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)
Hikari said 11:30PM on 3-21-2008
Well... if they win.. (which I doubt) Im glad I have my copies now. =D
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steven said 6:37PM on 3-22-2008
glad i got my 2 wireless guitars. Yo preorder your guitar hero areosmith game coming out on june 29th. I ordered mine. there are a ton of awesome songs on it.
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justin said 9:05PM on 3-22-2008
i think its funny that these idiots get sued after having naming rights to the game and game design rights what a bunch of lunatics
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Ricky P said 12:29PM on 3-23-2008
Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and Kramer among my favorite instruments depending on the sound one desires during recording, may use a little of each when over dubbing, are all fantastic choices! I for one am so glad somebody is nailing Walmart, the low life scum of the Dept Store chains! Ahh hahahahahahaaha! ROFLMAO You go Gibson! Bust a hole in that cash box baby!
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Scott said 12:53PM on 3-23-2008
In addition to constantly suing, Gibson has a history of purchasing music-related companies and running them into the ground. Opcode Systems and Oberheim are but two.
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Afterbirth said 1:20PM on 3-23-2008
Gibson is simply waiting for Walmart and other companies to make money off the Gibson patent, using their own marking costs and business structures. Then they go in and demand a share of the profit. They get free advertising, free marketing, free salesforce. A smart business move. Many companies do this
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Billy-Bob Joe Buck said 5:47PM on 3-23-2008
thenk goodniss eye bot the bettur vershun cawled "Banjo-Hero" insted. Ye wun't be a findin' no derned lawyuhs a tryun' to soe them fellers, a fer a copyin' thet won. Eye wish'n eye culd sea them fellers a trying to evin spall "copeerite infrungment". Yee-Haw, ya'll.
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Billy-Bob Joe Buck said 5:50PM on 3-23-2008
tarnashuns!!! eye jes recollected a bettuh game, to be a found in them thar stures, comin' about summah time. Eye recollect it'll be a cawled "Fiddle-Hero", a fer them thaat true rebel rock heroes in about theese a heyuh parts. Well doggie, it'll be a rip rurin, hoot snurin guld times, ya'll. Yee-Haw!!!
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Billy-Bob Joe Buck said 6:05PM on 3-23-2008
Tur nashuns!!! Eye'm agonna hafn to recollect onna time eye ferget to be a speekin' on thet thar uthuh gamey tipe contrepshun, the ole timey "Washboard-Hero". A hootin annie of eh rip-roaren time. eye recun eye'd a be a shuckin' ya'll iffn eye ferget to speek on thet won. ad an ole wiskee jug an ye get yersef a reel ole timey hillybilly rock a roller band!!! Yee-Haw!!!
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nancy said 6:29PM on 3-23-2008
Billy Bob Joe Buck, you're hilarious. Where you from, anyways, Arkansas?
At least a whisky jug takes some talent to play, Guitar Hero is just a fantasy game. If you really want to be a rock hero, you have to practice. However, some people waste their time playing fantasy video games instead of the real thing.
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Chris said 7:29PM on 3-23-2008
I will not buy a product from any company who is lawsuit happy. This is a classic example!
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Steve Hanson said 9:22PM on 3-23-2008
Gee, quit wasting time on a game. Get a real guitar, bass, drums, or keys and learn to play FOR REAL.
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Bruce said 12:11AM on 3-24-2008
Leave it to a company like Gibson to do this. I just don't see C.F. Martin doing the same thing. Gibson has always had this "big corporate" attitude abvout their instruments and design.
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web jones said 3:11PM on 3-24-2008
get a real guitar, learn just three chords, you'll be able to play a ton of songs. IF you practice!
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hughkirkpatrick said 1:00PM on 11-05-2009
Sadly, the Gibson company seems to have had to resort to frivolous lawsuits to shore up their sagging sales. For years, the Gibson Les Paul was one of the most prestigious instruments a player could own. There will be no comparisons to Fender instruments here - that would be like comparing milkshakes to lemonades. The Gibson guitars nowadays are not what they once were and horribly overpriced. For a time, retailers were threatening to (and some did) do away with the brand altogether. The Fender Stratocaster, the single most played electric guitar on planet earth, has been copied and replicated in a million different ways, but the Fender people simply smile at the flattery and the continued healthy sales of a quality and affordable instrument.
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