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)
Reader said 8:01PM on 5-09-2008
Hmm maybe I'll have to make a faraday cage around my bedroom and see if it helps me sleep.
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momlandy said 6:37AM on 5-11-2008
I've read that cellphones cause tumors (salivary gland tumors based on research out of Tel Aviv University). We are the guinea pig generation.
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nick said 11:48AM on 5-11-2008
Thank you momlandy....
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William Monif said 6:43PM on 5-11-2008
So, cell phones affect brain waves is proven by the study... What about wifi since wireless routers are used in many places, and homes, and running all days, all week, etc. From my 10th floor apartment in Omaha, I can pick up at least 6 wireless networks from my building and/or the building next to mine. (People should learn to share!) How does that affect brain waves, those six+ wireless networks running 24 hours a day all year long? More than a cup of coffee? as the article states about what one assumes is a single cell phone?
Adding to these 6 wifi networks, picked up in the bedroom, are any additional wireless broadcasting by one's computer, and presumably by multiple computers (one of former wifi belongs to the apartment complex). If not only cell phones, butwifi affects brain waves does this lead to an effect of more than a half cup of coffee while trying to sleep? : )... One wonders.
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Will Monif said 6:42PM on 5-11-2008
Hopefully wifi does not affect brain waves the same way a cell phone does. Can never sleep when multiple people around me are chatting on their cell phones anyway, lol. The old cell phones were probably worse since their signal strength and signals were way more powerful, in the days of yore/lore before our abundant cell phone towers and public concern.
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Mike Sanders said 7:35AM on 5-12-2008
I think that the inattention, accidents and obsessive use associated with cellphones is merely behavioral and does not represent any form of brain damage... Case in point, most cell-phone users return to normal, within minutes of having their phone removed. The only exception to this, is habitual users, who exhibited higher levels of anxiety and feelings of helplessness. I do not know of any cases, where actual tumors resulted from the use of these devices.
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