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)
alittle skeptical said 2:24PM on 3-12-2008
Re; Ken g comments. Gas prices in india are not 20/gallon where did you get that? Are your other stats off by that degree also?
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Lin said 10:48PM on 4-09-2009
By the time the bureaucrats and politicians get through putting their
noses into it the car will quadruple in cost. Of course it's spartan. But for some people this is about what they can afford. But no power steering? Idon't know. To each his own. The powers that be aren't going to let it sell for less than $3,000.00.
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No bunny said 4:21PM on 1-10-2008
YEAH AND WHEN IT STARS SELLING IN THE USA IT WILL COST 12,000.00 SMACKAROOS
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Drezo said 9:57PM on 1-10-2008
I wouldn't pay $25.00 for that ugly piece of crap, let alone $2500.00. Unlike people in Asia, people on this continent want to drive vehicles that look good AND that get good gas mileage.
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john willhoite said 11:00PM on 1-10-2008
If they brought the car over here, it would cost us more for it and it would get less gas milage.
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onll2004 said 11:18PM on 1-10-2008
Hey, this is stock, can you imagine what
it would look like when you pimp it out ?
LOL
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kristen said 11:42PM on 1-10-2008
I think this is a wonderful technological advancement. Imagine the fuel savings, thus less demand for oil = lower gas prices!
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pete said 12:33AM on 1-11-2008
Remember the Yugo! "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
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Beach Jumper 1 said 2:08AM on 1-11-2008
Considering the fact that the economy is in the dumper, it may be time for history to repeat itself in the United States. However it's not the history of the Yugo, but rather the history of the Volkswagon Beetle! In 1951 there were only 390 Beetles on the roads in the U.S.; by 1965 VW owned 67 percent of the import market! Its success story involved the same fact circumstances as the Tata Nano - ugly as sin, no frills, basic transportation which provides great gas mileage and is within the financial reach of most drivers. Even their original sports model, the Karmann Ghia, was ugly!! Put VW BEETLE, HISTORY, PRICE into your Search engine and read about it
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Hamilton said 3:45AM on 1-11-2008
The comments here acknowledge how low US opinion has sunk...the clueless and fearful live here. No wonder we are sliding out of the top ten in education, longevity, and general health/standard of living compared to other indutrialized nations. Our values and our egos are way out of line!!!
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Mary said 6:23AM on 1-11-2008
I LOVE it. And your wrong people in this country WILL buy it. Cheap economical transportation is exactly what I'm looking for. I'd buy one today if i could. Reminds me of the new smart car or the original honda.
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Mary said 9:11AM on 1-11-2008
What people don't realize is this csr is being marketed in India where few people own cars. This car will be affordable by many, thus putting more cars on the road. Thus creating more pollution.
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james r list said 1:33PM on 1-13-2008
i'd bbuy one just for driving back and forth to work
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Dale said 2:19PM on 1-14-2008
It does look like a neat toy but wouldn't want to be on the highway with it.
Dale
http://onelargemall.com
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Ken G said 3:06AM on 1-17-2008
Some interesting tidbits about India. 1) The infrastructure and roadways are not equipped to accommodate the increase in the number of cars brought about by the appeal of a $2500 vehicle. All of India's six major cities have over-crowded roads with no signs of letting up. 2) Gas prices have stayed at or around $20/gal. With globalization and the overall increase in the standard of living, it would seem pertinent that people be able to afford this car and any other comparably priced used car. What these high gas prices have done however,is compel people to live closer together. High rises are common but the population density has increased ten-fold over the past decade in the major cities with huts (hence slums) springing up at perilous rates.3) there has been no corresponding increase in the water, electric and sewage systems to cater to this increased population density. Throw in robust corruption and you have a recipe for a public planning disaster. 4) Not once was there ever any mention of how Tata would ameliorate the hazardous driving conditions on already crowded streets. If Tata was so emboldened to cater to the greater masses, perhaps it should look at ways of dissipating the population to the suburbs through more cost-effective mass transit vehicles.
5) As if in stark contrast to all that the Nano is supposed to represent, Tata is now set to buy Jaguar and the Range Rover. So, here is a company that goes from making a car for the people to buying two behemoths vehicle manufacturers. The percentage of prospective owners for these high priced vehicles would be less than 1.
6) Finally, a visit to any of India's major cities would show some of the drawbacks of it's roadway system. When trash collectors are not striking and the cops feel like they should return to work and politicians feel nationalistic enough to not be corrupt, we will see roads devoid of trash and cows, free of pedestrians, cyclists, hawkers, panhandlers and auto rickshaws. That is until an 8-cylinder emerges that has no place on India's roadways.
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