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 5)
Randy said 8:59AM on 3-30-2008
I think cell phones should be banned from automobiles. I recently got a bell from my daughter & rearended someone when I glanced over to the seat to get my phone. The idiot I rearended had made an illegal U-Turn & pulled in front of me at a stop light I was slowing for.
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Randy said 9:19AM on 3-30-2008
I ca add my list to the names of idiots that drive & talk. Are we so important that constant communication is warranted? First it was the beeper, & now the dreaded cell phone. Even hands free devices aren't safe as they deter your complete attention to the task at hand, i.e. driving, foolish looking while talking while waiting for appointments. Here in Houston, the worst drivers in America, 75% have these devices & constantly cause accidents on our freway system & these lead to daeths & serious injury. As I stated in earlier message, I rearended an individual that made an illegal U-Turn & moved in front of me at a stop light thaT I was slowing for. But that momemnt it took to grab my phone & answer it was all it took for this to happen. The driver decided not to pursue any recourse because of his illeagal driving manover. But I ignore mine when I'm on the race track / freeways because of the danger it poses for me & the other drivers. I say ban them now & save lives. Even if it saves 1 life, it would be a smart move by our lawmakers, which by the way are amply named. The opposite of progress is to congress. So go figure
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Randy said 9:49AM on 3-30-2008
Outlaw gadgets manufactured by some of the highest campaign contributers is not going to happen. Bluetooth i.e. cell phones & the rest of the prestige items that most folks seem to need to be seen as hip & tech savvy. I think it makes them look like the village idiot walking around talking to themselves. It's like "Look @ me. I'm important". Since I'm not an undertaker, I can wait until I get home to receive the worst of events. I have a cellular phone so I can keep in touch with all my family which is spread out all over without paying long distance fees. That will soon end as technology keeps changing. That was the only reason for subscribing to the service. We all use the same carrier & can talk for free. Well no long distance charges. No One gets service for free. I like to stay in touch with my parents as often as I can as they are soon to be with our Lord & Savior. But I don't do it at 60MPH. Nor do I impose on others in public places. That is equal to a silent release of gas as far as I am concerned. I don't care to hear about someone's opinion of their spouse, aquaintences & on & on. Too bad they aren't worth much on the black market. Thet actually sell fakes at the 99ct stores that look just like the real thing. For the same group of morons that wear imitation Rolex watches. I bet the thug that shoots them for it doesn't use a fake gun to releive them of said items.
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Dave said 1:01PM on 10-17-2007
Worthless. You use what you can, period.
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Mary said 2:37PM on 10-17-2007
BLUE TOOL!!!
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leela said 1:35PM on 10-17-2007
I wear an old, broken one all the time. That way, when I talk to myself, people see it and DON'T think I'm crazy. (I am)
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Eddie said 3:47PM on 10-17-2007
Blue balls
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Eddie said 3:47PM on 10-17-2007
blue balls
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ED said 2:11PM on 10-21-2007
THERE IS NOTHING "SELF IMPORTANT" ABOUT THESE DEVICES. WHAT THE DEVICE CONVEYS TO ME IS THAT THE WEARER IS TOO STUPID TO BE WALKING AROUND WITHOUT DIRECTIONS TROM A THIRD PARTY. PEOPLE THAT WEAR THEM ARE ANDROIDS.
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Michael Wright said 2:39PM on 10-21-2007
Yes, they are ugly. Many people are way too attached to their high-tech gadgets, which they think make them look trendy and cool. They are freaks. Cell phones, ipods, and video games are all junk.
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Mirillie said 2:41PM on 10-21-2007
Someone sat in church last week with one of those blue tooth ear things. She looked totally ridiculous.
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Ray said 2:55PM on 10-21-2007
I am a truck driver and find the hands free operation a must for drivers of any vehicle not just us 18 wheelers.I personaly don't care what it looks like or what other people think, I think it makes me a safer more efficent driver.
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Analog Genius said 2:59PM on 10-21-2007
Makes the user look like the person taking orders at the McDonals drive through.
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Chris said 3:06PM on 10-21-2007
The technology is too advanced for the masses to comprehend, when(they should), where(they should), how(they should), and why(IF they should)use it! Everyone seems to have to have their "bling" with them at all times or they cannot function. Who needs to wear a bluetooth in church, or at the movies?? 70-80% of cellphone calls are unnecessary at the time they are made. People talk about ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE and are totally oblivious of any other people around them that are subjected to hearing their gossiping blabber about usually, NOTHING! People get a clue! We don't care to hear about who you did, how you did them, who knows you did them, and if and when your going to do them again!!
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lisa said 3:08PM on 10-21-2007
Leela, I got a good chuckle from your response. I talk to myself too. Still would never wear one of those ugly things. Where it when driving but take it off when exiting your car. PLEEEEEASE. They are just obnoxious and you look silly.
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Lisa said 3:17PM on 10-21-2007
Ok, I live in a fairly out of the way place, where these just aren't used. The first time I saw them on a trip, I really thought people were wandering around muttering to themselves. After I noticed the odd thing on their ears, I decided they had been taken over by an alien race, a la Doctor Who. Really, are they SO important that they can't even shop for a pair of shoes for (and with) their child to get off the thing for 30 minutes?
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Bill said 3:26PM on 10-21-2007
if thats your pitiful little world,so be it. Just dont talk to me with that stuck in your ear,like your so important.
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msvvarrior said 3:27PM on 10-21-2007
The "blue tools" for me are a safety tool when driving, as well as to keep in touch with the caregivers who take care of my parents who are 94 and 89 and quite ill. I do take them off at appropriate times, e.g., dinner, plays, church.
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Marty said 3:26PM on 10-21-2007
I think the people who use them are not only pompous, they're rude. I was at a party, where someone was wearing one. In the middle of a conversation, he whipped out the main part of the phone to see who was calling, then started talking to the caller and walked away. And if you think they make you safer when driving, they don't. It's not so much the holding of the phone that's distracting, it's holding a conversation when driving. Studies have proven that. Ray, you're driving an 18-wheeler. You should be DRIVING, not talking on a phone.
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polliwog said 3:50PM on 10-21-2007
Please save the phone for office or home, unless it is an emergency. We do not need to hear your intimate, business or love conversations or look at that stupid contraption on your skull.
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