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)
Mike Thomas said 2:33PM on 10-07-2008
YOU LEAVE MY GPS ALONE!!!!!
I have traveled cross-country (literally) using little more than my GPS and a hotel guide. Now, I have the natural sense of direction of a fruit bat in mid-day in the Sahara, but my GPS has made me fearless. I can find restaurants, gas stations, etc. and not break into a sweat. I can go to places now where I would formally have to ask for directions every few blocks.
Now, there may be some GPS' that are wonky, but the benefits FAR outweigh the geek perception, especially for us directionally-challenged.
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Ken said 3:31PM on 10-07-2008
GPS,GSP,PSG......I've had a GPS in my car for 40 Years, it's called a map. It never lets you down, given you can.
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greensea2 said 3:36PM on 10-07-2008
Touch my XM or GPS and you are going to lose your fingers! I love the fact that I can listen to different categories of music and it stays clear no matter where or how far I am driving. Also, I love it that I can be deep in Los Angeles and I can touch the home button and it calculates a route home. Hard to do that with a map.
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bearsppa said 4:52PM on 10-07-2008
I've had my gps for almost a year now and I love it, is it perfect no, what is, but its awesome to have. I just can't figure out how someone this stupid can get a job writing about this stuff when he is clearly lost. I'm wondering if he believes what he writes or is just doing so to prompt comments. Either way he is a moron
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Brian said 5:26PM on 10-07-2008
This is the worst written piece I have read in ages. Sounds like something Sarah Palin would write. Talk about beating around the bush and basically serving up NO facts. Perhaps Electricity or Water is overrated to you?
Sirius/XM
iPhones/Blackberrys
GPS
Come on, get a clue SWITCHED u suckas!
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Brian said 5:28PM on 10-07-2008
This is the worst written piece I have read in ages. Sounds like something Sarah Palin would write. Talk about beating around the bush and basically serving up NO facts. Perhaps Electricity or Water is overrated to you?
Sirius/XM
iPhones/Blackberrys
GPS
Come on, get a clue SWITCHED u suckas!
Reply
NowWhat said 5:32PM on 10-07-2008
Dude you are starting to sound like some ADD 18 year old in this article. Nothing makes you happy, everything bores you, nothing's perfect. It's really a sad statement about why so many people in this country are so miserable and dissatisfied and whiny right now.
I think back to getting my first Sony Walkman at age 12 and how exciting that was. No one whined about the cassette heads getting dirty and needing cleaning, or that the sound wasn't crystal clear like a live studio - we were just happy we could listen to our music wherever we went. Too many spoiled children today....
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Ack said 8:10PM on 10-07-2008
whoever is writing this is probably a geezer that misses the golden days. THE ARE OVER!!!!!
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Dan said 9:21PM on 10-07-2008
I think my Garmin GPS and Sirius Satellite radio are 2 of the greatest gadgets EVER. I can drive anywhere in the country and feel confident that I will be able to find my way around while listening to a radio station that I never have to worry about losing the signal. I don't want to hear a DJ babble on and on, I just want to hear the music!
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dscaicky said 2:35PM on 10-11-2008
My Magellan recently told me to turn right in the middle of a 100 foot high bridge over the Sesquehanna River in Pittsburgh. Glad I didn't follow those directions
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Larry said 9:38PM on 11-11-2008
could be that the Sesquenhanna River is in the middle of PA and no where near Pittsburgh!
Our rivers are called the Allegheny, Monogohela and the Ohio
Mark said 5:19PM on 10-11-2008
When I bought my Acura MDX in 2004, I thought the Nav system would be a waste of money. I was very happy to learn all the helpful features a GPS/NAV system provides. In unfamiliar cities, you can find ATM's for your own bank so no fees, and other shopping help.
The built in system in my Acura is a much better one than the Garmin I bought for my other vehicle because it is closer to hands free than the Garmin.
On a recent business trip to San Francisco, I rented a car and needed to gas it up before returning to the airport. The gas prices near the airport were very high. I searched on my Garmin for a Costco store and found one within two miles of the airport and 40 cents cheaper in price! With the price of gas today, the GPS helps save a lot of money when traveling in your car or renting a car in other unknown cities.
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