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)
mike from joisey said 12:52PM on 3-07-2008
Hey this a bunch of crap!!! How much more government involvement do we really need in our personal lives. Give me a break!!! Whats next you wont be able to have a converstion with your fellow passengers because it may be "TOO DISTRACTING" or maybe no eating or smoking......PLEASE GIVE IT UP ALREADY!!
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Buster said 1:07PM on 3-07-2008
Cell phones in cars are very dangerous. Even the face of this Carnegie-Melon study there are people who still think that it is okay to use them while at the wheel. How stubborn do you have to be? People on the cell phone are dangerous--always, but especially in parking lots and when making turns. They just can't pay attention to their driving.
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You can take a chance with YOUR life but not with MINE.
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Roberta Kramer said 2:15PM on 3-07-2008
I am easily distracted, even while using a hands free phone if the conversation is heated with the person at the other end of the conversation
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Mike said 3:01PM on 3-07-2008
I've used two-way radio in the car since 1962-- Amateur, CB, Local Government, old-style IMTS phone with full-size handset and rotary dial, and now a cellphone. Baffling, isn't it, how I've survived almost half a century of "drunken driving," eh?
Maybe, the radio has nothing to do with it... rather, it's just that more people are behind the wheel today who have the attention span of a gnat?
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John said 8:34PM on 3-17-2008
This study doesn't compare apples to apples. I'd like to see a study where the "scientists" (and I'd like to see some real scientists for once instead of captive researchers to either the government or some company) compare talking with passengers, esp. children, to driving without distractions at all. I would contend that driving with children is much more dangerous than driving while using a cell phone. The issue is that reaction time and attention span go down whenever ANY distraction is presented. Let's try doing a study with talking on a cell phone vs. a). driving with a child under 5 in the car b). driving with a child 5 - 12 in the car c). driving with a teenager in the car d). listening to National Public Radio e). listening to a popular music station f). listening to classical music g). driving with another adult in the care h). driving with multiple adults in the car (the government pushed carpooling effect) and, finally, i). driving with multiple children in the car of varying ages.
I will bet anyone that driving wtih three toddlers in the car, or a fighting brother and sister or a bunch of teens or a bunch of rowdy pre-teens or even a bunch of adults in the car is MUCH more distracting than talking on the phone. I'll also bet that listening to an engaging story on NPR winds up just as dangerous as talking on the cell phone. Also that car-pooling is at least as dangerous as cell phone conversations. Let's compare apples to apples and then we have something to talk about (only a little pun intended).
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Martin said 9:08PM on 3-17-2008
No one should brag about engaging in a bad habit and so far no accident. It's just a matter of odds. The ideal of course is no distractions. I don't even have a radio in my car. I don't understand why being alone with one's thoughts isn't enough on a drive in the country, which I make about three times a week. And yet on that windy country road I've almost "bought it" several times from cell phone drivers crossing the center line on curves! Too bad when such idiocy thins the herd it doesn't just "thin" them.
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Realitycheck36 said 11:37PM on 3-19-2008
Ever notice when you're lost, you turn down the radio? No difference. Cell phones have become a huge distraction. I can't count the times I see someone going under the speed limit, swerving on the road, because they are on the phone. Is it really that important?
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greg said 4:05AM on 3-20-2008
its hard to put a blinker on with a phone in your ear. outlaw it all togather.
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pclassiclv said 11:32AM on 3-21-2008
Try using a cell phone while using a stick shift. I must be a genius !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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bruce said 2:00PM on 3-21-2008
I believe it. I have seen the consequences of, and been the victim of people driving while using cellphones.
My car was totaled by a person talking on a cellphone. I was at a stoplight, and saw him coming in my mirror, but could do nothing to get out of the way. I just had to hope it would not injure me in any way.
Cellphones while driving are very dangerous.
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