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)
Matt Robinson said 5:26AM on 6-09-2008
If only they'd called it the oyPhone.
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dovi said 6:07PM on 8-17-2008
were is the kosher call phone
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dovi said 9:44PM on 8-20-2008
how is woke
call me now
4163183511
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Johanna said 12:26PM on 11-07-2007
What an obnoxious, disrespectful and mocking article on a technology that is apparently genuinely helpful to a group of people. The reference to "bombs just waiting to blow up a practicing Jew's holy spot" is in particularly poor taste. Shame on the NYT for running this.
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Laurel said 12:50PM on 11-07-2007
"the joke is already in the oven"
Did you seriously just say that?
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Someone who is NOT Laughing said 12:55PM on 11-07-2007
SURE, add to the already anti-semitic comments with "Can Jew hear me now?" That is SO DISRESPECTFUL that I can not believe this was printed!! As if we don't have enough to worry about...
At times I wish the Jewish People had a Rev. Al Sharpton type person in their midst.
I am extremely disgusted, Mel Gibson might as well have written this article!
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Vince said 1:15PM on 11-07-2007
So in other words, it's simply a cell phone, as the name implies. On the other hand, Evan, you either need to go to some sensitivity training, or change your name to Adolph. Are you really that much of a jerk, or did some Nazi tell you that you were funny?
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Joshua Fruhlinger said 1:16PM on 11-07-2007
Hey guys - I removed the joke. Wasn't meant as offensive, to be honest. But after review we can see that it might be construed as such.
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Vince said 1:20PM on 11-07-2007
Also noticed that you changed the word 'oven' to 'can'. Too little to late. Evan, why don't you goose-step back into oblivion where you belong.
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Someone who Appreciates the Change said 1:25PM on 11-07-2007
Joshua, It would've been helpful if this was reviewed before it hit the internet, but I do appreciate your sensitivity, if only the rest of the world would oblige...thanks.
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Matthew Rand said 1:35PM on 11-07-2007
This is just a cute article. To the posters that are complaining about it, you are just looking for something to kvetch about.
Jews don't need an "Al Sharpton", they already have an Abe Foxman, who is embarrassing enough.
FYI: "To blow up one's spot" is urban slang.
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Dan said 1:52PM on 11-07-2007
That had to be the most entertaining article I have read in a long time! FUNNY! BTW, its not offensive. Its called humor.
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Kezia said 2:08PM on 11-07-2007
This sounds like a good idea. It's nice to see a company not just marketing to the mainstream.
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Jewbaybeee said 2:29PM on 11-07-2007
Way to go Vince! YOU are AWESOME! Orthodox Jews need a means of cummication just like Christians, Muslems, etc. You other people who are disgusted with this article need to get a life! Why not read up about the Jews! WE ARE SMART PEOPLE! Just remember that! Can Jew hear me now??????????
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Rachel said 3:03PM on 11-07-2007
I wonder if someone has to call an ambulance on Shabbat, that he gets the regular rate. After all, one is permitted to break the Sabbath if it is to save a life.
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L3H3E2 said 3:14PM on 11-07-2007
I guess that Al and Jesse will sue in
court because this phone did not come
ready for use by the black race. They
will charge racism and win a large
settlement of Jewish money.
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........... said 4:43AM on 7-07-2008
was that supposed to be funny?
stu mart said 3:15PM on 11-07-2007
i was jewish, then met this girl that was christan. she didnt want to become jewish so i switched to her religion.
after 7 years i realized all she wanted was alcohol and to cheat on me. so we broke up and i went bach to being jewish again. brother were all the same!!!!!!!!
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Khajit said 12:16PM on 7-27-2008
Your very right, because even Islamic priest admit that Christianity, Jewdism, and Islam, pray to the same God reguardless of what the name seems to be or sound. And on top of that, in Islam they even talk about Jesus (Christianity's Jesus, the Jesus the same Jew that is mentioned being put on the cross). This right here shows that there's more things betwen us all that we have in common that most people think. Now if I only had the authorty to take away the firtst amendment to people who show extreme and unshakeable stupidity and insensitive. A lot of people would in America would change for the better if such punishment was employed by local laws. Because studity and close mindedness would leave you in the end of your life with a unfulfilled life, lots of unwanted and unneed hate to yourself and others. So, not to be mean or anything like that but just to be as netrual I can with people even with Neo-Nazi's, the KKK, and other groups such as these and this goes for every, before you debate, fight, write, or speak about anything make sure that you know a shread of what you have in mind, and if not people like me, a good chunk of the population, and the intellegent people of the society.
stu said 3:15PM on 11-07-2007
we're all the same
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