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 3 of 6)
nakedtan2 said 10:33PM on 1-02-2008
Laserbolt, the bullshit will never end...this is just the beginning.
It's George Orwell's book '1984' coming to life!
If you've never read it, do!
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Jim Donaldson said 11:03AM on 1-03-2008
Go to the safetravel link and read the guidelines before you all explode! It's fine to carry your laptop on along with several spare batteries. It's NOT legal to pack spares in your CHECKED luggage. Guess they figure if they short they'll go undetected in checked luggage. And it's not 25 grams total weight, it's 25 grams litium equivalent which is about as much as is in 300 watt hours of battery power (or 2 of the big flat universal batteries)
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rtrrocket said 10:51PM on 1-02-2008
7 grams of lithium in my pacemaker.
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marc said 10:53PM on 1-02-2008
I fly and am a pilot. I really would like you to know that my fellow cabin members are also safe. I would like to know all the passengers are safe. I think any "inconvenience" outweighs the gadget fix for a few hours if we all have increased safety and remove the toeholds that the sickos wish to exploit no?
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ttchutch said 10:59PM on 1-02-2008
Putting a battery in the baggage compartment is not going to keep it from exloding. If a battery explodes in
the baggage compartment lights a fire, then lights the other 100 laptop batteries on fire and mixes with the
hair gel and tooth paste, who is going to put out the fire? Nobody tends the baggage compartment. Oh,
maybe the pacific ocean that the plane just crashed into. If I’m not mistaken I think some aircraft batteries
are lithium and they are not exploding.. And having a “runaway battery” what a geek. We have been carring
batteries and other potentially dangerous stuff on aircraft for a long time and nothing has happened. (One
time I was flying to California and I turned my cell phone on in flight just to see if the plane would crash,
and can you believe it! Nothing frickin happened, so I do it all the time.) putting different doors on the
cockpit will not keep terrorists out, they will just become pilots and take-off instead of take over the flight.
We need new seceurity ideas, such as better x-ray machine operators, 50% of them are not paying attention
because they are bored. I say play a couple pranks on each one of them everyday just to keep them on their
toes. Lets come up with better secerity ideas for the FAA because they have no ideas.
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A Krinock said 11:01PM on 1-02-2008
Why not fire all of the current screeners and hire the Israel Government to do our screening. They seem to use their intelligence and profile as well as interview.
Mr. K
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willy said 11:16PM on 1-02-2008
Has anyone tallied the number of laptop fires aboard aircraft? I've certainly never heard of one but then, it wouldn't be something that the airline would want publicized. Yet the way media hungers for anything related to possible air accidents or terror, shouldn't they have ferreted out even the least mini-meltdown? Tempest in a teapot?
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Carol said 11:19PM on 1-02-2008
I have a friend who flies a private jet for a pretty well known businessman. He says there is no reason why cellphones cannot be used in flight, his boss and passengers use theirs all the time... along with their laptops. Sorry, but all this 'homeland security' crap sounds an awful lot like Nazi Germany... who ever called this country the 'homeland' before? I certainly never did and never heard anyone else call it that either. It's all about control and keeping us scared. I read an interesting article recently called "U.S. in the Time of Empire" which IMHO says it all...
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20071118_U_S__IN_THE_TIME_OF_EMPIRE_.html
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JTD said 2:03AM on 1-03-2008
Being that we don't have rampant suicide bombers blowing themselves up at every crowded venue to the extent we hear of in the mid east, I have to say the regulations are working so far.
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JTD said 2:02AM on 1-03-2008
Being that we don't have rampant suicide bombers blowing themselves up at every crowded venue to the extent we hear of in the mid east, I have to say the regulations are working so far.
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scubadoug said 11:29PM on 1-02-2008
I do underwater photography. That means when I travel I have two batteries for my strobes, 2 back up bateries for my strobes (needed), 3 batteries for my camera, 1 rechargeable battery for my underwater light, 2 batteries for my laptop,1 battery for my back up storage drive for my photos in case the laptop takes a dump, my cellphone has a battery as does my i-pod. The rules also state that if I leave my battery in my device and it does not have to go into my carry on. Idiots! If I leave a battery in my lights or strobes and it somehow gets turned on it can definitely cause a fire. Up until now they have wanted my batteries out for just this reason. My reason for travel is to dive and do photography. What am I supposed to do? Cancel my vacations? It's more pretending to do something so they all feel good and I say they are doing more harm by telling me to keep my batteries in my devices.
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Frank said 11:40PM on 1-02-2008
I am not afraid of terrorists. They never did anything to anyone I ever met. If they are so worried, Why not ban airplanes? This is America and we drive! If you need planes move out of Chevy country. I will stand behind my 502 big block van and my 44 magnum. If you have to fly, drive to Canada or Mexico, We are afraid of big scary airplanes!
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Toby said 11:57PM on 1-03-2008
Couldn't have said it better myself, Laserbolt. The FAA has become just another over-powered tool of the fear mongering Bush administration. To hell with the dangers of exploding batteries, to hell with the dangers of liquid explosives, to hell with the dangers of shoe bombs. I am not affraid and I am tired of people trying to scare me! Let us fly fear free!
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mac said 11:35PM on 1-02-2008
so what diffrence does it make if the battery explodes in the cabin of the airplane or the cargo area? it still happens to be ON the plane..
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charmedlife57 said 11:35PM on 1-02-2008
All this snivelling makes me want to barf. These lithium-ion batteries are so unstable that they generate tremendous heat when merely exposed to moisture, and actually explode when exposed to water. Do you REALLY want them on the airplane with you? (Remember - there's no parachute for YOU.) You don't like taking off your shoes? Tell it to the a**hole that tried to light his shoe-bomb on an airplane. You don't like having to leave your drinks outside the concourse? Tell it to the a**hole that taught his friends how to make bombs using liquid explosives. Better yet, tell all your crybaby crap to OSAMA if you ever meet him - they're HIS friends, & they all want you & yours DEAD. Whether you appreciate the TSA or not, they've actually been quite successful at keeping us all safe. Their job is hard enough without YOU making things more difficult. So, you can either get over yourselves, put your toys away & get with the program, or be part of the problem. The choice is yours...
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Kevin said 11:46PM on 1-02-2008
Robert, you very spot-on! The kids needs to put their toys away, and relearn to be people (or as someone suggested, read a book). Oh, and while you're at it, brush-up on those critical reading skills. PEOPLE! This isn't a TSA security issue - It's a FAA safety mandate. Have you all forgotten about that airliner that crashed into the Everglades, all because something placed into the cargo hold started burning???
But as far as security goes, I saw better in Turkey...20 years ago. And that's because they placed group safety above personal rights. Think about it.
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Jamie said 11:47PM on 1-02-2008
I take about 100 business flights a year. I use a laptop probably 75% of the time, not because I want to, but because if I don't I'll be working until midnight. I'd rather sleep or read a book, believe me...but while you are enjoying the movie, I'm at work. I'm sorry if my tapping away bothers those of you who want a "peaceful" flight... but I'm not doing it to annoy you recreational travelers. I'm doing it so I can have a life after I get off the plane.
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JTD said 2:03AM on 1-03-2008
The question is will security know the difference between lithium batteries vs NiCad or Nimh? The link in the above article, safetravel.dot.gov, shows a battery for professional audio/visual equipment. The picture is of a Anton Bauer NiCad based battery. Compare with AB's site (http://www.antonbauer.com/digi_propac_trimpac.htm).If they can't get the picture right, what's the chance you're going to have arguing the fact that the batteries you may be carrying is not Lithium?
If batteries are going to be restricted then the FAA needs to require airlines provide power outlets to all passengers.
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ttchutch said 11:57PM on 1-02-2008
I just put a lithium-ion battery in water. It exploded and now the entire state of Colorado is destroyed. B.S. It didnt even get warm. So I put it in hot water, Nothing happened. Next time I'm on board of an airline I'm going to light a fart on fire with the one match I sneak on board. That explosion will be larger than putting a battery in water. PS. Don't drop your phone in the toilet, you will blow up your bathroom. NOT
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hgpotter said 11:58PM on 1-02-2008
It's not so much that people need to keep their laptops on them for their fix, although some do, but I would never check in any devices just for the fact that they would never survive at the temperature in the cargo area. Also, with the airlines cutting costs with no longer having in-flight meals, no more pillows, and their 3 cent pack of pretzels I would expect that the entertainment would be next to go if it already hasn't, so why can't I bring my own. A cell, an iPod, and a laptop is surely not going to put the average person over this new limit.
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