(MONEY Magazine) – EDITOR'S CHOICE E-mail for One and All

To some, e-mail may sound appealing--but not enough to justify buying or learning to use a computer. Cidco's MailStation, a book-size unit that plugs into a phone line, makes e-mailing easy and--at $99, plus $99 a year for service--relatively cheap. Call 800-718-1242. At the other end of the spectrum, the digital elite is staying in touch with Research in Motion's BlackBerry, a pager-size wireless e-mail device. Messages sent to your regular e-mail account are forwarded to the BlackBerry, and all e-mail messages are saved on your PC. The cost: $399, plus $39.99 a month for service. Call 877-255-2377.

HOLIDAY SAVINGS Cutting Deals

The experts we polled say the best blade for your Thanksgiving turkey is a Wusthof-Trident Classic 10-inch slicer (at left). It retails for $98 at most department stores, but you can save by shopping online at www.cooking.com, where the knife and a matching carving fork cost $69.95 each, plus $8 for shipping. Novice carvers might consider the smaller--and therefore more manageable--8-inch version, which sells for $67.20 at the same site.

PRICE ALERT List price on the Palm V fell $50 last month. Look for street prices to land near $300.--With Iomega touting 250MB Zip drives, still powerful 100MB models have dropped to below $100.

TRAVEL

SAVINGS FOR SKIERS Until the season kicks off with the first big snowfalls, the American Skiing Co. is offering discounted multiday lift tickets good at any of its nine resorts in California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, Utah and Vermont. The three- to 14-day passes save you between $4 and $18 a day and are valid the entire 1999-2000 season. Click on www.meticket.com for details.

CRUISE ALASKA in 2000. Book with travel agent Carlson Wagonlit between Oct. 17 and Nov. 30 for an Alaskan cruise anytime next year and save nearly 40%. A seven-night cruise, for example, is $999 per person, double occupancy. You also get a $150 to $250 rebate in traveler's checks. Call 800-227-5766.

EXPIRATIONS CANCELED Delta SkyMiles will no longer expire if, at least once every three years, members fly Delta, earn points through a program partner or redeem points they've already earned.