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 2)
J. Lee said 8:28PM on 7-18-2007
Wow, so they're inventing even MORE ways to make americans fat...er
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Brenda said 8:33PM on 7-18-2007
Can we say LAZY??? It's no wonder so many Americans are on diets;What's next...A device that chews your food for you?
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bob said 8:59PM on 7-18-2007
when will they come up with something to drink my beer for me (besides my brother)so i can drive home after the game???
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Emily said 8:58PM on 7-18-2007
Wow this is so stupid. Imagine walking in to a room with your friends and somebody makes one of these gestures on accident. The TV turns on and everyone freaks. Not to mention that this is absolutely one of the laziest inventions I have ever seen, if not the most. It's rediculous. If you have ever seen the movie Idiocracy (which, if you haven't, you should) that is what this invention is leading towards. And next, a recliner with a built in toilet so you never have to move again.
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anthony said 9:30PM on 7-18-2007
wat about the pill that makes u never hav to go the bathroom ever again or never hav to shave?
or wat about disabilities and such?
its amazing what this world is coming to and im still really young
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xavier said 9:45PM on 7-18-2007
well, i can see how someone disabled or autistic er dislexic orsomething could use a product like this but on the other hand,it is good technology for the wrong purpose.in a car it would be nice for a radio or something so youre not distracted but even so it would need LOTS of fine tuning.
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sharonanderson24 said 11:07PM on 7-19-2007
im not lazy or anything but to be honest...this invention sounds like more work than just placing your hand on a remote and pressing a button. just me?
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Kristen said 9:56PM on 7-18-2007
I think its an okay invention. if you loose the remote and your tv i s satellite how do you change the channel?? this would help alot
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REESE P. said 10:17PM on 7-18-2007
Maybe just maybe, they will come up with a device that will spell for some of these idots that post comments and forget how the english language is spelled!
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Claudia said 5:01AM on 7-19-2007
Sounds good to me where can I buy one? We waste a lot of time looking for that remote. My husband can't find it if it is under his nose.
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Tiger3548708 said 10:40PM on 7-18-2007
this is GREAT!!! no remote just hand waves. think about turn the T.V. off on a fat family member and tell go lose some more pound's..it whould keep alot of poeple off from siting and watching the tv. cool way too put some fatie on a diet!
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H said 10:40PM on 7-18-2007
I think it's funny that alot of these replies are saying it's another way to make AMERICANS fat. You did read the part where the scientists are from Australia, right?
I agree that such technology is a waste, but... America's not the only country with laziness issues, people!
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aucually said 10:45PM on 7-18-2007
aucually it is not as lasy as remote considering with a remote you only have to press a single button and with this you need to make hand and arm gestures that auchully require small amounts of energy. but pressing a button on a remote dosn't take bareley energy at all
Pro: funner
cons: bad for people with arthritus, you may aciedentaly turn on the tv
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Jossy said 10:59PM on 7-18-2007
we don't need "english teachers", someone telling us how to write and how not to write. as long as the first letter and the last letter in any word that's over two letter's long is written down correctly, most know what the word is. do yru sre hrw tles wvcos? ib's a poiwsn fuot. If you can't read that, well sorry, but you're of low IQ quality. this, too, is a fact. plus, you were off topic. Those who scoff at this tv invention remind me of the people that say man will never fly. yawn
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mike n said 11:02PM on 7-18-2007
i just love this touchless gadgets. can't get the germs from it. this is why the japanese bow instead of shake hands when greeting.
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Jossy said 11:19PM on 7-18-2007
hey, think smart, not hard. you won't have to buy expensive batteries anymore if your hand's can do the walking for you, so to speak? how many duracell or energizer batteries do you use in, say, ten years? what's the combined cost? less bad stuff put into landfills too. think smart, huh? you folks sound like the ones that laughed at remote controls and said everyone would get lazy and fatter. then, how about that first automobile that was invented in germany in 1886? first car was a Benz, i'm on my second Mercedes-Benz right now, and i'm thrilled that it was created. no, i'm not fat nor lazy either. now what do you have to say?????
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JEANNE said 12:36AM on 7-19-2007
''THINK BACK TO THE 60'S. 70'S??'
'THE REMOTE DOES IT FOR ME, WHEN I CAN GET IT OUTTA MY HUBBY'S HAND !
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Shawn said 11:48AM on 7-19-2007
This is being created by AUSTRALIANS, not Americans, you jealous a-holes who are calling Americans lazy. Next time you have a natural disaster, maybe we should be too lazy to come and help you.
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LizC864 said 1:09AM on 7-19-2007
I think it's a good idea. Yes, at 1st it sounds incredibly lazy, but ... no batteries, no losing or breaking the remote, no dirty remote for a baby to put in it's mouth, or a puppy to chew up. You'll be able to see your coffee table again (I have 6 remotes on mine, all take 2 batteries each). The combined signals make it almost impossible for someone to accidentally turn on & if they get cute, maybe when you flip off your TV it'll change the channel for you or fast forward past those irritating tampon commercials.
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Desertanned said 2:39AM on 7-19-2007
Wow, a device that isn't a device. I noticed most of the people who made comments about this invention had something snide to say about fat and lazy people (usually Americans), and I also noticed most of the people who commented were too lazy to learn how to SPELL anything properly.
Talk about some lazy ignorant bastards...
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