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 16)
Betty Hesseltine said 9:20PM on 2-01-2008
Geez.....we pay alot less for speeding tickets here in Iowa, sure a ticket for texting - but - wow - $184-$460? Dangerous speeders pay less here..?
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Lady L said 9:30PM on 2-01-2008
Another way for people to exert their power, another way to for the govt. to get $$$$. I'm not saying it's right, but does everything have to be banned? They start here and it will become an escalating trend of bans. There were accidents wayyyyy before cell phones came into play. And do you really think ticketing people will stop them? If that was the case, the speeding ticket would be obsolete.
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Abbie said 11:47AM on 9-24-2008
I think that making texting while driving illegal is a great idea. You should be concentrating on driving, not your phone. Talking on the phone is bad enough, but texting requires both hands and therefore you can't drive properly. I'm only fifteen, but i do know what is right and wrong. And this is on of them.
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Ken said 12:08PM on 11-20-2007
It's about time! Texting is a distraction while driving and indeed should be outlawed in all states and cities!! Now if we can get the applying makeup while driving and the shaving while driving laws in place too, it can be safer on the roads for all to drive.
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Jason said 1:21PM on 11-20-2007
Does this mean Britney Spears will be getting a ticket in the mail? Hope so.
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DK said 2:15PM on 11-20-2007
Why is a new law required? Has anyone heard of "inattentive driving"???
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J. Washington said 2:24PM on 11-20-2007
keep both hands on the wheel... common sense rule 101 =)
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amt said 2:28PM on 11-20-2007
I think it is a great idea. In the town I live in last year 2 teenage boys lost their lives while the driver was texting his friend. Sad and preventable.
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Claude said 2:44PM on 11-20-2007
I think cell phone use while driving should be illegal.I have to ride to work with someone who does this often,bacause I dont have a license,because of a dui.At least when I was DUIing,I tried to concentrate on the damn driving,not what someone was saying on the phone. What in the world did we do without these damn cellphones? How did we survive?.....
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Richard Smith said 2:32PM on 11-20-2007
I witnessed one in the lane beside me working text. She veered over into my lane and I had to honk my horn to avoid a collsiion. A few seconds later, the light ahead was red and she rear ended a stopped car. I made it a point to stick around and be a witness for the police report.
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TamaracJeff said 12:46AM on 11-23-2007
I'm sick and tired of watching people driving with a cell phone in one hand and a cigarette, or cup of coffee, in the other. Let's follow the lead of ther states and make cell phone use, while driving, illegal!
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Dave Exner said 2:39PM on 11-20-2007
From the way I see the cars move around on the streets and highways with drivers on cell phones, texting or otherwise, it is hard to tell if it is a drunk driver or a person using a cell phone. One of the reasons most police officers aren't ticketing these people is because they are busy on their own cell phone while driving.
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mrmajstyk said 2:37PM on 11-20-2007
You know, its kinda sad that we even have to make laws that dictate common sense. Texting while driving, especially in heavy traffic, is just plain stupid, and yet here in L.A., I see it all the time. I also see people driving, while juggling the cell phone in one hand, and the Starbucks cup in the other! Jeeze!
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Don said 2:45PM on 11-20-2007
I have my cell attached to my sun visor with speaker phone on. When it rings it takes me less time to push one button then turn my wipers on.
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Jim said 3:08PM on 11-20-2007
How stupid can you get to be t'xing and driveing at the same time,maybe cause a accident or killing some one. Just like women putting on make up and driveing at the same time, there should be a ticket for that too.
The ticket where I live will be near 100 bucks when the law goes into effect on 1 Jan....
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tanya said 2:57PM on 11-20-2007
When will people get it. You can multi-task, but you can't multi-function. So, please stop talking on cell phones and texting.
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Rick said 3:14PM on 11-20-2007
Ok, it seems logical to not text while driving. How about eating, drinking, putting on make-up, lighting a cigar/cigarette, surfing the internet, watching a movie, having a screaming kid or multiple screaming kids that are throwing toys, drinks, etc.? If you are going to make a law about cell phones, these other issues need to be addressed as well.
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tom said 3:03PM on 11-20-2007
Texting while driving should be a ten thousand dollar fine and 90 days in Guantanimo.
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william chaffee said 3:05PM on 11-20-2007
OK Don, and while you're on the phone (hands free I'm sure)where is your attention focussed? I'll bet on the conversation and not the driving.
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Nicole said 3:06PM on 11-20-2007
Well, yes that is not too outrageous. I think people are paying more attention to their phones than the multiple hundred pound cars around them that could kill someone. I have read that some people are like about time. Well as a cell-phone owner I do not see how people are texting while driving anyways.Or how about this, outlaw cell-phones period, then we wouldnt have to worry about bombs being set off on airplanes or rude people who wont give you their order and holding up the line becuase they aer talking on their cell phones. This is a great idea. LETS GET RID OF CELL PHONES. PERIOD. AND THEN THERE WILL BE NOT STUPID LAWS THAT HAVE TO BE INDUCTED TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON THE ROAD AND IN THE AIR!!!!
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