James Martin/CNET

Welcome to 2019, cheeps! Hope you had a wonderful holiday. As we jump into the new year, I wanted to remind you that there are lots of ways to keep tabs on Cheapskate deals:

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In your favorite RSS reader. Yes, RSS is still a thing. This is the Cheapskate RSS feed.



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. On Facebook and Twitter, where I often share bonus deals, updates, recommendations and other quick-hit goodies.



Speaking of quick hits, coming soon to an inbox near you: an afternoon edition of the Cheapskate newsletter. This is an experiment, and it probably won't be a daily thing, at least at first. The idea is to provide updates (like when the morning deal sells out quickly or I need to give you a new promo code) and late-breaking extra deals (those that come in after I've already published the morning newsletter).

The afternoon edition will be short and easy to scan -- basically an inbox edition of what I often share on social media. Stay tuned for updates on this, probably within a couple weeks.

Pixel pusher

On to business! Have you often wondered whether your next laptop should be a Chromebook? Maybe you've had your eye on Google's Pixelbook, a premium model with a decidedly premium price.

Now playing: Watch this: Google Pixelbook is premium power in a divine Chromebook

Today, you can save a whopping 40 percent -- provided you don't mind going the refurb route. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the certified-refurbished Google Pixelbook 12.3 for $599.99 shipped (plus tax). Regular price: $999.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking, "$1,000 for a Chromebook? Um, no." Because Chromebooks are supposed to be cheap, right? Indeed, many an entry-level model can be had for $200-300.

But the Pixelbook is anything but entry-level; it's as well-appointed as many premium Windows laptops. You get an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB solid-state drive and 12.3-inch touchscreen.

That screen delivers an impressive 2,400 by 1,600 pixels, and it resides on a 360-degree hinge, meaning the Pixelbook can handle tablet mode, tent mode and all that. Alas, taking a page from Microsoft, Google doesn't supply the Pixelbook Pen; that'll run you another $100.

I haven't used one of these myself, so I'll turn you over to CNET's Pixelbook review. Verdict: "A great everyday work machine," but hard to justify at $1,000.

Much easier to justify, perhaps, at $600? The catch, of course, is that because it's a refurb, you get only a 90-day warranty. Assuming you can live with that, this a premium Chromebook (thin, light, powerful) with a mid-range price tag.

Your thoughts?

Kingston

Bonus deal: If you're still trying to squeeze some extra life from your existing laptop, consider the best upgrade in the history of upgrades: a solid-state drive (SSD).

Like this one: For a limited time, and while supplies last, the Kingston A400 240GB SATA3 SSD is just $31.35 when you click the onscreen coupon. Regular price: $40.

To use this, you'll have to make sure your laptop can accommodate a drive of this size (and interface). Most likely it'll mean replacing your existing drive, which means you'll have to clone it first -- and Kingston doesn't supply the necessary cables or software.

But with a little online research (or a knowledgeable friend), you can accomplish that for cheap or even free. Trust me when I say, once you go SSD, you'll never go back. The performance difference is that big.

Read More: All the latest Best Buy coupons

Read More: All the latest Amazon coupons

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.