Not free is the service, which costs $40 on top of your data plan of $30 or more. What’s more, you’ll pay an extra 5 cents per megabyte if you exceed the monthly data allowance of 5 gigabytes.

But at least Mobile Hotspot is fairly easy to set up. When you launch it for the first time, it asks you to create a password (8 to 63 characters). You can also change the name of phone network from the default webOS Network. Then all you have to do just have to go into the Wi-Fi setting of your laptop or other wireless device, select the Palm network hotspot you created, type in the password, and voila.

Download speeds on 3G are noticeably slower than Wi-Fi—especially if you have several devices hooked up at the same time. But the connection can be a lifesaver when you’re out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot and need to connect several devices to the Internet.

However, other smart phones, including the Motorola Droid, can attach to your laptop so that you can use their 3G data connections to access the Internet—also from an additional monthly fee.

The new Verizon Palm phones, are largely identical to their Sprint cousins, which remain available. The Pre Plus ($150 with a two-year contract and rebates) has double the memory of the Sprint Pre, offering 16 gigabytes (GB). It also drops the pearl-like hardware button for closing apps, leaving that job to a swipe on the gesture bar. The only improvement to the Pixi ($100), which I’m not reviewing but will soon be in our Ratings, is that it gains Wi-Fi capability.

One quibble about the Palm Pre Plus: As with the Pre that debuted on Sprint, the tiny keys on its tiny keyboard perform double duty for numbers, punctuation, and symbols. But at least on the Sprint Pre, the numbers are highlighted in bright orange. On the Pre Plus, however, the number keys are no longer highlighted, which further complicates the already difficult task of finding them.

—Mike Gikas