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)
Pixie said 10:49PM on 3-11-2008
well, if the people there get these messages, sure,report them to the government heads, they'd be nuts not to. if they started to send them to american's here and they leave an address where we can send funds to them, heck, all we need do is send 'em bags of pork rinds and bacon bits. this'll teach 'em. it's pretty pathetic that they need to send voicemail and text messages to try to get people to join them. it shows that they're running out of willing helper's in their sick twisted cause. their day's are numbered, evil always loses in the end.
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Pixie said 10:59PM on 3-11-2008
eh, one more thing here. somebody should tell this dude that he's way out of fashion in the glasses' category. huge big frames have been out of style for a long time now and what's in style are the smaller rectangle or oval frames. he get's an "F" from the fashion police.
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Larry E. Hubbard said 11:10PM on 3-11-2008
Look.. he's got a horn growing out of his head.
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Marty said 3:10PM on 3-20-2008
Surely the liberal retards consider this an invasion of privacy! What an outrage. After all, preservation of privacy rights is much more important than being blown to bits.
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Steve said 3:42PM on 3-24-2008
My God!!! You stupid stinkin' Americans! Here we have a brilliant idea by Al Queda, and all you guy's are talking about is the pathetic efforts by Al Queda, because they must have run out of people, or something to that effect. You say you want to send them some pork rinds or, some other shit. But then still yet, we've got someone giving out "F"'s on his glasses' from the fashion police. Or, "look he's got a horn growing out of his head." Don't you know.... with his horn (I could tell you about it, but would take to much room) and all, about all he's doing is thinking of, are ways to KILL us!!! And this is a good one! They can draw in ones that are sitting on the fence, not knowing what to do for sure. Or, some other Muslim joker actually looking for Al Queda. Can't you imagine, they think, they just got a "special" phone call (even though it's just a recording) from this camel hoser. Most will jump one way or the other, some for them or, some away from them. Either way, they can draw from a pretty big base for the simpleminded (but effective )suicide bombers.Wake up would you. I'm in this too, I'm an American too also!!
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Bill Brady said 5:02PM on 3-20-2008
Dear Ayman,
When will you be coming stateside for a visit? We've gone to some lengths to prepare a room for you and your partner @ a nice federal facility in the middle of nowhere. The food and the view aren't much, but at least your stay there will keep you from falling into the hands of American citizens who would gladly "martyr" you both. And we generally don't agree on anything. Slowly and with as much suffering as possible seems to be the consenus. You may as well book your passage now and come on ahead as we will eventually pull you out of your miserable spider hole (see Saddam Hussien)and bring you over ourselves. Yes, it's a bit of trouble for us, but hosting you and what's his name would be well worth it. Anyway, here's to what's coming to you. Hope to see your murdering, miserable jihadic selves soon.
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