Happy Thanksgiving!! Happy Black Friday Hunting!!
Well thanks to a great deal on Samsung TVs at Sam’s Club, I am no longer watching the wall mount. It now has a huge TV attached to it…I can say that 4K with 240 motion rate makes the old James Bond movies from the 60’s and 70’s look like they were filmed yesterday!
TV tech has changed rapidly in the last few years. The Plasma one that I had was 60” and it’s highest resolution was 1080p. It had been a step up from the previous Sony DLP.
The latest tech is 8K, but not much is out yet for that high of a resolution.
The latest Apple TV box is 4K and that will give you a great picture on a 4K display. This is also a truism for computer monitors – most being sold today are 1080p, with some at 4K and some at 2K.
If you are doing graphics and video for high end work, such as 4K or 8K, then you will need to consider more than just a new monitor. You will probably need at least 8GB of video ram on a rather fast card as well.
If you are looking for a T.V., go for 4K with 240 motion rates. There are many that are 120 as well and look pretty good.
Since many folks ask me for advice about various items, I thought I would round up a few GREAT deals that are happening from now until “Black Friday”.
For laptops and desktops, go with a minimum i5 processor, SSD, and 16GB of RAM. I think my last blog post here has some more information for you, if you missed it (https://mac-pc-assist.com/black-friday-what-you-need-to-know/).
(BLOG STUFF…IMPORTANT!)
Privacy
Lately I have been testing out some VPN software for privacy after I got hacked in July. It was a rather scary experience. Every day since, someone has been trying to steal my social media accounts in Instagram. Annoying, but I setup “two factor authentication” on almost every single site that allows it.
One of my clients had similar issues. They picked up the NordVPN product and asked me to help set it up and show them how to use it.
The VPN software is available for MAC, PC, iPhone and Android and I do recommend it. If you are using public wifi, that signal between the access point and your device is easily hacked. Heck, I can get on the wifi at a hotel and see EVERYONE’S DEVICES using my net scanning app.
After much research, I stared using NordVPN for my iPhone and computers. It’s easy to setup and it also can block dangerous phishing and malware as well as ads that can lead to a major infection. This is built into the product and is under Settings/CyberSec. I also have the Malwarebytes product on my system to ensure that nothing gets ine.
Right now there is a SPECIAL for NordVPN from my site for $2.99 monthly prepaid for the year.
Here’s the link to sign up for the service: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=19099&url_id=902
If you need or want help with this, please call me and I will come out and set it up and show you how to use it on your computers and devices.
Now, on to the Black Friday deals I have found around the web!
Black Friday
General (Costco/Sam’s Club/Others)
Costco: https://www.costco.com/black-friday.html
Sam’s Club: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/pagedetails/content.jsp?pageName=black-friday-catalog&xid=hpg:pov:1:1
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/m/deals/christmas-gifts/black-friday-buy-now
Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/black-friday/sale-ad/?category=doorbusters
Early access deal requires a sign in with your Best Buy membership…
BH Photo: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/holiday-shopping/deals
Adorama: https://www.adorama.com/g/black-friday-deals (note that the deals are not live yet…)
Specific Categories:
Watches (Y’all know I have a watch blog…)
- Apple Series 3 with GPS and Cellular: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1362218-REG/apple_mqk92ll_a_watch_series_3_42mm.html
- Macy’s has the Apple 3 for $199 ON Black Friday according to USA Today: https://www.macys.com/shop/product/applewatch-series3-gps-38mm-space-gray-aluminum-case-with-black-sport-band?ID=7119016&tdp&ranMID=3184&ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-cVoQ6ZifLmyvrZ0skyDXEQ&LinkshareID=TnL5HPStwNw-cVoQ6ZifLmyvrZ0skyDXEQ&PartnerID=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc=LINKSHARE-_-5-_-63-_-MP563
- Samsung Deals: https://www.samsung.com/us/smartwatches-and-fitness-bands/buy/s/Wearable/?CID=afl-ecomm-cjn-cha-092118-52057&cjevent=516f2276ec4c11e88034005d0a240612/
- Torgoen – I have reviewed one of their watches – great looking and great lume: https://torgoen.com/collections/best-sellers
- Deep Blue – another great brand – use CYBER at checkout for 40% off: https://www.deepbluewatches.com/
- Long Island Watch – all deals go live Thursday at 1PM EST – preview them here: https://www.longislandwatch.com/Black_Friday_Sale_Watches_s/1949.htm
Gaming:
- Gamestop’s ad: https://www.gamestop.com/collection/blackfridayad?mi_u=1285220373
- Sony has GREAT deals on controllers, games and the one year PS Plus membership: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/campaigns/2018/black-friday-week/
Computers/Devices
- HP Touchscreen at Sam’s Club: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/hp-touchscreen-hd-notebook-i7-8550u/prod22465030.ip?pid=_Aff_LS&siteID=0JlRymcP1YU-_K7avp7hhehpEt2p7SBEdQ&ranMID=38733&ranEAID=0JlRymcP1YU&ranSiteID=0JlRymcP1YU-_K7avp7hhehpEt2p7SBEdQ&pubNAME=CNET
- Apple iMac 21.5” or 27”at BestBuy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-21-5-imac-latest-model-intel-core-i5-2-3ghz-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/4881013.p?skuId=4881013
- Dell site – sale on now: https://deals.dell.com/category/gamingpcs?mkwid=swaM6Pax2&pcrid=311048631976&pkw=+black%20+friday%20+gaming%20+laptop%20+deals&pmt=b&pdv=c&slid=&product=&pgrid=61341471746&ptaid=aud-303408927813:kwd-306708482309&VEN1=swaM6Pax2,311048631976,901pdb6671,c,,,61341471746,aud-303408927813:kwd-306708482309&VEN2=b,+black%20+friday%20+gaming%20+laptop%20+deals&cid=312465116&lid=59673390768&dgc=st&dgseg=dhs&acd=1230923830920560&cid=312465116&st=%2Bblack+%2Bfriday+%2Bgaming+%2Blaptop+%2Bdeals&gclid=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFAqEPa1SqXrGjDV4WdpYUeV4Te2HwHcsw1gUFVqrxWalxc7OwhlnVkaAka-EALw_wcB&lid=59673390768&ptaid=aud-303408927813%3Akwd-306708482309&VEN1=swaM6Pax2%2C311048631976%2C901pdb6671%2Cc%2C%2C%2C61341471746%2Caud-303408927813%3Akwd-306708482309&VEN2=b%2C%2Bblack+%2Bfriday+%2Bgaming+%2Blaptop+%2Bdeals&pgrid=61341471746&dgc=st&dgseg=dhs&acd=1230923830920560&VEN3=153104662399138343
TVs
- Sam’s Club: Samsung with an Xbox: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/samsung-75-4k-2160p-ultra-hd-smart-led-tv-un75nu710dfxza/prod22273723.ip?pid=_Aff_LS&siteID=0JlRymcP1YU-RW0DdnPmMV6d2yiZMR6ASA&ranMID=38733&ranEAID=0JlRymcP1YU&ranSiteID=0JlRymcP1YU-RW0DdnPmMV6d2yiZMR6ASA&pubNAME=CNET
- Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/black-friday-tv-deals-1?ds_rl=1266837&ds_rl=1260573&ref=30&loc=KW-4325&ds_rl=1266837&gclid=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFDID4cBrRIjI-CS1Ui8J49xL9m4c7YXX0r0-gM-orWJ7rTCeIue2boaAgl8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
- Costco: See the general link above as the deals are not yet live.
Software
- Corel Software listed at Techradar: https://www.techradar.com/news/save-up-to-60-on-corel-software-for-black-friday-including-paintshop-pro
Photography (I have a website for that too…)
- Canon EOS Rebel T6 at Sam’s Club: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/canon-t6-bundle/prod20181608.ip?xid=catalog_blackfriday
- Nikon D750 bundle (I use this one professionally) at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D750-FX-format-Digital-Camera/dp/B0060MVJ1Q?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJTWW2G4XOALPCXAQ&tag=aawp2018-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0060MVJ1Q
- Canon has deals directly on their site: https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog?cm_mmc=CJ-_-eStore-_-130726044-_-CanonRe-DirectLink&WT.mc_id=C126149&cjevent=d045c430ec5911e8814700680a240611
Phones
- Long list at CNET: https://www.cnet.com/news/black-friday-2018-iphone-deals-free-iphone-xr-xs-for-750-off-free-400-iphone-x-gift-card/
Musical Instruments and Gear (No website but I have some videos on YouTube!)
- Sweetwater: https://www.sweetwater.com/sale/2018-black-friday-cyber-week?utm_content=hero&utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20181120-national-black-friday-sale-recording
- Guitar Center: https://www.guitarcenter.com/?source=4WWRWXGG&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_s7fBRDrARIsAGEvF8RZbjQLTmSqVMrXLw0Cr3z-hj2RndgPHeX-Ari-1A9vc6kyPpE5eOwaAs4_EALw_wcB
And that’s a wrap.
If you need help with your computer, devices or software, give me a call at (760) 550-9496, Scott. And yes, I can also setup guitars and basses…and talk about watches!