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)
Hesoku said 3:17PM on 12-25-2008
air gears ftw
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bubbabma said 8:30AM on 10-30-2007
Hey, I think these 'roller skates' are pretty cool! And yes I have a hot man and I myself am pretty hot, so the comment about being a dork loser if you like them is pretty much wrong pal!
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Ma said 8:23AM on 10-30-2007
OMG! How lazy can we get? I thought the purpose of going outside and roller skates was to get excercise....Its no wonder why this country sucks
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Fran said 8:40AM on 10-30-2007
So whadya do? Work for Ford or GM? What a great idea. You vicious people are so self absorbed that you don't see the potential for this? OMG! Get me a promo pair so I can sell the car and tell the oil and insurance companies to take a hike. Get them to me now so that they don't become legislated into the same "privilege" that cars,and phones remain, generating the extra expenses incurred by being a "privilege" not a "human right". Mobility and communication, yep, the powers that be still consider them both "privileges"...ain't that somethin'?
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Big E said 9:00AM on 10-30-2007
L LIKE PIE!
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Greg said 9:13AM on 10-30-2007
I don't know if they could ever really be a success of any kind. 16lbs. That's 8 lbs per foot, kind of heavy and probably due to the battery and motor being so large for the range. Who would strap an 8lb bowling ball to each foot, even to go 100 miles? It would not be very comfortable. Lifting each foot could cause problems as well. As far as "car replacement ideas", yes we need a replacement, but for most urbun trips you need 30 miles of range, one passenger with luggage (going to work alone), and some kind of protection from the elements, especially in Winter. Cars are inefficient, but safe compared to much more efficient forms of transportation. Cars weigh a lot for comfort and safety. Bikes are much more efficient, but not safe and you can't ride in the winter on bikes comfortably or in the rain safely. What is needed is an efficient one person car, perhaps a car that can expand. Some pod car concepts come close to the idea "car replacment" or at least a more efficient car. Think about it your moving 2000 lbs or more of steel to move a 200 lb body. That's not very efficient in energy usage. I could plow a field and produce a years worth of food for my family in the miles I drive to work and back each day. So I'm about 300 times less efficient energy wise just by driving to work that I'd need to be just to drive to work and back. (20 miles of driving to work and back). We waste way to much energy on transportation in this country, but it's often for safety and comfort reasons. (Peak oil is arriving, what's the answer?)
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Tammy said 9:14AM on 10-30-2007
Do they come with a charger?
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Denny said 11:42AM on 10-30-2007
Greg: I really don't think you would use them like regular skates, I would assume they would always be in contact with the ground or why would they have motors? That's a nobrainer!
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Kezia said 9:37AM on 10-30-2007
These skates remind me of those motors you can buy to attach to your mountain bike. Wonder why so many in our country are obese and unhealthy???
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lizzie said 11:24AM on 10-30-2007
xoxoxo I agree... I think these would be cool. I am disabled and do not have the ability to "skate" for more then a few minutes... but if I didn't need to propel myself forward, I could throw these bad boys on and go around the park a few times xoxoxo yeah for electric skates, but since everone is going green, they may want to make them solar powered lol
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stew said 11:24AM on 10-30-2007
breaking system???!!!is that for when you fall and brake your neck?? where do they get these writers??????
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Rocknroll said 12:26PM on 10-30-2007
Remember, George Plimton said Men will come and go, but rollerskates will rink on forever. Keep you panties on! It's obviously just another novelty. Nothing will ever replace the traditional rollerskate, If you want to see how real skates work, check out my site.
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Big Al said 12:05PM on 10-30-2007
Umm, I don't know what a "breaking system" is exactly, but a nice BRAKING system would realy be good to have.
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iMan said 1:22PM on 10-30-2007
So, what's wrong with the name?
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Lmedei8443 said 2:05PM on 10-30-2007
where can I buy a pair?! me and my hot fiance would have fun in these flying by the joggers in the park...hehe
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jim said 2:27PM on 10-30-2007
You go Fran!!
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jim said 2:33PM on 10-30-2007
It's is good because you got no handlebars to go over and my doctor told me not to hold it,.
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Keith said 2:50PM on 10-30-2007
Go, go gadget skates!!!
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Keith said 2:52PM on 10-30-2007
Go, go gadget skates
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r bien said 3:14PM on 10-30-2007
hey ma
if u dont like it, leave
there are plenty of mexicans to take your place
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