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 6)
sctommy said 8:11PM on 3-24-2008
OK...so High schoolers can figure this stuff out.... What the heck is the matter with the auto industry? We aren't asking for 1693 mpg. Just 75 would do!!!!!!
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Cecil Jones said 8:23PM on 3-24-2008
This project should be red lighted and imposed on the industry. Gas prices should be frozen at the prewar rate until this project is in place. What a victory in the war on terror done by the next generation. Yeah America!
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dlei1 said 8:25PM on 3-24-2008
Now if the big oil companies don't buy and destroy these plans we might actually have something worthwhile here.
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gpspilot said 11:41PM on 3-24-2008
1693 miles per gallon is not that impressive, compared to the 2005 winner of the Shell Eco-marathon. That car attained 12,665 miles per gallon. Shell points out that it would be possible for the Eco-Marathon winner "to travel three times around the equator on the same amount of fuel that Concorde needed to reach the end of the runway."
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Beckieb286 said 7:49AM on 3-25-2008
Car makers can also make cars that can drive hundreds of thosands of miles but they don't due to the fact that they will lose money since consumers won't have to buy another car until the body rots out. For example tow trucks and Mack trucks can max out the odometer and restart.
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Ordinary Radical said 12:11PM on 3-25-2008
Sctommy & Cecil - You do realize these vehicles are "cars" in name only - They have no safety structure, no storage space, no towing/cargo capacity, no a/c, no fm radio, no lights, no suspension. Essentially, these are ultra-lightweight go-carts with aerodynamic coverings. If we were willing to do without all the electronic do-dads and fancy interiors and off-road ability, we could easily double the fuel economy. But that ain't going to happen.
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Peter Burger said 1:19PM on 3-25-2008
In 1933 a man named Pogue came up with a hot vapor carb and the gasoline companies changed the formula to defeat it . How many more inventions are hidden.It's time to break their control.We can make a differents. Check out http://ww.thefinfuelvaporizer.com
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Joseph Farinella said 3:10PM on 3-25-2008
If you click on Peter Burger's link about the fin fuel vaporizor you will not have success finding the site unless you add the third w to www. This works.
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danone said 8:13PM on 3-25-2008
the technology exist to achieve 100 plus mpg, but remember big oil (EXXON'S $40 BILLION) controls America and American govt. So there!
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ash said 8:14PM on 3-25-2008
I want one!!!
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wiseup1 said 8:17PM on 3-25-2008
Hooray for America's future! How proud their parents, families and teachers must be of them.
I am proud to be an American, now and always have been!!
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FJW said 8:20PM on 3-25-2008
WE ARE NOT LIMITED BY TECHNOLOGY. THE PROBLEM IS ECONOMICS. HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE WORKING AND MAKING A LIVING TO PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT. THERE IS A COST TO EVERYTHING. IMAGINE IF YOU WILL, THAT YOU ARE SITTING ON LAND THAT HAS
ALMOST UNLIMITED OIL RESERVES. WOULD YOU GIVE IT AWAY TO EVERYONE JUST SO THEY COULD PAY LESS. EVEN IF YOU DID THIS, WHO WOULD PAY FOR THE REFINEING OF THE CRUDE. ALSO, TRANSPORTATION TO THE GAS STATIONS. ALL OF THESE FACILITIES WOULD HAVE TO BE FREE. WHO IS GOING TO WORK FOR FREE ?
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Michael said 8:20PM on 3-25-2008
What size are the cars? Lets get real here. Is it a go-cart or a real car?
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ifonly... said 8:25PM on 3-25-2008
There have actually been cars developed much earlier that got mpg much lower than this, like 300 or so, but still a large jump from our 23, but the oil industry bought up the plans and locked them up. There was even a car developed to run on water. Only problem was the man who man who created it was assasinated.
Ps. the reason we stil have 20 mpg cars is cause the oil industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and they don't want that to change. Also, all that money has power.
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Brady Turley said 8:29PM on 3-25-2008
hey, thanks for telling us how they did it. Im guessing its probably a 2 stroke weedeater motor on an aluminum frame that is no bigger than the average human could sit on. Its just not a plausable solution for automanufactures.
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geneticswhiz said 8:28PM on 3-25-2008
These kids will be rich! The oil companies will pay them millions upon millions to keep the technology off the market!!! Perhaps the automobile industry will pay them big bucks for the technology and then have the oil companies pay the automobile industry the millions upon millions to keep the technology off the market...just as it probably already is happening. Of course the politicians in Washington will probably get millions in kick-backs to pass legislation to stop the technologies from going to market...its developed by teens...can't possibly be safe for the public!!!
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manny said 8:35PM on 3-25-2008
Well I think the HS kids are anti-Capitalism. 2000 mpg car is rediculous. how are all these rich folk gonna live if we become independent of oil. Those kids better hide , sell the idea or just shelf it if they know whats good for them.
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lawrence said 4:46PM on 8-22-2008
2000 miles per gallon a few years back at lakehead university
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chuck said 10:32PM on 3-27-2008
yea those damn auto companies will just ruin the plans or something so that they can keep making tons of money. Thats what they did with a hydrogen car that got huge MPG, damn big business!!!
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Bonita said 3:31PM on 3-26-2008
In the 1960's I actually owned and drove a car that got 100+ miles per gallon. It wa the BMW Isetta. It had a top speed of 80 miles per hour and I drove it
on San Diego freeways daily. If I knew then what I know now, I would still have it. I loved that car. What I want to know is why they can't put it or something like it back into production.
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