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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Darryl from Temple Hills, MD said 6:34PM on 1-26-2008
May I say that we took this game to another level - league play, we had enough men for offense, defense, and a few specialty players; no total-control bases, only rookie bases; bolts stuck to the bottom with clay for power; offensive arms on QB's T's WR's and RB's heated and bent in and DT's S's CB's and LB's heated and turned out, because we played body touch and not base touch; on-off switch cut out of the cord and one wire stripped and exposed for more precise on-off action - we had to see exactly where the ball was when the man was "down"; and yeap, got the Redskins - Cowboys with the large Super Bowl edition board boxed up in my 6-yr old's closet... waiting for the day that he's ready for the ribbon-cutting unveiling ceremony. :-)
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Darryl from Temple Hills, MD said 6:41PM on 1-26-2008
Also, search Ebay, and always get the large Super Bowl version. I believe that the Dallas/Broncos set was the first year for the large boards. Either way the smaller board is just too small.
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WEIRDWOLF said 12:21AM on 1-27-2008
Check out www.miniaturefootball.com or .org and find out a whole lot more about the hobby of electric football. It has come a long way since we played it as kids.
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zippinthru said 2:02PM on 1-09-2008
I used to play all the time! ha ha - After looking at the photo - is it me or are the goal posts backwards?
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Jon said 2:11PM on 1-12-2008
Sports are to keep the poor away from politics
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Jan said 2:26PM on 1-12-2008
We still have this game at our folks house it was my baby brother's as far as I know it still works and his kids have played it. It is true that evey thing comes back. Ohh- for the simple live.
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Logical said 2:41PM on 1-12-2008
This was about as much funas getting a train that only went in a small oval. The game that can still hold up against the new video games is any good version of slide action hockey. This would still be fun to paly with a friend today.
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Richard said 3:40PM on 1-12-2008
First, yes the goalposts are backwards! Second, I only remember it being called "Electric Football". That "Virbrating Football" sign looks new. I remember that when you turned it on for a "play", the players went everywhere but where you wanted! If by some stroke of luck you scored, there was this "kicker" that kicked a football made of felt that ended up looking like a furball. The only cool thing was that you got "your" team colors, logos, etc. It was better to go outside and play with your JC Penney or Sears catalog NFL uniform, though! I had #19--Johnny Unitas. Wow!
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David G said 5:15PM on 1-12-2008
It was called Elecgtric Football from a company named Tudor Inc. And if you are form Toledo Ohio north end called "Out Stickney " your were a pro at this game. We could make plyers go in assigned directions and given time a rookie can do so also. We loved this game so that we had leagus and playoffs and if you got aq board at XMAAS our on your Bday you were king for a day. All my frinds an family had this game , I had over 29 teams at one time and we can chanllege the nation to bet anyone of us. We thougt this was the best game around.
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Preston said 6:36PM on 1-12-2008
I think that the electric football is an attempt to go after the overly expensive Playstation systems and video games. I'm sure that nobody else is not going to plunk $300, $400, maybe $600 for those video game systems. The vibrating football games were so fun back then and you can actually see the plays up front. You can't get that in the video games.
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r said 6:15PM on 1-12-2008
i had one of these, i remember the guys going all over the place. I even had the bright idea i could make it a ice rink. the water went through and shorted out. but hey what do you expect from a 6yr old..lol
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Rabbit said 5:50PM on 1-12-2008
Zippinthru-it's not you (hey, that rhymes!). They ARE backwards. I assume assembly will be required.
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Sue said 8:55PM on 1-12-2008
boys will be boys!
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Sarah said 7:01PM on 1-12-2008
Actually, it's older than the 80s. My dad had it when he was a kid in the 70s. Mom just bought him one of these games for Christmas as a gag gift; he was joking with his brother about wanting electric football, Hot Wheels track, and Jarts. My sisters and I got him the Hot Wheels. If they weren't banned in the US, I'm sure someone woul've managed to find Jarts, too, lol.
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Toyoyoy said 7:11PM on 1-12-2008
Yeah, that game was great. I remember the Sears Christmas catalog having the game and all 28 NFL teams at the time availible to add to it. Kids could get thier favorites and be the "visiting" team when they went over to thier friends fouse to play. Priceless.
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brian said 7:26PM on 1-12-2008
we use to tap on the endzones instead of pluging it in game was more fair that way
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LVDarin said 7:42PM on 1-12-2008
Sports are for the poor uneducated to feel better than others and be somebody and of course money.. Thats what is wrong Kids, young adults and media think the world owes them something and they make stars out of any body Paris,Brittney etc....
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Sal said 10:21PM on 1-12-2008
Sarah, that is even older than you thought, a child hood friend of mine had one of those in the early 1950's when we were 12, we're now in our 60's
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geoff said 9:04PM on 1-14-2008
Anyone know who is selling Electric Football? I did a search, and keep coming back to the same site! PLUS lots of places sell...Excalibur!!! - so company search does not work well.
Ideas please!
Thanks
Geoff
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W Mays said 2:59AM on 1-15-2008
To Zippinthru: Good eye!
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