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 1)
Fox said 12:18PM on 2-08-2008
@ Susannah The switch is being forced due to the spectrum analog takes up. Analog signals are affecting other signals near its spectrum (or since analog was first others are affecting it). In most areas analog reception is much worse then it was 10 or even 5 years ago. And to answer the who benefits question the government does because even after the coupons because they are now free to auction off the old analog spectrum to new companies for new technologies. Electronics companies also benefit since the new uses of the analog spectrum will allow them to create many new devices etc to make use of it (better wireless internet etc has been mentioned and seen as a competitor against cell phone companies 3G)
@ Ron The FCC isn't unconstitutional (at least in the digital switch) they are only saying HOW the content can be delivered which is their job, they are not saying what can be delivered etc by simpling forcing analog tv off the air. The digital switch was actually brought about in congress by leaders WE elected to make these decisions for us. The FCC is merely doing what they're told by the powers that be.
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yatleung said 4:48PM on 3-10-2008
Actually, it doesn't matter. Most of the TV programs are so trashy that I only turn on the TV once a week to watch PBS shows like Nature. Why bother with nice advanced hardware (TV sets) when the software (programs) are crappy.
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Ben said 12:54PM on 12-14-2007
"the U.S. government is not prepared for..."
Wow! I'm astonished to see those words grouped together!
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Ron said 8:23PM on 1-14-2008
This and any other FCC regulations are unconstitutional. The Constitution of this country GUARANTEES free speech and free press and the government here is mandating what private corporations and people are allowed to broadcast. They are making our expensive equipment useless and obselete and they have no right to do so. If a station wishes to broadcast only in digital, that is their business. It is not the business of the United States government.
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Susannah said 11:14AM on 1-15-2008
I don't exactly understand why the government is forcing this conversion from analog to digital in the first place - what's the benefit (or should I say who is benefitting?)
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