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 1)
frank s. triana said 4:10PM on 2-05-2008
The internet keeps people informed. Iranians, Syrians, Iraqi's, Palestinians, etc can get a feel that the west isn't all that bad. Who doesn't want that. Turmoil and ignorance breeds conflict and thus higher oil prices, which is good for oil companies.
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Joshua said 1:31PM on 2-08-2008
Frank, I think you just answered your own question. Who doesn't want that well try religious fundamentalist!
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edawg said 5:43PM on 2-05-2008
This is a cyber attack probally by Teheran to weaken their rivals economic and information base
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Senile Citizen said 6:59PM on 2-05-2008
Just make sure that the only internet available to them is AOL, that will set them back to the stone age.
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Mike Sanders said 7:09PM on 2-05-2008
If you must use IP-telephony, use EDS-NET. Bypass the bottlenecks and tie into "the bone." As far as I know, EDS is still handling traffic to their customers, in the Mideast (and the midwest, too!). :-)
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Janis Winchester said 11:03AM on 2-06-2008
Come on people when the cables started breaking didn't you think they were being cut? The middle East wants their people back in the dark ages. It's easier to control them. Ignorence is easier to with than intellence.
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Pam said 8:05PM on 2-05-2008
Oh please. How stupid do you think we really are? Ship's anchors? Power failures? This is laughable. Somebody is cutting them. It's just that simple.
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Ricky P said 11:19PM on 2-05-2008
Good! They were most likely informants and coconspiritors to the AlQuaida movement! Keep it cut!
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Ricky P said 11:21PM on 2-05-2008
Even Better Yet! Program all Satelites to disconnect all links to Iraq other than those used by the U.S.Military! Let them all stay in the dark till we're done over there!
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Daniel Gaunt said 5:32AM on 2-06-2008
some comments show a complete lack of understanding of foreign policy. The extremist groups in the middle east would be happy to see the internet down, just like red neck bible bashers would be. The reasons behind these cuts are more likely economical than political. alot of banks have staff in the middle east...
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Abe Lestz said 9:36AM on 2-06-2008
I won't be surprised if the cable co. is doing it to increase the internet price
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Mike Sanders said 10:13AM on 2-06-2008
Connectivity is good... When people are "flying blind," they become a danger to everyone, including themselves.
Remember Samson? They cut his hair ('his strength'), tied him up and put out his eyes. God gave him his strength back, for the finale... 5,000 Phillistines and Samson, himself, died that day.
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Billy said 10:22AM on 2-06-2008
Hey Frank s.
The oil companys pay the higher prices and then pass them on to the consumer. Get it?
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michael said 10:25AM on 2-06-2008
the liberal owned news reports will report this there way,like everything else.leading you by the nose every day.you know like communist countries.they inform you there way.
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Rick said 10:34AM on 2-06-2008
Keeping the internet up in those regions is more important that keeping it down. While it is used by a small percentage of extremists, it caters to a much larger number of individuals that want to emulate the west.
Besides, do you know how much business is done over those lines by the US Corporation (yes, I did capitalize it like it's an entity)? They would never allow a little extremism to get in the way of their $$ making.
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Samsun said 10:44AM on 2-06-2008
It is funny, how Iran will get benefited from reducing there own connectivity. It is also hard to believe that ship anchors disconnected undersea cables in 3 places in less than a weak, all in Asian region only.
A more logical reason would be, the cut is done by NSA so that they can tap in to fiber cables while they are shut down due to damage and repair. Read this article http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-529826.html and you will see that they are doing it for sometime... and no surprise
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DAN said 12:01PM on 2-06-2008
MUST BE A COST PLUS PROJECT JUST TO KEEP THE MONEY TRAIN GOING
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A said 3:32PM on 2-07-2009
Map?
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