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 3)
Sunny said 7:00AM on 7-05-2008
Why not just check everything and fly naked?
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L. Wayne said 8:10AM on 7-05-2008
Be careful what you wish for, do you really want to spend hours closed in a plane with a random sample of the general public naked?
BLEAACCHHH!
"Have a lovely flight, Grandma!"
L. Snider said 8:02AM on 7-05-2008
Yeah, this should work about as well as the "Airport friendly shoes" that you can buy and still have to remove at the security checkpoints. The laptops aren't the problem at security, the people who act like they have no clue as to what to do when they get into the line and must pass through detector two or three times before they clear it are. I.E. huge carry on luggage, Didn't remove shoes, metal belt buckles, keys still in pockets, change in pockets, huge jewelry. These are the things that I constsntly see slowing down the lines.
Along with the TSA employees who often seem as confused as the customers and work as though it's their first day on the job.
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Bren said 8:35AM on 7-05-2008
Hey, I have a medical card that states/verifies that I have had a complete hip replacement. The titanium implant sounds off alarms as I cross through the magical system.....but, I am still sent to the side for a complete pat down and bag search which takes 20 extra minutes of my time. I even tell the security to look at my scar as proof! They don't laugh.....
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AL said 9:20AM on 7-05-2008
MEDICAL CARDS ARE VERY EASY TO DUPLICATE. THEY MEAN NOTHING SO DON'T EVEN BOTHER WITH THEM. JUST ACCEPT YOU WILL BE PATTED DOWN AND BE HAPPY YOU'RE STILL WELL ENOUGH TO FLY, SIT BACK AND ENJOY IT!!
Greg said 8:46AM on 7-05-2008
So true L. Snider, it is what I call the INFREQUENT traveler. You would think after 6 1/2 years even these folks would have figured it out. Don't even get me started on the attitude of some of the TSA screener. And they folks that bring half their worldly possesions as carry-ons. A little common sense on by the TSA folks and the passengers woud make a huge difference.
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cybergidget said 5:53PM on 7-05-2008
TSA is one of the biggest government protection scams/jokes ever established. I have worked at 2 major airports on airport improvement projects and can tell you that the TSA people are the bottom of the barrell; virtual scum. I have seen them hauled off the sites in cuffs by sheriffs. When TSA instituted the "liquid" rule, I watch them go throught the disposal bags retrieving multiple items of expensive perfume, colognes, creams, etc. They are more of a danger to us than a terrorist. And, they are arbitrary in the rule enforcement. Why do I have to take off my shoes (and I always wear flip flops for ease of on and off) at one airport and not at another. Power given to people with iqs smaller than their shoe size is a dangerous thing.
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CelluliteQueen.com said 9:20AM on 7-05-2008
Figures. Whatever helps THEM, costs US money. If an Xray machine can see through canvas bags and see my iPod deep inside, why can't it see my laptop? It's just another way to make us spend more money for something else we don't need. What a load of garbage this so called "Security" for airplanes is. And the pathetic part of it all is: If the "Bad Guys" want to get to us, they WILL. Even though you spend umpteen bucks for this new laptop case! I've recently read an article where a woman forgot to remove her cat from a canvas carry on bag, and the Security people laughed, saying they saw the cat's skeleton and internal organs! So why can't they see a laptop?? Sad. http://www/CelluliteQueen.com
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Lisandra said 7:14PM on 7-07-2008
fatqueen.....its to see if there are any explosives in the computer! with all the junk people put into there bags it's hard to make sure it's ok to clear it! how retarded can people get? if you don't like it, there are other means of transportation! instead of belly-aching about why you need to do this (and other things at checkpoint) read up on the ways the terrorist are trying to bring our planes down. maybe the light will come back on for you! have and awsome day............your friendly TSA screener :)
Steve said 1:20PM on 7-05-2008
i work for TSA and people should just shut the f*ck up and follow the rules....u people kill me when u complain....you know why we do it...stop asking all the time...we dont have a personal vendetta against you, we do it for your safety. We also have alot of intelligence that the public doesnt know about it. so we have to enforce ceratin rules. and laptop is really is hard to look through in an x-ray machine. there is just too much to look at in a laptop....batteries, wires etc. and when you leave it in a bag it doesnt look good.
kenny aeekins said 9:51AM on 7-05-2008
Well let me say that that is true about inexperienced flyers but if you think this country is hard then maybe you need to fly international and try some other countries. This country is not hard at all when some make you take belts off shoes watchs rings necklaces and anything metal before you go through. and god for bid you cant see without glasses.
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Lisandra said 11:42AM on 7-05-2008
yeah, in other countries, you have to strip down. and in some, its full cavity search baby!! so to all the whiners, shut up and be happy it isn't here!
Cathy said 9:32AM on 7-05-2008
And these bags will be produced in What country?
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Cathy said 9:42AM on 7-05-2008
And in What country will these bags be produced?
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pindragon said 2:31PM on 7-05-2008
Not the US, that is for sure.
Jiggy said 9:43AM on 7-05-2008
I travel alot and I am stuck up with idiots at the airports or the idiots on the highways. I choose the idiots at the airports !
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Jiggy said 9:55AM on 7-05-2008
BITE ME !
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Charlene said 10:04AM on 7-05-2008
When will they start making a "theft-proof" bag so baggage handlers and/or TSA will stop stealing from our suitcases?? Thousands of us are getting robbed from a place - an airport - that is supposed to be secure!!!
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Mike said 12:57PM on 7-05-2008
What hogwash... you mean a bag that you need to take out of your briefcase that has your laptop in it? What sense is that? You are still removing your laptop from your briefcase how does this possibly slow down the line? The TSA management isn't the smartest hammer in the toolbox! If the TSA weren't too busy comparing their nails or hairdo's and chattering amongst themselves instead of doing their damn jobs the lines would speed up. TSA sux!
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Cearralyn said 10:09AM on 7-05-2008
Gas prices may be high, but I and a friend of mine just drove 3,00 miles round trip in a fuel-efficent car, observing the speed limit or below, and we only spent a little over $400 on gas. It was divided, 4-lane highways 95% of the time. We stopped when we felt like it, ate when we felt like it, and we were not trapped in a plane for hours with a tiny bag of stale pretzels. I have another trip next year, and I will NOT be flying. The airlines can take their extra charges and they know what they can do with them. I would not be surprised if one of these days they start charging to use the teeny tiny bathrooms on their jets.
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