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Tablet Tuesday: Get an iPad Pro 12.9 with 2-year warranty for $589

From the Cheapskate: That's the lowest price to date on Apple's big tablet, and you get bonus warranty coverage! Plus: a free Windows 10 e-book and dirt-cheap Samsung Gear VR. And enter to win a OnePlus 3 smartphone!

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read

CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.


Watch this: First impressions of the iPad Pro

So many sweet deals today, cheeps! And your chance to win a killer smartphone, too. Let's kick off this Tuesday with one of my favorite product categories: tablets.

I believe this is the first time I've discussed Apple's giant iPad Pro 12.9, simply because I've rarely seen a deal on one. Today's deal is a deal and then some.

ipad-pro-9-7-7454.jpg

iPads in photo may be larger than they appear. (This is the 9.7-inch Pro.)

James Martin/CNET

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Daily Steals has the Apple Certified Refurbished iPad Pro 12.9 (32GB) for $589.99 shipped when you apply promo code cheapschool at checkout. That price includes Daily Steals' extended two-year warranty, which would normally add $59.99. The tablet is available in your choice of silver or space gray.

This is a very unusual deal in that most refurbished iPads are not Apple Certified, meaning it's tough to gauge what condition they'll be in. These Pros should look and operate like new, complete with the new casing and battery Apple provides when you buy refurbs directly.

Speaking of which, Apple charges $679 for a refurbished iPad Pro 12.9. This is less, obviously, and you get that extremely awesome extra warranty.

As for the Pro itself, it's "the iPad that can replace your laptop" -- though obviously you'd need a keyboard if you want to go that route. Apple's Smart Keyboard costs a soul-crushing $169, but you could pair any Bluetooth keyboard -- including something like the Zagg Messenger Folio, currently around $60.

If you're not sure whether the iPad Pro will suit your needs, read CNET's extensive review. Likewise, check out the iPad Pro vs. Surface Pro 4 prize-fight video.

I've always considered big tablets to be niche products: too unwieldy for typical tablet tasks, too limited for full-time laptop duty. But if you've had your eye on the iPad Pro 12.9, here's your chance to score one for $210 less than the list price.

Thoughts?

wiley-windows-10-bible.jpg
Wiley

Bonus deal: Still learning your way around Windows 10? Need help with some of the techier aspects of the OS? TradePub is offering Wiley's "Windows 10 Bible" e-book for free in exchange for some info about your business. Valued at $32.99, the 888-page (!) guide aims to help beginners and power users alike. The book is provided as a DRM-free PDF.

Bonus deal No. 2: Sorry to repeat myself, but the single best consumer-VR option right now is the Samsung Gear VR. Paired with a compatible Samsung smartphone, it delivers some seriously good experiences -- for a fraction of the cost of an Oculus Rift. Normally the headset runs $99.99, but you can once again get a refurbished Gear VR for $49.95 shipped. If you grabbed one of these already, hit the comments and share your thoughts with your fellow cheeps!

Giveaway: The OnePlus 3 is widely regarded as one of the top Android phones in its class; it's definitely one of the best deals. Of course, there's no better deal than free, which is why you should drop everything and enter CNET's OnePlus 3 Giveaway. All you have to do is complete a short form and, bam, you're entered. The winner will be notified after September 5. Good luck!