Old flames: Products that keep the retro fires burning
It's no fun when lovers play mind games, but there's no shortage of ways to celebrate one's love of old video games, not to mention other tech products carrying brands that once flamed ...
Sales on these devices don't always yield big discounts, but here's how to save a little on these popular holiday gifts.
[Update] By now we know Apple will once again offer iTunes gift cards with the purchase of iPads at full price, though the amounts are slightly less generous than last year — and less than what Target is providing this year. Note, however, that most iPads on Target's website were out of stock by Thanksgiving evening. Alternately, MacMall is shaving a small amount off the purchase price of any iPad, such as $40 off a 16GB iPad Air 2.
They may not be the phenomenon they once were, but Apple iPads have become a perennial holiday present, and getting the best deal on one has become a Black Friday tradition. That's thanks in part to Apple's unwillingness (and lack of a need) to put its products on sale with any regularity. As a result, retailers need to get creative to differentiate their deals from the competition — after all, if everyone is selling the iPad Air 2 for the same price as Apple, what leads you to choose one store or another?
In some cases, the answer has been to offer store gift cards when you purchase an Apple product for the full price. That can be a nice enticement if you want to buy other items in the store, but not as exciting if you aren't interested. Another option is to purchase a previous generation of iPad, which has become a popular option as the rate of innovation in the tablet space has winnowed.
Here are the best deals you can find this Black Friday on a half-dozen iPad models, including the free gift card specials that many shoppers appreciate. Since new deals can crop up at any time in the week leading up the shopping holiday — Apple itself, for instance, waits until the last minute before posting its deals — we'll update this as necessary.
Caption by: Sean Portnoy
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