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)
genesic said 1:50PM on 10-14-2008
wow, that sucks, hahaha.
I remember when i would kill for one of those things. My parents still may have one lying around the house somewhere, but i think most people use PMP's or cell phones to watch all their media on now anyway. As for emergency feeds...better off going to fry's and getting a hand crank powered weather radio.
still not sure how you would solve the whole "tailgaiting issue tho. I guess get a HDportableTV..? if they even sell those...yet...
Reply
Funnybone6 said 7:45PM on 10-10-2008
In fact, although cell telephones are more common today (and they are really only about 15 years old in common usage terms) the phone's TV display is not as clear or readable as a full-size analog. Perhaps a translation option from digital to analog within a broadcasting network will develop over time, legally, for people in the future who have absolutely no desire whatsoever to purchase fallible cell telephones and expensive cable-enabled HDTV's. Hmmppph!
Reply
Thomas said 9:17PM on 10-10-2008
Yeah -- portables die -- and all the homeless become S-out-of-luck! ---
But the other thing is all those TV's in vans and cars that will go bye bye -- No DC conversion boxes for your custom van TV system on teh market - is there? But look at all the companies profiteering off this law passed and promoted by Colin Powell's brother in the FCC -- Oh and the other companies that make more profit off the extra bandwidth they steal from the public broadcast frequencies. Monopolies at work with your taxpayer dollar - such a wise people we are... Trust the Government!
Reply
Rick in Kailua said 2:37AM on 10-11-2008
Good riddance TV is a bunch of lies anyway .
Reply
harry said 3:36AM on 10-11-2008
tv in the van no problem..just buy a inverter to plug in converter box. inverter changes the 12 volts to 110. works fine..don't need converter for the house but got my two. one for tv if power goes out and the other for the tv in the van.
Reply
Mike said 3:46AM on 10-11-2008
True Harry...and you can always get a coaxial adapter that replaces the connector where the rabbit ears are hooked up.
Those power inverters are a lifesaver. I bought one when I lived in central Florida in 2004. Hurricane Charley was coming at us and generators were not to be found anywhere. I bought a 1,000 watt inverter at Sam's Club for $30. I hooked it up to the car with a 50 ft extension cord and when Charley knocked our power out, I stepped out into the carport and fired the car up.
I was able to power a 25" TV, a 60 watt light, and a fan during the storm and for the next 24 hours until our power was restored....and then used it when Jeanne and Frances hit during the next few weeks. That was the best $30 I've ever spent!
lordfussy said 11:55AM on 10-11-2008
What I don't understand is why the converters cost $150.00 dollars and up, What a ripoff. Another thing I don't understand is why the government is spending God knows how much money on those stupid commercials telling people about the government coupon offer, but the coupon only covers about 1/3 of the cost. Kinda like Medicare and Medicaid I guess...the government spends a million dollars in salaries for government employees to deny coverage for one hundred dollar medical procedure.
Reply
bemurf said 9:34PM on 10-11-2008
Harry and Mike thank you. I want to work the tv in my basement and I will try what you did. Anything else to know? It all seems too simple.
Reply