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)
TrentD said 2:53PM on 6-20-2008
Typical whiny liberal...
::ducks::
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undrgrndgirl said 5:26PM on 6-20-2008
"only a fool or a fraud talks tough about war" - thanks john, you just exposed YOURSELF as both a fool and a fraud.
isn't this the 2nd or 3rd time mccain has been in trouble using music he does not have permission to use? shouldn't the riaa be going after him by now?
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Killer said 10:38PM on 6-20-2008
did you not read the article?
"Unfortunately for Lennertz, the rights to the music belong to the game's publisher EA, and not the composer."
I don't know about you but that's pretty simple to understand. No rights broken.
Kee said 10:01PM on 6-20-2008
McBush McSAme 100yr WAR McCain is getting desperate for votes and dollars. I guess he is trying to appeal to young adults but MCain who looks like the Crypt Keeper would not get anywhere because people young and older can see through his stupid gimmicks.
He is in Canada now trying to get money for his fall campaign because he can't find the support he needs here. This isnt the first time he ran for president and the last time GW Bush beat him for the nomination so that saids alot that a pretend soldier like Bush could beat a war hero. But his own party called him crazy and out of touch back then and it has not changed...America will say NO to McBush McSame 100yr WAR McCain no Country for this angry WAR mongering old man
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Jon said 10:10AM on 6-21-2008
Hey, undrgrndgirl, at what point in that commercial did McCain talk tough about war? Nowhere I saw, maybe you didn't even listen to what he said. Although I don't approve of McCain's stand on many issues, the man is a bona fide war hero, refusing to leave North Vietnamese captivity, even when it was his turn for an early release, according to the POW code. Regardless of how I feel about him, he is far better than Obama, the most leftist, communist candidate America has seen for president since Eugene V. Debs ran on the American Socialist Party ticket. So Obama has said he's for "Change, Hope, and the Future". Well gee, that says a lot. Change into what? Think its going to be something you like? Something good for America? I think not.
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RC said 5:36PM on 6-21-2008
The composer should be whining to EA, they let McCain use it.
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jodi said 5:58PM on 8-16-2008
How lame is this. McCain would have no reason to contact him. He has no rights to the music. If Obama was using it this wouldnt be an issue. Just Like Jackson Browne and his lame lawsuit. I dont know they cant act like adults and just ask him not to use it. Like John Mellencamp did. He didnt like McCain using his song Pink Houses so he asked him not to use it and McCain removed it.. These Liberal Whiners are out of control. I wonder if the same ones who said they would move out of the country if Bush was re-elected will say it again and actually do it this time. They wont because they cant act like fools in other countries withouth repercussions. This Composer needs to get a life and get over it
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