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)
Laverne Reynolds said 9:44PM on 2-11-2008
Actually ... my option is to lock them away and make them apply their brain power to something constructive like a cure for cancer or heart disease.
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Jim Sheaffer said 7:49AM on 1-18-2008
Any person who creates computer viruses should have a bullet put in their head. Anyone with me on this one?
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Sam said 8:34AM on 1-18-2008
Amen, Jim. Creating/launching viruses to indiscriminately harm people's computers is terrorism and should be treated as such. Find these people and throw them away for life. They serve no useful purpose on this planet; they just destroy.
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Beth said 2:02AM on 1-22-2008
I agree completely with you. I would also like to add that identity theft should be considered a form of terrorism. It's a shame and a disgrace that these terrible crimes are glossed over as a "sign of the times".
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Ann said 12:45PM on 1-18-2008
yeah really do they even get anything out of it no its a complete waste of time
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Mike said 1:05PM on 1-18-2008
The ancient Samurai had a better idea; use them for testing swords
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Keith Warner said 1:06PM on 1-18-2008
It's here. I got one yesterday. No big deal if you're using Firefox, because it doesn't have a "Run" button like IE, only "Save"(to disc) or "Cancel" The Storm worms are so obvious it's ridiculous, but with other 'iffy' downloads I save to My Documents, then right-click and scan with my A/V & A/S. With IE these things can blow right by the "Run" button. Why do people still use Infernal Exploder?
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Keith Warner said 1:17PM on 1-18-2008
> Ann says:
yeah really do they even get anything out of it no its a complete waste of time" <
At one time that was true, but now it is all about the money, creating 'botnets' to spread SPAM.
You wanna go after them, be my guest. 'They' are known as the RBN, or Russian Business Network.
Happy Valentine's Day! :)
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j green said 2:06PM on 1-18-2008
I wonder if using Norton's Go Back program can take care of "ridding" the MBR infected file of this virus plug.
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Bill McDonald said 4:14PM on 1-18-2008
It is way past the time when hacking into computers should become a federal offense. I think most of us view the violation of our computer the same as breaking and entering our homes. I suggest all of us that fell this way write our members of congress and ask they craft such a law.
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Dlisa said 5:53PM on 1-18-2008
Terrorism? Come on, get real. It's annoying, it can damage business income to an extent but Terrorism??? Some old bag can't get on her internet site to play canasta? That's terrorism? lmao
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joe blow said 4:33PM on 1-18-2008
hooray for viruses. doctors have jobs because of them
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joe blow said 4:36PM on 1-18-2008
viruses senders for president
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Wayne said 4:51PM on 1-18-2008
Jim Sheaffer: I would not go so far as to agree with you about a bullet "put" in the head but I think anyone that would deliberately create and transmit a virus is sick "in" the head and should be disciplined severly by the FCC. To me that should be delcared a Federal offense (felony) and prosecuted as such.
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JUNGLEFACE said 7:20PM on 1-18-2008
cut off their hands and put hot pokers in their eyes to blind them .. then send them to iraq to wander the streets.. that is really what should be done to em.. then they can not see or touch a key board.. also cut out their tongue.. so they can not use a verbal command ..
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Dennis said 5:01PM on 1-18-2008
Virus , schmirus..get free AVG and you should have no worries.
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artp195 said 5:11PM on 1-18-2008
I THINK WE SHOULD USE THEM AS CRASH TEST DUMMIES
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Claude Chabana said 5:19PM on 1-18-2008
Jim Sheaffer says:
Any person who creates computer viruses should have a bullet put in their head. Anyone with me on this one?
01/18/08 7:49 AM
=================
Not good enough.
Have their balls tied and have 20lbs hanging from them for the whole day.
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Dave Egeland said 5:34PM on 1-18-2008
I agree with the bullets and balls tactics, but really, I think we should form hit squads to capture these ass-holes. Then, we can string 'em up and make thousands of tiny razor slices all over them. Then cover them in salt. Then take a pair of pliers and crunch each tooth one at a time and yank 'em all out. Then cut their genitals off and stuff 'em in their mouths and sew their lips shut. Then smash each finger and toe with a sledge hammer, break their nose, elbows, knees, and shoulders. Then............ But, you gotta keep 'em alive for months to make sure the torture works and folks hear about it and are so afraid that they stop. ANYONE WITH ME ON THIS??? DON'T GET MAD--GET 1,000 TIMES PAYBACK!!!
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Jack Rennscheidt said 6:33PM on 1-18-2008
Don't shoot them, fine them, or put them in prison. Give them to me. The ways of my ancestors will be sufficient.
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