Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Staten said 9:11PM on 6-01-2007
Neopets.com is also very addicting. lol. xD
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Ramin said 9:48PM on 6-01-2007
I agree with ur point. everyday i'm online for about 4 or 5 hours. I can't stop its a habbit.
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anna said 10:14PM on 6-01-2007
YOu can easily spend a hour on e-bay. I did that already. You can spend 45 minutes on neopets without realizing it. You can spend hours on the various games sites out there. You can even spend alot of time on nexflix not knowing it.
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Dave said 10:20PM on 6-01-2007
Neopets suk
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amber said 10:22PM on 6-01-2007
www.zazzle.com/sappyjim* sn interesting place
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jim said 10:36PM on 6-01-2007
www.jenmodel.com always amases me
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spiderdan292 said 10:47PM on 6-01-2007
My Friday: 4 hours playing computer games,
2 hours reading blogs/chat forums
2 hours managing my ebay stuff
3 hours using IM and email
2 hours looking at wake boards and boat gear
its 11:00 PM now...that was my day! No internet addiction here...
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Mugglecrazed said 11:04PM on 6-01-2007
Two words. Stumble upon. Is WAYYYYY more addicting than anything on that list.
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leanne said 11:17PM on 6-01-2007
www.flixster.com
is pretty cool too
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Kaylee said 11:29PM on 6-01-2007
Ya, Neopets.com is EXTREMELY addicting, YouTube.com is EXTREMELY addicting, and Millsberry.com is EXTREMELY addicting! I'm on for hours on the sites and I lose track of time on these sites lol. :D
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blondekaty said 6:28PM on 6-02-2007
Puzzlepirates.com is super adictive
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lynsie said 11:38PM on 6-01-2007
myspace is really addicting and so is IM. i can be on both of those for hours and not even realizing it. i basically come home from school and go on the computer until i go to sleep which is like 7 hours
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CB said 12:06AM on 6-02-2007
Faniq.com is a sports prediction site that is very addicting as well:
http://www.faniq.com/sports-personality-test/28308/
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Kristina said 12:35AM on 6-02-2007
I spend hours & hours here. They have a place just like MySpace. They have an Arcade, a Lottery, Games, Trivia, Graphics, Health information, Cash prize contests, Blogs, Jokes, Poems, Recipes, And a lot more!!
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Kristina said 12:38AM on 6-02-2007
I spend hours & hours here. They have a place just like MySpace. They have an Arcade, a Lottery, Games, Trivia, Graphics, Health information, Cash prize contests, Blogs, Jokes, Poems, Recipes, And a lot more!!
www.OurSpotOnTheNet.com :)
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mepncal said 12:50AM on 6-02-2007
If you love parodies and are not so happy about organized religion try LANDOVERBAPTIST.ORG. It is a hoot.
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Jossy said 1:08AM on 6-02-2007
Gee, I don't go to any of those sites so it looks like I have a life or at least one that's a bit more fulfilling than all of you other's here. Am not knocking you by saying this so don't go and take it the wrong way. It's just that I have twenty six animals here (just got another new puppy about two months ago so the number went up to 26) that includes horses, kennel dogs, indoor dogs, and indoor cats. These furry kids keep me hopping nonstop and they're all so much fun to have around that I hardly have time to get onto the computer. When I do, I just check the news, my email, pay bills on line, and occasionally drop a wee note to one or two people. When not spending time with the fur and hair balls here, I get out to my Club and hang around for a few hours with real live people and on weekends, my husband and I always have some sort of building project going on or mass claw clipping chore to do, shots to give, worming, grooming, and of course teaching and play time for the animals and us. You stay in shape, don't get fat, and I think it may actaully give us a few extra year's of life. It might do some of you some good too if you went to your local animal shelter and offered to walk some of the dogs there, play with them, groom them, and then try to find good homes for them....and possibly adopt a few for yourself...along with a few cats. It would save many animal's from being put to death for not having someone adopt them, it would give you some exercise, and it would also give your tired computer a rest too.
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LULU said 1:11AM on 6-02-2007
www.dlisted.com and www.perezhilton.com.... super addictive
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Vanessa said 1:23AM on 6-02-2007
Broadcaster.com
This by far the most addicting site that I've been on. You can spend an entire day watching peoples web cam and then come back for more. Each time you view a person at home, in the office, or hotel it is like visiting a new little world.
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s. said 2:06AM on 6-02-2007
Go to Rankopedia.com Best Bang for no buck. It is fun. You will have fun. And know that every vote you cast will effect someone. Go for it.
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