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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ann said 6:33AM on 1-29-2008
IF USING A CELL PHONE IS AS DANGEROUS AS DRUNK DRIVING WHY AREN'T USERS ARRESTED AND FINED?
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brightest starr on the island said 1:50PM on 1-29-2008
I travel the roads & highways about 20,000 miles a year in my suv and I have seen the most outrageous stupid things people have do while driving ! I've seen people with the cell in one hand and tapping their other hand out the window to the music...what the hell you using to drive with,cant use signals cause their hands are busy too,looking down texting while swerving all into my lane then ya blow the horn and they flip me off ! if I had a badge i'd be writing some serious tickets al day long !! maybe,making them pay fines might take some money out of their cell phone costs for all that time their running there mouths and make them think twice !!or do some community service at a morgue or funeral home of some familys death caused by texting and talking while driving,open your eyes shut your mouths and drive!! "you are NOT all that important in this world for me to lose my life cause of your ignorance and care free attitide" !!
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Mary said 1:10PM on 1-29-2008
It should be illegal to use a cellphone while a car is being driven or is in motion. If you really are desperate to answer or use your cellphone, pull off the road and safely park the car first.
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Mary said 12:45PM on 1-29-2008
steve martin says: "Hey Bosco...what do we do with murderers, rapist and child molestors since you want to fill the jails with Cell phone violators? Think before you type moron...."
If it's illegal, it doesn't have to be a jail offense - escalating fines would be enough to deter most people. First offense: $100; second offense: $500; third offense $1000. I believe that would pretty much stop most of it
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Mary said 12:49PM on 1-29-2008
Louis Polen says: Whether the cause is a cell phone,stereo,or another person.A distraction should be avoided whenever possible.
That's true enough, and as you said, watch out for the other guy who might not be alert. After watching all the police chase videos, I'm almost paranoid about watching all around me.
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Diane said 4:14PM on 1-29-2008
its ok to use a cell phone but some people walk around like its growning out of their ears and it should not be allowed when driving if you get or need to make a call why cant a person pull over to the side of the road another thing that gets me is when a person is checking out groceries why do they have to talk on their cell phone thats very rude I think
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piangaS said 10:33AM on 1-30-2008
I have a question? I can hardly hit the small keys to dial a #, let alone text someone. So what is it that is so important that it has to be typed, instead of said, on a phone? I am a Traffic Survey Technician. I can tell you I have seen sone strange things people do behind a moving vehicle. For some reason, people enter a car and they forget other people exist.
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tiffv2002 said 12:10PM on 1-30-2008
You can never prove someone was texting when the wreck happened when I send text on my cell and don't have much service it usually sends it 5 mins up the road when I have more service! You can never say that texting is a factor in a wreck! I think it could be the fact that there are 5 teenagers in a car riding together all giddy and happy telling stories blaring the radio singing and having fun! When you have a camera in a car and can watch the child text when the wreck happens you can believe it... but don't put parents through the thought thinking because they got their child a cell phone to keep in touch incase something happens that their child died and killed more with them!
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Peg said 1:51PM on 1-30-2008
I was recently sent an email which contained the remains of as SUV... The driver was texting.. and crashed head on into an 18 wheeler.. All that was left of the SUV.. were the completely crushed in front to the back tires... It also showed.. the remains of the person in the vehicle... BOTH HALVES!!!! I dont text.. and dont plan on it.. but.. this may be something that kids .. or anyone who texts should be shown... It was sobering to say the least... I have a blue tooth ear piece.. and in NY.. it is legal. But I highly recommend that people start to use these cell phones in their cars for emergency purposes only.. Once you reach your destination.. and are safe.. then. talk away.... Just takes a little common sense... God help the families of those who have learned the hard way!
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dude76 said 2:04PM on 1-30-2008
Bosco, chill. Life in prison without parole is a little intense for talking on a phone. But its just an opinion......Amen to steve martin
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ConnorPass said 1:37PM on 2-01-2008
Gloria,
I recall reading a magazine article that indeed said that being on the phone caused as many accidents as drunk driving. The laws aren't on the books yet because technology has advanced quickly and the law hasn't caught up yet.
As for whoever said that drivers can just hide the phone until they pass the cop, you're absolutely right. (And the cop was probably too busy with his own phone call to notice anyway.) I propose that the best way to reduce cell-related accidents is educating the public about the dangers.
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Jill said 2:07PM on 2-24-2008
Cell phones should NOT be banned in cars. That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The bans should however be that a person cannot text while driving. Cell phones are a distraction and if you need to call someone pull over and make the call, but telling me that I cannot have a cell phone in my car is communism. That could be my lifeline if something happened.
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Steve said 2:13PM on 2-24-2008
Just a comment in general. My cell phone is a phone. Thats it. I've never once in my life text messaged nor have I sent a picture by cell phone, I only talk with it. Since people still send messages and pictures to me I had verizon wireless disable both features. I could'nt do it if I wanted to. Parents that pay the bill... make your kids safer. Have it disabled.
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Kevin Hett said 4:29PM on 2-24-2008
I feel absolely no sympathy for Gail (the one who was texting prior to her death). If she had any brain cells in her head (which apparently she didnt) she would of realized the dangers of what she was doing. At least this world is rid of a little less stupid DNA Darwin style:)
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Mchris said 9:08AM on 3-21-2008
Andrea, I agree with you 100%. Technology is a good thing for those who use it responsibly. Almost everytime I see someone driving stupidly, when I get to where I can see them - They have a cell phone to their ears!!
The sad thing is the majority of idiots that I have seen doing this are adults.
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Patricia said 2:05PM on 3-21-2008
It's scarey getting behind the wheel and watching out for all of those drivers who are busy talking on the phone. I know how they do it, they have the rest of us defensively driving and avoiding all of those accidents they are intent on making happen. We who do not want to hurt anyone, including ourselves, would do just about anything to keep those cell phones from working when driving. I pull over so as not to hurt anyone else, what the heck is wrong with all of the idiots who don't care about anything other than their next gossip session?
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jillyan said 8:06PM on 10-09-2008
i don't think that it should be legal for anyone to text on there phone when driving i think that if it is illegal for you to talk on the phone while driving then it should be the same for texting.
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sykiks said 10:24AM on 2-06-2009
Cell phones and texting are dangerous of course, but I'm tired of them being singled out. What about eating fast food while driving. How many accidents and deaths have been caused by spilling hot coffee or a drink in your lap while driving? Or that burger falling apart and landing on your suit or dress. Probably as many or more than cell phones have caused. Where are those statistics? Statistics on cell phones mean absolutely nothing unless you have statistics on the other causes of accidents while driving. It's as useless taken by itself as only asking drivers if they had sex the night before their accident and blaming the sex for the accident. Get all the statistics before talking of banning. Besides the one thing you can't ban is the leading cause of accidents...the idiocy of the driver.
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Andrea said 2:48PM on 7-17-2007
How about we stop blameing everything that goes wrong in the world on the technology that we have acumulated and start placing the blame where it belongs. This girl was obviously a inexperienced driver. When she got behind the wheel, She was putting her life and the lives of her passengers in danger, And danger she did. How about saying ok, Maybe it wsnt a cell phone, Maybe it is inexperience and rasie driving age to 21 or mandate they have more testing. Giving these children the right to drive a lethal weapon at such a young age is almost legalizing murder!
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Bosco said 6:59PM on 7-16-2007
all drivers who talk, text, eat, brush their teeth should be put in prison for life withhout parole.
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