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)
Erne said 10:22AM on 1-09-2008
You need to redo your math! A screen that is 138" wide and 79" tall would have a diagonal of 159" not 150". Other than that miscalculation, it's an amazing TV!
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Katy said 2:34PM on 12-30-2007
Ok, a plasma that large will burn out before you know it. And the amount of heat it will radiate will be incredible. My money is on Sony's OLED. I can't wait for next year's CES to show how incredible that technology is! Remember Minority Report, how there were TV's everywhere? That's what OLED is gonna do!
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Cameraman David said 3:03PM on 12-30-2007
I saw the OLED 11" model on Friday 12/28... I was given a sneak peak by someone who works directly for Sony... (I work for the Premier Sony reseller of Professional HD Cameras, but not for Sony directly)...
All I can say is.... WOW...
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tim said 3:57PM on 12-30-2007
WTF how big does a tv have to be???
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John S said 4:49PM on 12-30-2007
How many homes have a wall big enough for something like that?
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Moe said 4:03AM on 12-31-2007
Dang....will it fit in the sleeper of my truck?
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Randy McFall said 5:19PM on 12-30-2007
It makes me laugh when people think they have to buy the biggest T.V. I mean, why don't they just buy a movie theater?
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Carl Tapp said 5:39PM on 12-30-2007
IN MY OPINION, THAT IS A RIDICULOUS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. IT MUST BE EXTREMELY HEAVY, VERY
EXPENSIVE AND OCCUPY A HUGE AMOUNT OF SPACE.
I WOULD GREATLY PREFER A T.V. PROJECTOR WITH A SCREEN 8 FT. X 12 FT. THE SCREEN CAN BE MOUNTED ON THE CEILING AND PULLED DOWN LIKE A WINDOW SHADE. THE PROJECTOR IS ALSO ON THE CEILING AND THIS SETUP IS MORE LIKE A REAL THEATER AT LESS THAN 1/2 THE COST.
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JunnyFur said 5:28PM on 12-30-2007
Even though it is a nice TV, if you have a wall big enough to put the TV against, why not just purchase a high end-high def projector. We have one and it is so great!
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G.L. said 5:29PM on 12-30-2007
The big,super-thin t.v.'s are super cool and everthing,but there's one very big problem;Their super-slim design make them a whole lot easier for thieves to haul off.Maybe the manufacturers should install some type of GPS devices. And make several different shaped devices,and place them in different areas of the t.v.'s guts to make finding and recognizing them harder.
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Natosha said 5:39PM on 12-30-2007
really who needs a tv that big? definatly a need verses want issue here. hehe but I really did enjoy that last line. I guess you would have to gut a hole in the wall with its own vent to keep it from burning down your house..not even to mention the power it would use, and as many others have said, space. I got lucky when the top of my fire place mantal held the 42 inch I got hubby for christmas a couple years ago...thats another thing, you would need a truck frame to even mount it on the wall. course that defeats the purpose if its 6 feet tall, most reg houses only have about 10 feet to the ceiling. since door frames are only 8 feet at the header.
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ldyrebellion said 5:51PM on 12-30-2007
I can hear mean across the world doing the tim allen grunt..
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ldyrebellion said 5:52PM on 12-30-2007
men, not mean, what ever im tired..*grin*
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Great said 10:40PM on 12-30-2007
I need a tv that big thats who.Its not like this was created for the average joe on the street its for bragging rights and to help develop the technology to see where and how far it can be pushed and at what costs.There was a time when someone said why do we need such small computers(micro laptops) well turn on your cell phone as thats what that led to..
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Chay Sabatini said 6:00PM on 12-30-2007
Come on, people - this TV is not for home use (unless you are a celebrity with a gazillion room home), but it will be perfect in lounges, theaters, sports stadiums, concerts, and any public place where you wind up sitting in the last row in Section Limbo. Good for Panasonic!
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there are those who call me...tim said 6:09PM on 12-30-2007
woo! it's a comment! hmm...now I'm confused. bye!
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SBN said 6:09PM on 12-30-2007
Yep, for stadium use would be great.
But not as normal person.
Not for home use.
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Dave said 6:19PM on 12-30-2007
wouldn't the Wii be fun to use with this
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Richie said 6:19PM on 12-30-2007
Exactly Chay, way too recognize.
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Swede said 7:13PM on 12-30-2007
I'm just a 74 year old dummy, but just how tall is the model shown standing next to the "over 6 foot tall screen" ???
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