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)
Galley said 2:40PM on 8-07-2008
The data plan pricing is the main reason I didn't upgrade. Why $15 more per month for the same service? If 3G was approaching DSL speeds, then it might be a different story.
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MadMike said 5:21PM on 8-07-2008
s/can/can't/g
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P Cost said 7:40PM on 8-07-2008
How about that Secret Kill software just waiting to be activated as another reason?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10010070-37.html
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LiqwidZero said 6:08PM on 8-07-2008
I downgraded my iPhone to a Sony Ericsson W580i, and I'm loving it a lot more than I did my iPhone.
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Sarah said 1:11PM on 8-18-2008
get a LG Voyager! AKA The i-phone Killer!
I got one and i love it! I also love Verizon and my provider.
Trust me, get a Voyager
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Scott said 1:49PM on 8-18-2008
The phone isn't good for anyone who plans on traveling internationally. Since the phone is SIM locked you can't just toss in a local SIM card and make your voice and data calls for 1/10th the price that AT&T will charge you.
Nearly every phone sold in Asia and most of the phones sold in Europe are not SIM locked or tied to a 2 year contract.
If you travel to Asia with the iPhone and use the data be prepared to come home to a $4,000 AT&T bill.
The phone's bright high resolution display is beautiful and its user interface is simply superb, but as companies AT&T and Apple aren't very consumer friendly.
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Megan said 2:02PM on 8-18-2008
The iphone sucks. I don't have one but my bf does. His battery always dies. He always loses his calls, and he lives in Boston. Which, AT&T says the service with the fewest dropped calls in Boston, Ma. I don't think so, I have a Verizon and 9 times out 10 he has to use my phone in Boston. What is the point of buying a phone that does all these things BUT NEVER WORKS!!!!!! Just to say you spent 400 on a piece of
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RICKY ROSS said 2:53PM on 8-18-2008
First, Meagan, I think your bf is lying to you. All cell phones battery dies and calls drop when there with there other gf.
On. the subject, I think that the reason why Apple suddenly pulled the 2nd gen iPhones off the market is so they can covert those phones into 3rd gen phones. What do ya think of that conspiracy? I feel it is the 2nd gen phones ultimately gonna be the rarest and most sought after model. Why else did Apple cut the 3rd gen price in half? I'm telling you. They are the same 2nd gen phone re-wired to re-take our money from our other pockets. This is Apples mistake and eventually will lead them to death by proprietation. They should of sold their phones openly to all networks therefore skipping the whole 3rd gen mess. You know they lost a ton of moulla when the 2nd gen got easily unlocked. Look at the dynamics of it's worth on the "black market". Ebay sellers were getting rid of them for twice it's MSRP; UNLOCKED!!! This is most likely the reason why you can't purchase the 3rd gen online anymore. You must physically go to an authorized store so that you can contract up. Talk about the shift of tides! Well, I guess this is a larger view for everyone to see what happens when a company that seeks dominance in a totalitarian way; they get bit in the ass with the same greed that they have created. And still has not learned their lesson. It's going to be the developers of apples - cousin that is going to un-develop their greed. Don't hack the hackers!!!