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 2)
CraziestGadgets.com said 3:00PM on 10-07-2008
Were they already drunk when they answered the survey?
Reply
Evan said 3:44PM on 10-07-2008
Okay, so they'll give up beer. Jack Daniels it is then.
Reply
bryan said 8:48PM on 10-07-2008
Beer doesn't do anything for you. Even if you're a slacker who doesn't study internet is hands down far more valuable than any substance. It's a stronger more addictive distraction and offers much more.
Reply
dennis said 8:46PM on 10-07-2008
True or not, these students are saying the right thing to keep a good thing going. Even one of our past presidents commented to the effect
that he didn't INHALE...True or not true?
Reply
Chaz said 8:59PM on 10-07-2008
It's those commie professors that are filling our kids heads with this crap. Hire a few conservative professors and bring back the beer.
Reply
Barbara said 9:22PM on 10-07-2008
My kids (2 in college, 1 in h.s) are on their computers ALL the time - I KNOW they are not studying even HALF that time - they are on myspace, facebook, AIM, etc . . . watching movies . . . getting lost in youtube . . .
Reply
Jill said 9:36PM on 10-07-2008
Exactly Barbara!
Reply
mesaman said 9:43PM on 10-07-2008
So is wi-fi short for weird fiction? You know like sci-fi is short for science fiction, or have I been visiting the beer keg too much.
Reply
Amanda said 9:49PM on 10-07-2008
I'm currently a college student and I totally agree with this, I'd die if my wi-fi stopped working
Reply
Kristine said 10:36PM on 10-07-2008
I am a current Junior in college and I laughed when it said that most of the students are on Facebook and Myspace during class....because it's so true!
Reply
kiev said 11:17PM on 10-07-2008
Crack Cocaine!
Reply
SKW said 11:11PM on 10-07-2008
I wonder what the results would be if they were put on the same poll? I think they just asked kids what the most important thing was (or however the question was phrased), and some kids might not have thought of beer as a valid answer to the question.
Reply
Nicky said 11:13PM on 10-07-2008
I think this article is ridiculous- it further stereotypes my generation. I'm not saying that people my age don't drink or other things mentioned, but it doesn't mean that we all are like this! I hate how the media creates this image of teenagers and college students... apparently we are all binge-drinking, partying, prescription drug-popping, energy drink- chugging, materialistic "kids" and we can't be trusted. As a freshman in college, I believe the generations that precede my generation are extremely unconnected to us as we are completely unconnected to them. And the thing is that our elders "think" they understand us, try to understand us, and yet they really don't. I think there needs to be more open communication between these age gaps.
Reply
Vorian said 11:50PM on 10-07-2008
I'm a current college student, I barely ever use WiFi since good old Ethernet cable access is fine for me, and I've never drank a drop of alcohol in my life. So I guess I would break that poll.
dedbus said 4:41AM on 10-08-2008
I see what you mean. I blame this gap on technology and computers. Before now people were never getting this old and detatched with reality. Like they say an old dog doesn't learn new tricks. A really old dog is the same but it forgot the ones it learned or the ones it used to know do not work anymore. We were never really meant to have a meaningful connection with our predecessors, we were just meant to bring flowers to their graves but now we bring prune juice to their TV trays. No wonder the younger generation is the way it is. I would be forced to drink to if I had to put up with the older generations bulls---oh wait I do. Bottoms up.
Mase said 10:08AM on 10-08-2008
It's not a stereotype of your generation it's a stereotype of college kids from every era. College kids in your parents and your grandparents generation did the same things, they just didn't have wifi to distract them. In fact, they probably got away with a lot more drinking and alcohol-related antics because there was no MADD, no D.A.R.E. etc.
Ask your parents about that if they went to college, or what they spent their weekends and evenings doing during their college-age years. If they don't tell you any awesome stories they are either lying to you or they were complete stiffs.
As for the rest of the article.... The key in this day and age is to find a bar that provides free wi-fi.
Nicky said 2:33PM on 10-09-2008
Okay I see what your saying and you are right that this is the issue with every generation that goes through this period in their lives, however, I was talking about the other stereotypes that go along with my generation. For example, like I stated before, we all apparently steal prescription drugs from our parents medicine cabinents and abuse them in hopes of getting high. Yes, some people are guilty of that, I'm not saying that no one does that, but I don't know anyone who does that. And once again, we are all apparently materialistic brats that don't care about anyone other that ourselves. Some people are like that, but I am not and know people who aren't like that. The media sets up these stereotypes that gets elder people to believe we are all like this and therefore they don' trust us. I don't know about other people my age but I see this type of discrimination all the time, first hand.
Also, I do talk to my parents and have a great relationship with them and they have told me about things they have done or seen in college. Ordinary college students that did the typical college things. Lest not forget they weren't doing the dreaded "underage drinking" then since the drinking age was 18.
Kiev said 11:20PM on 10-07-2008
Now that's Church!
Reply
JJ said 6:34PM on 10-11-2008
It's not that they are studying more, but they are NOT willing to give up their addiction to pornography and stealing free movies and music using Wi-Fi moreso than anything else.
Reply
Poindexter McSmash said 12:01AM on 10-08-2008
One day soon we will all make good computer slaves for our new alien Masters who will usher in the future of possible peace, or definite death...
~ Have a nice day! ~
Reply