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 3)
Leeniie said 2:06AM on 11-07-2008
Oh..she would.
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striggity said 4:14PM on 11-06-2008
matching phones w/ cases just became even more uncool than it was to begin with
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Carol said 12:47AM on 11-07-2008
You are crazy! Oprah did a show years ago about how she and her Oprah show employees are hooked on their blackberrys! Like Oprah wouldn't have a cell phone.... seriously!
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Fay said 1:10AM on 11-07-2008
You would think Oprah had just given birth to the Messiah herself!!!
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ask4mikem said 2:16AM on 11-07-2008
Thats an iphone case.
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youdumbassritz said 2:55PM on 11-08-2008
Something tells me Will@1:24pm would like to, but is unable to. HAHAHAHA
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buntaeve said 2:51PM on 11-08-2008
you know i kinda dont beleive this oprah is a million aire several times over her first cell phone yeah right. and any way who cares thats not a big deal the media makes thing bigger than they should be because they have nothing better to do this woman has it all you aint foolin nobody
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KMA Harpo said 3:36PM on 11-08-2008
I can't stand this sanctimonious, self-serving heifer. She and her green phone are puke inducing.
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Josephine said 3:58PM on 11-08-2008
Leave her be.....she is trying to live her life. BUT, about receiving $35.00 for each Kindle that is sold on Amazon.com, I believe that they should have given all buyers that bought a Kindle through Oprah's website the $35.00 discount..... How much money does Oprah need? BUT, I am sure her viewers that bought the Kindle through Amazon could have used the $35.00 discount a lot more than she. Think of your viewers Oprah. If I would get a $35.00 discount I probably would buy a Kindle.
Hope the info I read about Oprah and the $35.00 is true....if not, SORRY.
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Bob said 4:26PM on 11-08-2008
I find all this SO very fascinating. Almost as fascinating on where Sarah Palin shops and how much she spends. Or John Edwards haircuts or Eliot Spitzer's choice on the prostitute menu...does anyone happen to know where Lindsay Lohan buys her socks, because that one has kept me up for days now.
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Ray said 4:47PM on 11-08-2008
Who actually cares??
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Donna said 4:49PM on 11-08-2008
I don't believe for one minute that this is her first cell phone. I own a small business with 15 employees and I couldn't function without mine. And I am not a billionaire. Sorry but no sell.
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Joek said 5:19PM on 11-08-2008
Who's this oprah you all are talking about?
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Mike said 5:40PM on 11-08-2008
Okay, so let's get the terminology correct. She's never "owned" a cell phone or never "had" a cell phone? If she's never had and used a cell phone, then I find that extremely hard to believe. Perhaps she uses a "company" cell phone. Anyway, what's the big deal with the story line?
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Jan said 6:12PM on 11-08-2008
I'm ashamed to say that I know this, but Oprah said on a recent show (a week or so ago) that she had finally gotten her first cell phone! She said she hadn't wanted one before, but felt it was time. I wonder if she has an assistant with her at all times to answer it when it rings?
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Rocky said 6:30PM on 11-08-2008
Is it not time to get rid of her and her idea that she is a star as she is naught but a loud mouth
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Lois Patrick said 6:39PM on 11-08-2008
WHOSE phone WAS she using when she went across the country with her side-kick Gail??? And when she had her reality show, I watched her texting the contestants all the time. I can't believe she had to borrow it.
First phone. Baloney!
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nick said 7:18PM on 11-08-2008
please make her go away. please
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Rob said 7:58PM on 11-08-2008
R u crazy? What new and improved @#$% have u been smokin'? As if Bush and his cronies haven't @#$%^& up the country these past 8 years. Either u must b from Venus or u r as stupid as u sound.
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cannotbelievethis said 7:59PM on 11-08-2008
Nope, I don't buy it. Maybe she has always LEASED a cel phone, but I'm no billionaire and I have a cel phone... to keep track of my kids, if nothing else... perhaps she finally had to buy one, rather than lease it... I thought this would be an INTERESTING story, like Dennis Hopper, or Shelley Winters, or some B&W legend-type. Orprah is no legend, she's still alive... to be a legend, you have to have DONE something... all she's ever done is the news, and pat herself on the back... oh yeah, and you gotta be dead.
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