Don't expect to get a better deal here on anything that China imports--unless you are going to Hong Kong. I paid 30% more for my camera than I would have in the States--and the instruction manual is in Chinese.
Bring a laptop, buy it in Hong Kong, or do as I do: do without the laptop and input things at internet cafes (25-40 cents an hour) or hostels (sometimes free).
But: I bought an "Easy-Own" phone here from China Mobile for $28. Calls cost 3-5 cents a minute nationwide. IM is cheaper and more widely used than phone calls. There is no service contract. They have an English help-line. You buy widely available "charge" cards in advance and call in the scratch-off number and your phone gets credited.
