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.
We never miss an opportunity to remind you to secure the devices you rely on at home, things like your wireless Internet connection or your e-mail password. Sometimes, though, we take for granted that government officials are doing the same. That, unfortunately, isn't always the case. At least, it isn't when it comes to FEMA, a part of the Department of Homeland Security, which recently discovered its phone systems had been accessed by an outsider who used them to make calls to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, among other places.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hope said 11:30AM on 8-21-2008
Why should this be a surprise to anyone ??????? Our tax dollars at work. And we are supposed to be feel safe and secure by anything this inept and incomptent administration has done and will continue to do for the last 6 months !!!!! Can't wait for January 20th when all these dimwit, nitwits, dumb asses, nincompoops fade into the sunset. God help us all for these remaining months. I am a naturalized citizen and could never imagine so few people have such a disregard for the Constitution of this country and hell bent on destroying it and seling it down the sewer drain.
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jules said 7:19PM on 8-21-2008
Be careful what you wish for, it could just come true. If you think all the plans your hearing out there will assist this country, you better think again. Taxing big business will just run them to another country along with the jobs. I guess if you want big brother controling your every move, just keep wishing for it.
Thomas said 3:57AM on 8-22-2008
Jules --
Tax increases will run big business to other countries?? - Heck we gave them tax breaks and they still moved their operations to island countries to avoid paying any tax while they could reap huge profits and benefit from USA tax credits. They use our taxes like it was a shell game to then profiteer off the USA. -=- Pirates they are--! --- I say if your headquarters are not in the USA and you outsource your labor to other countries - then you get taxed to the max... and no tax credit for you!... Lets start helping USA companies and citizens, and say up-yours to the Pirates.... This country has a serious world debt, and we keep feeding the dog that bites us. Time to shoot that dog!....
Destiny said 1:06PM on 8-21-2008
This is not hacking, it is phreaking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phreaking
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Ben said 1:55PM on 8-21-2008
Good ole' government....
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Me said 4:20PM on 8-21-2008
It never ceases to amaze me the level of intellect that the people who run our government have.
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Tsetse said 6:42AM on 8-22-2008
Why not just block those numbers called in the future? That will put a stop to stolen phones or access numbers. The thief will think twice about calling home to friends and family to chat on someone else's dime.
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Ken Hanson said 8:37PM on 8-22-2008
Bush said he had to have the right to listen to overseas phone conversations in the name of national security. Does DHS and FEMA know who made the calls? Probably not.
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