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.
There's not exactly a shortage of options out there for parents that want to keep watch on their kids' driving, but Ford looks to be taking things a bit further than most with its new MyKey system, and it's making it standard issue, no less. Set to debut in the 2010 Focus Coupe and plenty of other Ford vehicles shortly thereafter, the key-based system will let parents limit their car's top driving speed to 80 miles per hour, cut off the stereo's volume at just 44% of its max output, and set a persistent chime to go off if the seatbelts aren't being used (the stereo also gets muted until everyone buckles up). As if that wasn't enough, it'll also provide a low-fuel warning at 75 miles to empty, start issuing a surely annoying reminder as the driver inches up past the 45 mph mark, and make it impossible to disable some of the Focus' usual safety measures like Park Aid and Cross Traffic Alert. Also not able to be disabled: your kid's resentment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian said 9:54PM on 10-06-2008
yea cuz u know no kid drives on a freeway.. this is so stupid its unbelievable
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Dragonboy said 7:47AM on 10-07-2008
I don't know what part of America you're from, but around here, the maximum speed limit on the freeway is 70. The electronic limiter is to 80. Frankly, unless your zip code is somewhere in the desolate part of Montana, your child should have no reason to go 10 above the speed limit.
THJ said 8:30AM on 10-07-2008
There's no reason to go over 80 mph on the freeway.
miggz said 12:21PM on 10-11-2008
I agree with you, Ford is wasting money
I'm 16, drive an 08 Jetta WE, I've had it for 6 months, I've hit over 100 once or twice, no reckless driving (racing), and the stereo is always juiced.
Now, I think Ford should let the parents buy the car with Driving Classes included, not this nonsense
B.C.. said 7:26AM on 10-07-2008
Hell this would be great for letting buddies borrow your vehicle. Now only if it included an abuse indicator... other than the smell of burning clutch.
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Joe Era said 2:16PM on 10-07-2008
Of course there are freeways that kids are gonna be driving on but there is no reason to go 10 MPH over the speed limit like THJ said only about 5mph over is acceptable and some police officers will give u a ticket for that. What doesnt make sense is that the car puts off an annoying alarm as u go over 45 MPH. That doesnt make sense because if your on a freeway u must go over 45MPH cause 45 is the lowest u can legally go on most freeways u cant go slower than 45 MPH legally on most Freeways, so does the alarm continue to go off as your driving on the freeway? Thats what i dont understand.
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Victor said 5:16PM on 10-07-2008
Dang, but I like going more than 80 on the freeway, its a thrill!!!!!!!!!!
I hope my parents dont get me this car haha.
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RAD Moose said 6:34PM on 10-07-2008
It is rumored that Sarah Palin is recording the voice.
http://www.remixsarahpalin.com/
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Leslie said 11:10PM on 10-07-2008
let's see how many teens stop asking for ford cars once this comes out.
the 45mph alarm sounds entirely stupid. even without highways, there are some city roads with a 50mph speed limit. i'd think the alarm would be more distracting to the driver, and be more dangerous than driving 46mph.
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Ann said 7:28AM on 10-08-2008
Yeah, the parents who buy this car for theur kid rates a lot of resentment for trying to make sure their gift doesn't get the kid killed.
80 mph? My Dad put a governor on my car, couldn't go over 60, kept a trip meter that couldn't be disabled, AND I had to turn over my keys if I was a) late coming home b) late making the car OR the insurance payment, or c) If he smelled tobacco or any other smoke, or suspected me of drinking and driving or hauling someone around who was drinking!
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leeds said 10:59AM on 10-11-2008
let your child have the key's along with the responsibilty. Let your kid's learn life lessons, as well as mistakes. This stupid thing just enables them to be babysat that much longer. If you fear your child can't be responsible enough to drive, don't give him the key's. Don't pay for driver's ed.
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gioimo194646 said 8:55PM on 10-11-2008
The Key word is NO CAR till you are 21 with a job