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.
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bgatlake said 10:35AM on 9-23-2008
No one...No one.. needs to be on a cell phone or texting constantly. When I encounter these people at the grocery store, bank lines, DRIVING..I want to shout, get a life! Before all this stuff, how many of us had to stop at a payphone to "chat". Technology does have a place, but not like it is being used. Ridiculous.
Reply
gdtjr said 11:12AM on 9-23-2008
well...this is wat u get wen u put technology(aka cell phones...pdas...etc) in the hands of tweens to teens...cuz older adults dont really do it this much.....
Reply
Jules said 11:33AM on 9-23-2008
Gdtjr... if by adults you mean the elderly than your right. Everyone who has came of age during the years in which computers, laptops, and cell phones became popular to the masses, texts.
That means a lot of people in their late 20's and 30's do (I am in my late 20's). Even middle aged people, my 50 year old father does (probably because he had to if he wanted to keep up with me and my bro).
Those who do don't need to "get a life" they actually have a more active social life than you standing in line behind them, in silence, disconnected from your friends and family. Texting while your wating in line is called multi-tasking, just standing there like a loser is called being inefficient... no wonder you people are being replaced by people my age.
Its the digital divide, either you are able to adapt to better more efficient technology, or you are unwilling. The unwilling will be forced to learn or eventually die off.
So get with it.
Morena said 11:18AM on 9-23-2008
I love to text message. It can be used for simple exchanges of pleasantries, as well as to send short memo's, when you are unable to talk for any reason. Also, I like sending and recieving jokes... Just stupid stuff... last month I used 9482 texts. I know, thats kinda sick, but I text all day long, while at work (naughty ;-}) with my friends who work elsewhere. keeps me entertained, and in the loop. Then dont leave ridiculously long postings, such as this, on websites when I need a mental break from work. LOL...
Reply
Lynn said 12:11PM on 9-23-2008
Duh..Morena's boss might think that actually working at work would be preferable. In today's economy, Morena, you might be already looking for a job.
Secondly, in Europe and Asia, text messaging is averaging 1,500 to 3,000 text messages a month, America is actually behind at 357 as quoted in the article. No wonder productivity is going down. We will be in a world wide depression if this keeps up.
Reply
bgatlake said 12:15PM on 9-23-2008
...morena.. didn't your employer hire you to do your job? Who is doing your job when you are busy being entertained? When I'm standing in line I'm thinking of finishing the task at hand, and then actually using my brain thinking, planning and doing all the things that are part of being an involved human.
Reply
Saytin said 9:59AM on 9-28-2008
Quote me on this, ... "Either they invented the worlds smallest typewriter, or
I'm crazy. A phone is supposed to make phone calls, not type on. People
are really bugging on texting."
Reply
Jiggy said 12:27PM on 9-23-2008
I had a conversation with my insurance agent about the CELL PHONE DESEASE that plagues are roads today and he aid the insurance agencies are pushing for tighter laws for people who are using them while driving.he said when one of THEIR clients causes a accident they raise their rates so they can pay out the LAW SUITS that are following these people.he said the insurance agency dont even fight law suits that a cell phone was involved.The proof is on record and when the other drivers Lawyer says my client ATTENTION was 1000 % on their driving and their client cant say that and the produce a cell phone record that shows they was on the phone for a hour before the wreck and during the wreck and some even after the wreck they refuse to get off.So open your wallets it will be the most expensive call you ever made if you hit me.
Reply
James said 1:19PM on 9-23-2008
Looks like the only crime here is lack of proper education. I guess maybe we should blame our nation's inability to spell or use proper grammar on cell phones as well?
Form a cogent statement if you want to be taken seriously in your replies.
Ash said 12:34PM on 9-23-2008
Of course people use more texts if you count raw number of texts vs calls.
In a 2 minute call I can get a dozen questions answered... but it would take 2 dozen texts - question then reply - to do that.
And what if I talked for a half hour?
Still, it shows lots of people are sending those 24 texts instead of that one phone call. That's the thing about statistics, you have to take into account how they gathered the data.
Reply
Sheila said 12:38PM on 9-23-2008
I love my friends and family, but I in no way feel the need to be "connected" to them all day long be it talking on the phone or texting. I have owned cell phones since 1994, I have never once used a phone for text messaging. I just don't get the need for it. Too bad we can't ask the train conductor from that California crash how he feels about texting while trying to control a train being responsible for many lives. Had he not been texting, that crash would never have happened.
Reply
Jules said 1:14PM on 9-23-2008
You can't compare everyone who texts, to that moron of a train conductor. That would be like comparing everyone who has a glass of wine with dinner with people who get behind the wheel of a car completely intoxicated and wind up killing people.
Texting, and texting while operating a vehicle with the power cause destruction ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ISSUES!
I agree people who text while driving should face more serious legal consequences. But so should people eating their breakfast while driving, getting head from the g/f while driving, and women putting make up on while driving... but that aint happening.
reuben said 1:25PM on 9-23-2008
Digital divide or not, the absence of common sense is doing this society in, and big time.
Reply
MANDY said 1:53PM on 9-23-2008
I don't mind people tx, the only think that really bothers me is seing pleople texing and driving, that is so irresposible, its like carryin a gun shooting at everyone driving by you, but me personatly I hate texing. For me its like I cant say enought.
Reply
Annee said 1:52PM on 9-23-2008
I could text if I wanted to, I can afford it. However, I choose NOT to pad the pockets of the cellular companies anymore than I have to.
It is my opinion that those who text the most are the ones who should be putting the money in the bank.
Reply
Ceramicdoll said 2:09PM on 9-23-2008
Jules wrote:
Those who do don't need to "get a life" they actually have a more active social life than you standing in line behind them, in silence, disconnected from your friends and family. Texting while your wating in line is called multi-tasking, just standing there like a loser is called being inefficient... no wonder you people are being replaced by people my age.
Its the digital divide, either you are able to adapt to better more efficient technology, or you are unwilling. The unwilling will be forced to learn or eventually die off.
So get with it.
Jules, your comments, like many of those constantly on cell phone and texting is simply RUDE!!!
I talk on my cell and have since the mid '90's...and I text, but I have the decency to respect others around me. Texting is great if you want to just let someone know something quick and don't want to get involved in a long conversation. Assuming that you have more of a social life than the person standing behind you in line because they aren't on a cell phone is crazy! The truth is that so many people today rely on electronics to deal with others that they don't know how to deal with "real" people anymore. As an employer I have had to deal with people not doing their work because they are too busy "socializing". There is nothing more agravating than trying to hold a conversation or give instructions to someone when you are constantly interrupted by texts or calls. I'm in my 50's and very technically savy...but to you I say...GROW UP!
Reply
Bob said 2:30PM on 9-23-2008
A telephone is a poor substitute for a brain.
Reply
Robb said 3:14PM on 9-23-2008
My 17 yr old nephew has had 2 major accidents in one year and I am willing to wager that he was texting both times or was dilaing his cell phone, altho he has not fessed up to it. I told him that I want him to be attending my funeral not the other way around. I hope he got the msg or should I text it to him? I wonder?!
Reply
Mike Sanders said 7:16PM on 9-23-2008
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.
Reply
Mike Sanders said 7:19PM on 9-23-2008
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.
Reply