Productopia

According to an article in today's USA Today, this year's holiday shopping season is shaping up to be vastly different from 2008's last-minute discount free-for-all. According to Jayne O'Donnell's article, retailers will be taking a more measured approach. Instead of deep December sales, stores will be offering earlier, less drastic deals. So even though it's not even officially autumn yet, savvy shoppers should start thinking sooner rather than later about Santa.

Reviewers have begun to weigh in on the Sony PS3 Slim's prowess as a Blu-ray player. While the new $299 price has helped re-establish the console as a great value -- especially for those interested in its game-playing abilities -- performance tests reveal some shortcomings. To be sure, tons of pluses remain, and the PS3 Slim remains a very capable Blu-ray spinner. However, if your only interest is in playing back Blu-ray discs, we think that some standalone players deserve serious consideration as well.

Reviewers have begun to weigh in on the Sony PS3 Slim's prowess as a Blu-ray player. While the new $299 price has helped re-establish the console as a great value -- especially for those interested in its game-playing abilities -- performance tests reveal some shortcomings. To be sure, tons of pluses remain, and the PS3 Slim remains a very capable Blu-ray spinner. However, if your only interest is in playing back Blu-ray discs, we think that some standalone players deserve serious consideration as well.

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What a summer it's been. Since we published our new report on Personal Finance Sites in May, our top pick, Mint.com has undergone a number of changes, regularly piling on new features and winning accolades from reviewers, most of whom prefer it over competitor Intuit's Quicken Online. That competition is about to come to a screeching halt, however, as Mint.com has been acquired by Intuit for $170 million, as confirmed by Mint.com CEO Aaron Patzer at the TechCrunch50 event this month. Mint.com received a $50,000 award when it launched two years ago at TechCrunch40, a competition that pits start-ups against one another. Patzer will join Intuit as GM of the company's Personal Finance group, which includes Quicken and Quicken Online.

What a summer it's been. Since we published our new report on Personal Finance Sites in May, our top pick, Mint.com has undergone a number of changes, regularly piling on new features and winning accolades from reviewers, most of whom prefer it over competitor Intuit's Quicken Online. That competition is about to come to a screeching halt, however, as Mint.com has been acquired by Intuit for $170 million, as confirmed by Mint.com CEO Aaron Patzer at the TechCrunch50 event this month. Mint.com received a $50,000 award when it launched two years ago at TechCrunch40, a competition that pits start-ups against one another. Patzer will join Intuit as GM of the company's Personal Finance group, which includes Quicken and Quicken Online.

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Among the many brands and models of luggage ConsumerSearch reviewed for our full report on luggage, one stood out -- and not in a good way. Although Samsonite has earned a reputation for durable luggage in the past (check out this wacky commercial from the '70s, where luggage is trampled by a marching band), reviewers say its Samsonite Black Label X-Lite line doesn't measure up.