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)
Jason said 10:01AM on 2-22-2008
I was expecting the RIAA to jump on the two presidential candidates that were both illegally using copyrighted music to boost their campaigns. Alas, I am disappointed to see that presidential candidates who are openly guilty of infringement are left unpunished and free to become President. ... All this while Joe Average is having his ass handed to him by the RIAA for trading a few MP3s with friends. Where is justice now?
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saint7923 said 12:54PM on 2-22-2008
Yup...RIAA has got something wrong as usual...Hold on...I will have to prove them right...Let me go and score a blunt from Crack head Bob. And Smoke it! Or Just Maybe it is the RIAA who is on Cr@# and needs to get their head out of their collective ASS and Get Laid or something. Can't play the music CD’s which I purchase in a brick and mortar store on My IPOD...Who is SMOKING CR@# Now...PISS OFF DUMB ASSES! It is Time that everyone rise-up
and sue the RIAA for Harassment and Criminal Miss Conduct!
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ascatal said 6:31PM on 2-22-2008
OMFG they must be nuts i suppose theremight be a tiny percntage that that just might be true about but in gernal that is a load of crap they need to stop talking sh@t and start spending theremoney on new tech to stop people from "steal " music and movies
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Bill L said 1:42PM on 2-23-2008
And the day after it's posted here the video is pulled. Guess the RIAA told YouTube it was illegally posted by a a drug dealing, homicidal, terrorist !
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Marcia Lynn Neil said 2:46PM on 2-27-2008
Music piracy IS a larger crime when the RIAA factories are doing the pirating; and such factory use also causes crimes because affecting the morale and mental health of populations.
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Marcia Lynn Neil said 1:18PM on 3-15-2008
There is a 'Devil's Triangle' of free music-listening, that consists of purposeful gasoline burning to prevent volcanoes, the open road (new and expanded roadways), and new original music presentations using free radio transmissions. The probability that radio-presented new music (heard and/or anticipated), is illegally broadcast using "freedom of the press" rather than legal copyright procedure, is possibly 100%. The Devil's Triangle mentality wastes oil-industry resources to hear the free music, and ruins the environment and public health.
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