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)
Bob Hougland said 4:39PM on 2-05-2008
Very good orientation on laptop performance versus battery life and weight variables, especially for the first-time shopper. It appears to this novitiate that if the laptop user wants to benefit from the mobility function for strictly business purposes the small screen is the key variable on which to base one's choice among the alternative brands. One thing I'm still wondering about is the safety factor. Are the batteries still likely to catch on fire; and what should the buyer look for in this regard and safety in general?
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V. Bingham said 5:14PM on 2-05-2008
This information doesn't help me much. I want a laptop that is not expensive, doesn't need frequent repairs, has a lot of capabilites and storage. I got a compact that I have it fixed every four to six months and it is less than a year old.
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barb said 8:11PM on 2-05-2008
IS IT REALLY TRUE THAT MICROSOFT IS DISCONTINUING HELP WITH WINDOWS XP? PLEASE, DONT REPLY UNLESS YOU REALLY KNOW THE TRUE ANSWER..... THANKS.......... BARB
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darknight815 said 6:42PM on 3-19-2009
yes, thanks to vista is going to take longer then they wanted to.
I'm pretty sure once windows 7 comes out support for XP will be very very less, online support they said well remain up but no more updates what so ever. They dont want to accept that XP is really that good.
Dylan said 7:51PM on 2-05-2008
I loved Microsoft Windows......but no way was I going to Vista, especially when my bank freaked I even considered it. I do all banking and stocks online. I am also a surgeon and keep all physician/surgical records on computer. The house computers were 8 years old and dying. The office computers are 3 and hanging in.
For my home, I went with the Apple MacBook Pro, Leopard OSX and Bootcamp that let me Install Windows XP Professional Service Pack2. I run all my Windows Programs and use many of the Apple programs. It's literally the best of both worlds. I never, ever, ever thought I would turn traitor and buy anything but Apple Stock........but I truly love my Apple MacBook Pro with the WindowsXP side by side.
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Justin said 7:58PM on 2-06-2008
Barb:
First off, Barb there's a button on the left-hand side of your keyboard labled as "Caps Lock" Please press it once - and never again. Microsoft only does this when they've finally worked all the bugs and issues out of a Windows release. They release a new Operating System; full of bugs and problems; and then strike fear into the heart of John Q. Public by threatening him with the prospect of "No Support" for the product he paid good money for a few years prior. Yes it is true that Microsoft will be discontinuing support for Windows XP. That is their game-plan to grow their buisness and to "utilize the newest technology to enable you (the end user) to perform your daily tasks to the fullest". It's basically a way to force you to buy a product you don't actually need or want. However, because they will no longer support it, that simply means that they will not release new updates for it. In no way does this mean you have to upgrade, unless you really want to blow the extra money and deal with the hassles of learning a new Operating System. If you have a good firewall and anti-virus program, and you're content with using only Windows XP compatible software; don't bother with worrying about upgrades.
V. Bingham:
Might I suggest an IBM Thinkpad T42. I've seen them online recently for as little as $500. It is compact, sturdy, rich in useful features such as built in wireless, DVD/CD burner, etc. (accessories and specs vary depending on the options you prefer). My first experience with a thinkpad was a few months ago. My first impression was how much sturdier it seemed then other laptops; it didn't have that "cheap" feel like it was going to snap in half if I picked it up by a corner. The next thing i noticed was their forethought into user's needs; the built in keyboard light, the 1-button wireless configuration, the big, blue "HELP" key. Then I began to discover more about it, like how it has and icon in the system tray that will not only notify you of shocks and jolts that can damage your hard drive, but it will actually STOP your hard-drive if it believes that data-loss/damage are possible! I work as a Field technician repairing copiers and networks they are on, so my laptop gets more than it's fair share of being thrown around. No problems as of yet.
-Justin
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Betty said 7:03PM on 2-24-2008
I called Microsoft about a week ago, and went direct o Washington state and ask about Windows XP. I was told that they have no plans to discontinue it, and why dod away with something that is working great. They says yes there is lots of bugs still in Windows Vista, and for that reason the are still selling XP.
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Betty said 7:01PM on 2-24-2008
I called Microsoft about a week ago, and went direct o Washington state and ask about Windows XP. I was told that they have no plans to discontinue it, and why dod away with something that is working great. They says yes there is lots of bugs still in Windows Vista, and for that reason the are still selling XP.
Reply