Setting the standard at ThriftyComputer.com

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Thrifty Computer

A 60-day warranty on a used 16GB iPhone 3G? Nope, we're not kidding!

So far, the industry standard for refurbished and used cell phones and accessories stands at a paltry 45 days. We at ThriftyComputer.com believe our consumers deserve better, so we’re extending our warranties on ALL of our products to set a NEW standard of 60 days.

That gives our customers 60 full days to get to know and love–or return–any cell phone, headset, webcam, microphone, absolutely anything we sell on ThriftyComputer.com. We believe in becoming industry leaders by giving our customers the best value for the best prices, and to us “value” means making sure you love what you’re getting.

So, starting this holiday season, we’ve been extending our warranties on ALL of our items to 60 days: new, used, factory refurbished, you name it, you get sixty days to test it out and make sure that you love it. For us, 45 days isn’t enough, and we want to make sure you have time to get to know and enjoy your new device…or if not, return it for a full refund.

The sixty day warranty is ONLY available from ThriftyComputer.com…so add us to your favorites and happy shopping!

Have you seen the hottest deals lately?

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Thrifty Computer

The LG GD510: A technological marvel at 48% less than our cheapest competitor.

The LG GD510 Pop Unlocked cell phone in Silver: A technological marvel at 48% less than our cheapest competitor.

If you haven’t visited the ThriftyComputer.com Deals Blog, I guarantee you haven’t.

ThriftyComputer.com offers exceptional pricing and warranties on all of our products…and we post our best savings and greatest deals on our Deals Blog…all the time! New products are featured regularly at almost-too-good-to-be-true-prices, such as the LG GD510 Pop Silver Unlocked GSM phone. We feature the hottest items at the most spectacular prices…the LG Pop undercuts our closest competitor by 48%.

Our holiday blowouts, clearance sales and other great deals are also featured on the ThriftyComputer.com Deals Blog, so make sure to bookmark it now to stay up-to-date on the best savings, the greatest prices and the most fantastic deals you’ll find on cell phones, computer accessories, Bluetooth headsets and much, much more. And with ThriftyComputer.com’s awesome selection of unlocked cell phones, you’ll not only get a great phone for a great price, you’ll have the freedom only an unlocked phone can offer, without being tied down to a particular plan or network.

Check out the ThriftyComputer.com Deals Blog today…and anytime you’re looking for a great deal on headsets, cell phones, webcams, you name it…the place to go for the best prices on the hottest devices is always going to be ThriftyComputer.com.

Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset Multiple Colors

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Thrifty Computer

The Logitech QuickCam WebCam – And You Thought What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Thrifty Computer

What could you do with a webcam?

The Sexy: The webcam was initially quite popular for capturing what we’ll euphemistically call “romantic moments,” often involving underage women wearing a less than respectable amount of clothing.

The Practical: Webcams have many family friendly uses. The spread of faster broadband internet connections is making the webcam more practical for streaming video in real time. It’s also great for integrating with software like Skype for video conference calls, either for business or to connect with loved ones.

The Adorable: KittenCam
Their motto is “If you can watch this for more than 15 seconds and not feel happier, then you are hopeless”

The Classic: Box Full of Puppies

And puppies in their little doggie beds.

TimesSquare can be seen through the EarthCam network.

Interested in a webcam of your own? The Logitech QuickCam Communicate Deluxe WebCam is available at ThriftyComputer for only $36.95.

Insane deals on electronics, Bluetooth Headsets and unlocked cell phones at Thriftycomputer

Posted on May 4, 2009 by David

In the 21st century getting electronics is an inescapable fact of life. We all need, at some point, computer accessories like PC and laptop mice, keyboards and web cameras. We also all need, at some point to update our cell phones, get new, better, Bluetooth Headsets and even iPod Accessories.

The point is that just because there is an overriding need to have new electronics, update older models and replace ones which are no longer performing at their best does not mean you have to pay top buck for it. Continue reading →

Most common webcam problems

Posted on September 1, 2008 by David

Here are answers to the most common problems encountered when setting up and using your webcam.

My webcam won’t install properly

If you are having trouble installing your Logitech webcam (in Windows), please try the following steps:

1. Unplug the webcam
2. Uninstall the QuickCam software
3. Reboot your computer
4. Make sure you have the latest QuickCam software. You can download it here as one big file, or here in smaller parts. This software is for the QuickCam Express, Pro 3000, Pro 4000, Messenger, Web, and Zoom. You should also make sure that you are running DirectX 8.1 or higher, which is available through your windows update feature if not yet installed.
5. Install the QuickCam software. Plug in your webcam only when prompted to by the software.

My webcam has blurry or grainy video

Logitech customer support has provided us with some tips on improving webcam image quality:

First, it’s important to have proper lighting conditions to obtain optimal performance. Here are some lighting scenarios below and ways that you can improve image quality:

Low Light: If you are using the QuickCam in a low-light environment and the image is dark, select the “Low Light Boost” option control in the “Camera/Settings” dialog. If the image still appears dark, additional light will be needed.

Back-Lighting: Make sure there is ample light directly on the subject you are recording. If the image closest to the camera appears dark and the background appears bright, adjust lighting accordingly to highlight the subject.

Fluorescent Lighting: It is important to have the correct “Anti Flicker” setting to prevent flickering or banding of the image under fluorescent lighting conditions. The “Anti-flicker” control is available in the “Camera/Settings” dialog.

Finally, if you have a blurry image, remember that your webcam has a focus ring built-in to the front. Just turn it to adjust focus accordingly.

If your webcam only produces white screens, black screens, or if there are vertical lines in the video, you likely have a defective unit. Please contact us to request a replacement.

If you are looking to purchase a new webcam and you are not sure which model would be best for you you should check out our handy webcam guide.

So check us out. Experience the freedom of a quality webcam at a great price and enjoy the experience.

Are you ready to find cheap computer accessories?

Would you like unlocked cell phones?

Ready to find best priced iPod Accessories?

We have some excellent quality Bluetooth Headsets

Top-quality, competitively priced MP3 Players

Headsets, Keyboards & Mice

Choosing a webcam to buy

Posted on September 1, 2008 by David

Choosing which webcam to buy seems like a easy enough task. But in fact it can be very confusing and frustrating. Lets start from the basics:

If you have a flat panel monitor – LCD you will need a webcam that either was designed for flat panel’s or includes a flat panel clip. Read the product description very carefully to see if the product includes the clip. Some do but others dont.

Price is always a major factor which is why Logitech. The worlds leader in webcams, makes about 30 different models. Decide how you are going to use the cam, are you going to be holding video conferences and want good quality ? Or do you just want to have a live cam up on a web page.
Usually a medium end camera will do the trick, here are a few cam’s I recommend:

*NOTE: There are 2 versions to each cam, the older one is always cheaper however the newer one has more advanced features, is USB 2.0, has a flat panel clip and is alot sleeker.*

Quickcam messenger older model, built in mic and decent photo / video. 15$

Quickcam messenger 2.0 is Logitech’s most solid cam at this price. USB 2.0, flat panel clip, good image and built in mic. 25-30$

The new and improved Quickcam IM 2.0 is a beuty inside and out. Rightsound technology makes the built in mic a pleasure to use. Sleek design makes it a honor to have on your monster and video / picture quality far surpassing its price, 20$

The Quickcam Communicate STX 2.0 is in the middle range of cam’s. For a price that wont send you to the poor house 30$ you can get a great cam with impressive quality and performance.

If you have a high end desktop and deep pockets I recommend the Quickcam pro 4000. I currently do not sell them but I have sold a few hundred pieces and they are a AWESOME cam. 1.3 mega pixel image, Auto face tracking, and crystal clear video. It’s well worth the 55$ if you can afford it.

The Quickcam Fusion is the king of its class, killer design and unbeatable features including; Rightsound and Rightlight technology. Logitech video effects makes caming a whole new hobby! Use 3D animated avatars that will mimic you facial expression, a big hit with kids! But it comes at a steep price 70$

If you have a laptop, there are a few notebook cam’s out. They usually include a special case to transport the cam. You can also buy a cam like the messenger 2.0 flat panel but they are not designed to transport around like the notebook models.

The Logitech Quickcam for notebooks, a medium end cam retailing for just 30$

Quickcam for notebooks Deluxe fetures inteligant face tracking and advanced lighting so your allways in the picture. Retailing for 35$ its a good bargin!

For the best and nothing but the best get the Quickcam for notebooks Pro. With all the features of the previous cam’s and many more, its a notebook version of the fusion and worth every penny if you can afford it’s steep price; 70$

There are many generic and cheap camera model’s out on the market which may be good if you dont want to spend much and may use the cam once or twice. But for a good, solid, dependable and long lasting cam I recommend only Logitech. I have sold over 5,000 Logitech cam’s with maybe 20 of them not working.

Some cam’s include a free headset which can be very useful and sometimes even necessary when holding video chat and talking as opposed to typing. While the cam usually has a built in mic, a headset will give you a lot better voice quality.

Many Logitech cam’s include some advanced and nifty features. One is Auto Face Tracking where the cam will zoom in and follow motions. The newer and more expensive cam’s include a advanced technology called Rightlight which is like a kind of camera flash and advanced color graphix and is very good for low light situations.