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)
tommy38 said 10:30PM on 2-15-2008
Good for them. It's been a long time since Sony won anything. Where is their Walkman anyway?
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RVMamas said 9:30AM on 2-16-2008
What does this mean? How does this affect HD TV?
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jcpickw said 9:39AM on 2-16-2008
RVMama,
This doesn't affect HDTV. This can be likened to the VHS vs. Beta war of the 1980s. Presumably this means that the successor to the current DVD movies will be Blue-Ray, though DVD will likely be around for quite some time since Blue-Ray Disc players will play them as well.
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FedupinUSA said 10:40AM on 2-16-2008
just keep changing all the time so as to make that money from everyone. Thats the american corporate way.... Get everyones last dollar and when you get it have the gov issue checks so they can clean out the government accounts too.....PS thanks for the high gas prices BUSH. I think the devil has three heads, George, Annaconda and Dick. PSS all of you people who cant see whats going on I would advise stepping away from your brainwashing churchs... What has this administration done for you????? You are paying double for gas and four times as much for home heating fuel and gas. Was the trade to get involved in peoples private lives and tell people who they could and couldn't marry or this failed abortion ban worth this????And lets not forget to talk about all the lives lost from this unneeded war. IT'S SICK. AMERICA IS SICK!!!!
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ditchpasser said 11:58AM on 2-16-2008
FedupinUSA says:
just keep changing all the time so as to make that money from everyone. Thats the american corporate way.... Get everyones last dollar and when you get it have the gov issue checks so they can clean out the government accounts too.....PS thanks for the high gas prices BUSH. I think the devil has three heads, George, Annaconda and Dick. PSS all of you people who cant see whats going on I would advise stepping away from your brainwashing churchs... What has this administration done for you????? You are paying double for gas and four times as much for home heating fuel and gas. Was the trade to get involved in peoples private lives and tell people who they could and couldn't marry or this failed abortion ban worth this????And lets not forget to talk about all the lives lost from this unneeded war. IT'S SICK. AMERICA IS SICK!!
--------------------------------------------------Hey FedupinUSA!! If you dont like it here, if you are so sure the USA is sick, you are welcome to leave, quickly, feel free to cut in line on yur way to get out, we won't stop you!
I'm quite sure you will fine that the rst of the worls is better than we are so in the interest of your own personel happieness GET OUT.
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Patrick Gardner said 12:21PM on 2-16-2008
hey fedupin usa all that over blueray? over reaction isnt it lol
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iratealready said 11:51AM on 2-20-2008
Actually, i have been searching for a Blue-ray player that also will have a digital tuner; for when the broadcast signals go totally digital i won t have to trash my analog tv that is a 42 incher...:)
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paddle pusher said 12:51PM on 2-16-2008
Hooray for Blue Ray. A sad day for consumers hey.
The big companies take my money away. We are such fools today. We all must have the new way. What about the old way, I guess it's no good today.
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james s palmer said 7:35PM on 2-16-2008
Hey If It changes right now thats great I am just gettingready to buy new TV. Wouldn't that be wonderful to get in early. I bet this is no improvement. Please tell me what it does and why I shouldn't but one of the TV's that will be on sale
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Linda said 6:04PM on 2-17-2008
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLU-RAY AND HD-DVD?
DOES ANYONE EVEN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
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stephen said 8:23PM on 2-17-2008
I was wanting to ask basically what Linda asks because if that is the equilevant of VHS and BETA, then you know that fell the wrong way totally.
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RENEE said 8:57PM on 2-17-2008
well i'll still use my dvd player until it falls apart . I've got better things to do than keep up with the jones. Kid c what I 'm saying y' all
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dshell102 said 11:13PM on 2-17-2008
Bluray holds a whole lot more info. That's the biggest difference I know of. Other than that, they both do 1080p.
Sony does offer hi def from beginning to end though (recording/playback-cameras, players, tvs) so they push that advantage.
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JoJo said 10:00AM on 2-18-2008
FedupinUSA says:
just keep changing all the time so as to make that money from everyone. Thats the american corporate way.... Get everyones last dollar and when you get it have the gov issue checks so they can clean out the government accounts too.....PS thanks for the high gas prices BUSH.
***
Ummm, BUSH isn't responsible for the high gas prices. The greedy commoditites traders are, they also do their best to create panic by stating that there is a shortage, yet on the news you hear of surplus...I also get tired of hearing their reasoning for doing so..."if you bought a gallon of shampoo, you would pay 20.00 for it, so gas is a BARGAIN at 3.50." I guess they haven't caught on that US economics isn't based on SHAMPOO...it's oil.
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Al said 10:37AM on 2-18-2008
So what their saying is they can get this at the cheapest price possible so the CEO can add a few more millions to his pay while putting Americans out of work. F CHINAMART.
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Daniel Gaunt said 9:51AM on 2-19-2008
I'm glad this war didn't last long. now i can buy my PS3
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
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