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Sure, you can still pick up a 4GB refurbished iPod nano for around $99. But for just $20 more, you can get a brand spankin' new 8GB Zune from OfficeMax. They'll even pick up the shipping (though you'll probably have to pay sales tax). Here's why the Zune trumps the nano:

• It has an FM tuner.
• It can wirelessly sync with your PC. One less cable snaking across your desk!
• It's compatible with Microsoft's all-you-can-eat subscription service.

And let's not forget the obvious: You're getting twice the storage space for a mere 20 bucks extra. Granted, iTunes is vastly superior to Zune Marketplace in terms of selection (for music and video alike), and the nano has a slightly larger screen than the Zune. But those are nit-picks: The Zune is slim, cute, pocket-friendly, versatile, and a steal at $119.99 shipped. I've been carrying one lately when I run, and it's a great little exercise companion.

These will sell out crazy-fast, so I'm going to keep it brief: Buy.com has reconditioned Xbox 360 Premium consoles on sale for $199.99--and shipping is free!

This is the non-HDMI version, but it does include the standard 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, and headset. Alas, you get only a 60-day warranty--though arguably a reconditioned Xbox will outlast a new one.

This deal is $20 sweeter than the last time I posted about a refurb Xbox 360, so if you've been waiting to pull the trigger on this killer console (and media-center extender), wait no longer.

Don't keep that Brendan Benson collection to yourself. Or that Arcade Fire. Heck, even that John Mayer. Plug a set of portable speakers into your iPod, Zune, Zen, or other MP3 player and let the world (or at least the nearby) jam with you. B&H Photo has the JBL On Tour Portable Speaker System for $29.95, plus a reasonable six bucks (ish) for shipping.

These cool-looking curved speakers (which originally sold for $100) run on AC power or a quartet of AAA batteries--the latter good for up to 24 hours of play time, according to JBL. A protective sliding cover doubles as a stand for the speakers, which point the sound upward--arguably the best way to fill a (smallish) room. An included patch cable lets you connect any audio source that has a 3.5mm jack.

CNET had mostly good things to say about the On Tour, while readers were even more effusive, rating it 8.6 out of 10 on average. So take off the headphones and let your tunes fill the air. (No rap, please.)

In my experience, most computer users have pretty basic needs. Word processing, Web browsing, e-mail, maybe a little money management and photo organizing. The Acer Aspire Slim ASL100-ED420A has more than enough horsepower for tasks like those, yet it's priced at a mere $349.99. Free shipping, no rebates, and it's not even a refurb.

The Acer's specs include an AMD 2.2GHz 4200+ dual-core processor, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and even an 802.11b/g wireless card (fairly rare in a desktop)--all packed into a slim, stylish case. The only shortcoming I can see is the 1GB of RAM, some of which is allocated to the GeForce 6150 graphics card. Because Vista (in this case Home Premium) all but demands 1GB for decent performance, this machine could prove a little pokey. If it does, bump the RAM to 2GB and you'll be golden.

Acer provides a 1-year warranty on parts and labor. This looks like a very solid desktop deal for students, seniors, the home-office crowd, or anyone else looking for, well, a solid desktop.

Last month I mentioned that you shouldn't overpay for HDMI cables: The cheap ones are generally just as good as their pricey counterparts. Of course, the best deal is when you don't pay anything at all, like with eCost's free-after-rebate Azio 6-foot HDMI cable.

Shipping is way overpriced at $9.50 (for a cable? C'mon, eCost), but in the end you're getting an HDMI cable for $9.50--a great deal any way you slice it.

The rebate offer (PDF) is good until June 30, though who knows how long eCost's stock will last? For what it's worth, I just picked up an Azio USB/SATA hard-drive enclosure--also free after rebate (same form)--and it's working like a champ.

Remember the Logitech iPod AudioStation? First it was $50 (after rebate), then $29.99 (after rebate). Now you can scoop one up for a measly $19.99 (after...you know). Shipping will run you around $14, which seems steep given the price of the hardware itself, but your out-the-door total is still pretty low.

The AudioStation (originally $150) is an iPod speaker dock paired with an AM/FM tuner. It includes a wireless remote, an audio input jack (for connecting non-iPod players), and composite and S-Video outputs (for watching iPod videos on a TV). It charges your iPod, of course, and cranks out 80 watts' worth of audio goodness. CNET's very favorable AudioStation review awarded it an 8 out of 10.

This a new unit, not a refurb, and it comes with an impressive 2-year warranty. The rebate deal (PDF) ends June 30.

I've yet to see a 500GB external hard drive for less than $80, even on Black Friday. But Buy.com has the Micronet Fantom Titanium II 500GB USB drive for $69.99 shipped (after a $20 mail-in rebate). That's a lotta storage for not a lotta cash. (Somewhere my old grammar teacher is feeling faint.)

This 7,200-rpm drive promises solid performance and near-silent operation, as it's housed in a fanless enclosure. It's not much to look at, but, hey, you're paying for gigabytes, not glamour. CNET hasn't reviewed the drive, but a couple users gave it high marks.

In addition to the rebate, there's one small catch: This is a recertified drive. Normally that would raise a red flag (used storage? No thank you), but I'm increasingly convinced that recertified/refurbished gear is at least as good as new, if not better. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty, just like a new drive. Let your conscience--no, your wallet--be your guide.

Time was, a MiniDV camcorder would set you back $300 minimum. Now you can scoop up a JVC GR-DA30 for a measly $119.99 (plus 10 bucks or so for shipping). It's a manufacturer-recertified unit with a less-than-stellar warranty, but it's also a pretty impressive camcorder for the money.

The GR-DA30 features a 30x optical zoom (!), a sliding 2.4-inch LCD on the rear of the body (!), and a battery JVC says will give you 115 minutes of shooting time (again, !). It also promises video-noise reduction in low-light environments, though I'm skeptical about that: I've yet to see a single-CCD camcorder that didn't produce considerable noise when the lighting is dim.

As with virtually all MiniDV camcorders, you'll need a FireWire port on your PC if you want to import and edit video. CNET hasn't reviewed this model, but it does have all the specs. Meanwhile, you can watch this goofy but informative video review.

The only thing that gives me pause here is the warranty, which covers parts for 90 days and labor for just 30. But assuming JVC's, um, refurbishers did their job, the camcorder should be good as new. It's definitely a deal worth considering if you're a weekend videographer on a tight budget.

Running out of storage space on your notebook hard drive? Would an extra 160GB do ya? Newegg has the Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Edition on sale for $49.99 shipped. It's a compact, travel-friendly drive stocked with backup, sync, and system-rollback software.

I own one of these babies, and it's a slice of portable-storage heaven. However, I do wish it had an integrated USB cable instead of the separate one that's included. On the plus side, this is a new unit, not a refurb, and it includes a one-year warranty. CNET gave the OneTouch high marks, praising its solid performance, easy setup, and useful bundled software.

The USB-powered drive spins at 5,400 rpm, weighs 7.2 ounces, and works with Windows and Mac systems. Normally it sells for at least $75, so at 50 bucks shipped, Newegg is likely to blow through its inventory in a hurry. Don't wait if you want in on this deal.