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Apple’s pay-to-play online service, which provides everything from email and photo publishing to calendar/contact syncing and Find My iPhone, gets a lot of grief, but it definitely has its uses and nothing else comes close for multiple app integration across many data types. Additionally, Apple keeps upgrading and updating the available services (i.e. the ongoing MobileMe Mail beta). Another sore point is the price ($99 SRP), though there’s no reason to pay full retail.

• MobileMe Individual, $66.98 (99)

• MobileMe Family Pack, $99.49 (149)

Also, click through for the best prices on Apple Certified Factory Refurbished Macs and iPods — same hardware, same warranty for hundreds less.