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 6)
Angel said 11:13AM on 2-04-2008
I take one whole carryon of electronics. Laptop with external extra drive, video camera, digital camera, cell phone, bluetooth earpiece, several different ipods for different purposes, (shuffle, mini, nano, 60 gig, mp3 and mp4 players. You might ask "Why"? I am a grandma whose grandchildren are in the performing arts. I live on an island. When I visit my grandchildren, I want all the memories for family history. I also get a chance to manage my large Itunes library which I use for community service projects.
I do not use them in flight or take them out. I only carry them on because the airlines won't guarantee or pay for electronics in checked lugguge which may be damaged, lost, or stolen. A suitcase full of electronics is just too much of a temptation for employees. I too have had things stolen from my luggage. Once, at the counter, I had something antique and sharp and I had to put it in my checked luggage. I placed it right on top at the ticket counter while attendants were watching so that I could retrieve it immediately after the 20 minute flight. It was gone! I was irate and filed a claim, but it didn't pay for the intrinsic value of that piece.
Perhaps if airlines had a separate place to store electronics and be responsible for them, passengers would use them. Of course,then, the airlines might go broke.
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Stanley said 11:30AM on 2-04-2008
Security is fine, but one fact still remains, when it's your time to go, there is nothing that will prevent that from happening, including all the security in the world.
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Taylor said 2:32PM on 1-02-2008
A laptop, cell phone, and iPod is going to put you close to the threshold. Anything additionally is likely to put you over, such as a PDA and or blue tooth headset etc. I think this is the FAA splitting hairs while people still manage to smuggle guns on planes. They should deal with the significant and likely problems first.
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Larry said 8:04PM on 1-02-2008
And what are we to do after the first exploding breast???
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Paco said 8:17PM on 1-02-2008
OOPS.... guess none over double d
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Laserbolt said 8:26PM on 1-02-2008
FAA can go suck dick....what the hell are all the road warriors/business warriors gonna use to work with then...typewriters?
when will all this bullshit end?
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Shadow Smith said 8:38PM on 1-02-2008
Electronic devices can interfer with the flight and are dangerous, personally I think we should do what Europe does and ban them all.
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Robert said 8:33PM on 1-02-2008
To all of you masters-of-aviation-saftey saying the new precautions are BS and the like...learn from an airline aircraft tech here in Orlando, Fl who has seen and subsequently repiared the damage from a "runaway" li-ion battery. If you have a notion of intelligence and disipline, learn to put your cry-baby gadgets for a few hours and learn to RELAX. Ya'll think that every given breath on the face of this earth depends on whether or not you can access the gadget you won't put down for a single minute let alone the space of an airline flight. Lord forbid you idiots should do this in the name of saftey and the bonafide danger of these internal batterys.
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Paula Dell said 8:33PM on 1-02-2008
There is so much nonsense when it comes to security nowadays. Taking off shoes, restrictions on liquids and gels and the fact that so many TSA employees are completely brain dead and miss the OBVIOUS whenever there are spot-checks makes me realize it's all just one big crap shoot. The real scary people are the ones who service the planes and load the cargo. I have had stuff stolen from my luggage, even LUGGAGE stolen from my luggage so there is obviously an ongoing problem with honesty of employees. My friend left his ipod in the pocket of the seat and when he went back to get it it turns out the cleaning crew had gotten to it first. Something tells me it wouldnt take too much money to bribe one of these goons to do something unimaginable. Let me keep my shoes on, quit patting down Grandma and start putting your employees under more scrutiny.
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dale said 8:36PM on 1-02-2008
none of these restrictions is going to do anything to keep anybody safe unless they also start some profiling and actually go after the people who are most likely to be really carrying something harmful. the rest of this stuff is nonsense and a huge waste of everybody's time.
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Donz said 8:37PM on 1-02-2008
So what is to keep these Lithium-Ion batteries from exploding in checked luggage as well? This is just another way for the Federal Govt. to put up the appearance that they are doing something about security. I'd say more than 75% of the business fliers don't check thier luggage (myself included) and if they had to, with the delays at most ticket counters as well as curbside checkin, some will opt to drive for shorter commutes instead of flying. Maybe if enough stop, the airlines will get a clue.
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Doug said 8:40PM on 1-02-2008
The road warriors/business warriors will be forced to take a break during flights, engage in human conversation, listen to music, read a book, sleep, etc. In other words, they'll have to ACT as though they have a life. I pity those people who are so obsessed and so lifeless, that they have to jump onto the keypad as soon as they are seated in a plane.
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TW said 8:41PM on 1-02-2008
the paranoia police are at it aagain...
mix 26 grams of lithium w/ 4 oz of baby shampoo - KAPOW, a soft and managable spare laptop w/ no split ends!!!!
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tony said 8:45PM on 1-02-2008
robert,,,,,i wish i could write with the clarity that you have,,,,amen to your post
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rkw said 9:00PM on 1-02-2008
PEOPLE...read the ENTIRE article. Initially they make it seem like you won't be able to take a laptop on board...BUT....LO AND BEHOLD...IT WOULD PERTAIN TO THE PEOPLE CARRYING 3-4 EXTRA LAPTOP/CELL BATTERIES (25 grams of Lithium is alot)....how many people do this...not many. This is just another "scare' article to get people riled up about Nothing...relax....trust me...you aren't carrying this much lithium around.
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Rosie Ripper said 9:12PM on 1-02-2008
I think the time is fast approching when "anything" you want to take on a trip will go on "Baggage" Airplanes. Then you will go through the security line with nothing but a cheap "Paper Gown" to wear when flying. No clothes, no shoes or socks. no hats...NOTHING but the silly blue gown and hospital paper slippers. That is where it is going until someone manages to figure out how to make a bomb out of a paper gown. Then, guess we can all go naked....and the nudists of the world will be happy campers.
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Elliott Fisher said 8:53PM on 1-02-2008
The only solution is domestic high speed trains, this way dangerous cargo can be seperated from the passengers. Don't buy the BS the trains are to slow! Figure out how long your flight takes now! The trains can be Auto inclusive as well!
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DaleC said 1:30PM on 1-03-2008
Robert - I work on flights and need my laptop. Sometimes I must have a spare battery because most flights don't have power outlets available, no matter what configuration. I take an Ipod with me because, like most of my coworkers, I am away from home for several days at a time and like some entertainment. I also like to concentrate while I am working without the yammering tourist or crying baby next to me distracting me from my work. I am away from my family and friends at home for days at a time, crammed into coach waiting on some retard to lose my luggage. I need my cell phone to phone home and my employer requires it. Think about that when you are ranting about us "idiots" who must have access to our "cry baby" gadgets. It isn't about spoiled kids wanting their toys, you moron, it is about the workforce flying all over the world that helps drive this economy and fill the planes that you maintain. Without us, you or the guy next to you doesn't have a job. You're welcome.
Please direct me to any in flight emergency or crash caused by a "runaway" Li-Ion battery and please include references to FAA reports. Also, please detail the repairs you have made due to the menaces. I think you are full of crap and can't provide the info requested.
BTW - "If you have a notion of intelligence and disipline" was typed by the guy who can't spell "repaired" "discipline" and "safety". You're repairing planes? Now THAT is terrifying.
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Lainey said 8:56PM on 1-02-2008
I heard a story about someone who got past security with a set of bonsai knives because the security agent was distracted by a tube of toothpaste. It feels good to know that my flight will be safe from clean teeth!
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Former f/a said 8:57PM on 1-02-2008
What's funny is there's currently NO WAY to detect if someone's carrying liquids through airport security. The TSA is just hoping that everyone will be honest and upfront about what they have in their possession. The average passenger would be absolutely floored if they knew what can actually be smuggled-very easily-through airport security.
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