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 2)
PJ said 4:25PM on 10-28-2008
Ban Cell phones or require a license to use them. They create more problems and trouble than they are actually worth. So shut up and drive.
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Hugh Ranazzo said 3:55PM on 10-30-2008
He wasnt driving you MORON,but I do agree that ppl should not drive and hold a phone to their ear{Unless they are brain surgeons and on the phone with the hospital about a patient they will operate on as soon as they arrive},a hands free device is fine,because everyone is capable of talking to passengers while driving.
tom sheridan said 11:15PM on 10-29-2008
to PJ:
okay, we will listen to you and ban cell phones and pass a law requiring a license to use them. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Don said 7:30AM on 10-30-2008
Ban or require a license??? No wonder Obama is getting alot of votes...there are people o0ut there actually willing to give up freedoms and Liberties freely!!!
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Lisa said 10:55AM on 10-30-2008
He didn't have to be talking on his phone when it fell in. I dropped mine in once when it fell out of my pocket. It's not worth the effort to retrieve it since they don't work after being submerged!
CaptDon said 10:12AM on 10-30-2008
The article wasn"t clear....
Did they saw the arm oor the toilet bowl "clean off"??????
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neesee said 8:32AM on 10-30-2008
Serves him right for talking on the darn thing in the bathroom. I don't
know about the rest of you, but I really hate it when I know I am
talking to someone sitting on a toilet! Have a little bit of decency folks!
I wonder what it sounded like to the person he called. Maybe he
took texting a little too far! GRGL-GRGL
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Carl Ulmer said 9:18AM on 10-30-2008
Funny story-- but, did somebody retrieve the cell phone for the poor chap????
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Betsy said 10:06AM on 10-30-2008
Seems I'm being dense here, but did they saw off the toilet or the hand?
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Reggie said 9:56AM on 10-30-2008
What did they eventually saw clean off...the toilet or the hand?
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tigerlily said 10:22AM on 10-30-2008
You're kidding me right? Seriously, Obama is going to tax the hell out of you and you still want him in office....Ok, what the heck? Seriously, we need grown up voters to choose our President not these willy nilly losers on your poll.
Happy Halloween from the witch of the East. And good luck to Casey Anthony...the evil witch from Florida. Oh well, wear masks, go hunting, and have a good time.
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carleton kent said 10:46AM on 10-30-2008
What had to be sawn off? The guy's hand (highly unlikely) or the toilet? The quote doesn't make it clear. It is clear, though, that your writer thought it was the hand--or chose to think so without verifying.
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Betsy said 10:32AM on 10-30-2008
Tigerlily,
Can't you see there are more important things to discuss? We want to know what happened to that poor man's hand!
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Jamie said 11:17AM on 10-30-2008
they are talking about the toilet LOL
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M. Irving said 12:19PM on 10-30-2008
With the war on terrorism, Americans have been freely giving up their liberties for years. Don's "highly ranked" comment just shows how people care about themselves more than others. I think it is time a social consciousness was developed. Because of this "poor fellow's" thoughtless stupidity, rescue crews had to work for 2 hours to save him. Send this thoughtless "victim" the bill. If you're going to act thoughtlessly, you should pay for it. As conservatives would surely agree, freedom should and does come at a price. Except when the individual has to pay for it? Lol.
Regarding the fate of the victim's arm, I think the article is clear. It seems there are many who need to work on their reading comprehension. Or was it ambiguous and now an editor has clarified the article since those comments were posted? :-)
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tree said 11:45AM on 10-30-2008
OK people READ the article, they cut out the toilet with his hand still stuck in it! That means he still has his hand but not his dignity......to me no cell phone is worth sticking my hand in a public toilet but to each is own, maybe he had is life stored on it, but who knows. Me I would walk away and as some have said he did not have to be talking on it to have it fall in, ever lose anything out of your pockets or is everyone here perfect, come on be real people!
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Jameelah said 11:53AM on 10-30-2008
The logical thing to think is that they sawed off the toilet.
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Doofy-Looking & Proud said 1:02PM on 10-30-2008
For those of you who think it's too doofy-looking to have your cell phone in a belt holster, you go right ahead and keep it in a shirt pocket. And guess what happens when you bend over the bowl to reach the flush lever? No, really, think hard!
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mouthfullofmmms said 1:15PM on 10-30-2008
HA.. I know someone who dropped a brand-new pair of 300$ glasses in a port-a-potty and went after them...
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billpulkownik said 2:25PM on 10-30-2008
with all the municipalities moaning about budget short's , i give them a continous cash cow , no tax raise or etc, just some goodcop's?????? who are on the ball not the take, , ticket phone users in their cars for at least a $150.00 a pop. accidents will decline , road saftey will improve, and maybe , just maybe we will see better drivers on the road. this is a cash cow that yet has to be tethered and milked. the builder.
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