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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kd said 2:16PM on 11-10-2008
we're suposed to wory about them??? they tox US!!!!
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Kim said 3:51PM on 11-10-2008
Those innocent villagers did not poison anyone. It's not like they are quality inspectors or corrupt government officials. You have no heart.
Susan said 5:58PM on 11-10-2008
It seems to be a "tit for tat" situation. We do not get quality products from China. China knows what they are getting from us. Unfortunately, we know what we are getting in return. Perhaps this is a form of economic warfare. It will take time to see who actually wins out. In the meantime...buy American.
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wongtpa said 3:55PM on 11-10-2008
Obama admires China's infrastructure. He was caught on tape praising China. This is what Obama has in mind for us. Won't it be great? NOT !!!! Anyone who voted for Obama will be blamed.
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Heather said 1:54PM on 11-12-2008
That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. How is it that some people will find blame with someone else rather than admit our country makes a LOT of mistakes? You can't blame Obama for this, he hasn't been the one in charge. You're looking for a reason to push our country's problems (meaning as a WHOLE COUNTRY) and mistakes onto someone who didn't create them. Why don't you blame "President" Bush seeing as how he's been more concerned with dropping bombs and ruining our economy than making sure we're following our own laws of trade? You know why you won't? Because you're an angry, bitter person who cannot accept that the rest of this country has spoken and a solid majority of us do not want more of the same. You are the reason America voted to elect President-elect Obama, because you are just MORE OF WHAT IS RUINING AMERICA. Now, please go back to your miserable little life and leave the rest of us to fix what's been damaged.
spittinAnail said 5:16PM on 11-10-2008
that's just too bad ain't it , and I'm suppose to do what !?!
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Jim said 5:19PM on 11-10-2008
WONGTPA----It is ignorant red-necks like you that will destroy this country from within. As long as you worship morons like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Riley we will have nothing to fear from the RepubliKKKan party for many years.
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michael said 7:28PM on 11-10-2008
how about the obama rednecks? who do they listen to and worship?
John Howell said 6:08PM on 11-10-2008
With all this hand-wringing about us poisoning China, where's the concern about China poisoning the world with emissions from all the new coal-fired plants? Screw those barbarians!
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leedragon said 6:20PM on 11-10-2008
Did anyone watch the clip we the US are shipping the waste to them illegally We as a country should be ashamed computer waste is a big problem and it is going to get bigger
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Brian L. Hope said 6:43PM on 11-10-2008
The one hallmark of a civilized society is that everyone is held accountable to everyone else for their actions, and nobody is able to exist outside the law. That is why, although China is a major world power, it has a long way to go before others will regard that country as a moral leader in the world community of nations.
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gravitybear said 8:25PM on 11-10-2008
To wongtpa: Get real. "Caught on tape praising China." Oh my! Because no one else has ever praised China.
to kd and John Howell: Are you insane? "They poison us so we'll poison them right back"? Is that what you mean? 'Cause that's messed up.
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Erin said 7:14PM on 11-10-2008
That has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever wasted a minute of my life reading.
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John said 7:27PM on 11-10-2008
Well Erin, all I can say is: OFW! I didn't write it, but I do appreciate humor/satire, no matter how cutting. If you can't buy a sense of humor, then by all means, rent one...
Must be a democrat. And no, I'm not a Republican, either. If it bothers you that much, report me to the obama thought police, OK?
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mdwitkowski said 7:34PM on 11-10-2008
the only problem with the letter is that only half the people in america can read it!
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Jim B said 8:17PM on 11-10-2008
John----
THAT AWS THE MOST disgusting crap that I have ever heard from a republican.... I will get right to the fat of it-----if you dont like what I have to write you can kiss my Oklahoman ass!!!! We all know that Bush has all but ruined the United States of America, if he had 1 more year this would be Mexico but even they could not afford the price of gas or food. You are just as sick as the rest of the republicans--trying to run an idiot like mccain against a real honest man, and I will bet something else you are Bush's neighbor right? If not you are just a suck ass trying to get in with him so you can go to his VERY LARGE BBQ'S that will be thrown for years to come. I think he should be impeached and we could save a lot of tax dollars. Bush doesnot deserve retirement for what he has done in office he does deserve to be impeached.
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Dennis Adams said 9:12PM on 11-10-2008
Loved the Bush resignation speech. Boy he said a mouthful. Bet the me tal midgets still don't get it. We'll se what happens in the next four years. I not to optimistic about our future. I haven't bought into the cult yet.
This guy Obama seems to be all sizzle and no steak but what do I know maybe he'll suprise me and do what's right for America. If he starts bringing the creeps to the White House that's the first sign it's over.
You know the creeps Chavez, Castro and the others of his ilk. I never thought in a million years that I would have liked to have seen Clinton going up against McCain. I don't think I have to learn to speak Farsi though, maybe Mandarin.
I loved watching the Palestinans dancing in the streets after Obama was elected. These were the same creeps dancing after the WTC was bombed. Says a lot in my book
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pushka said 2:21PM on 11-13-2008
I did a paper a couple of years ago for college about this very issue and it's actually very interesting when you get into what is being done about it. There is a popular reggae musician in Johannesburg (I can't think of his name however you can goggle who he is), he has a whole set up as far as a company that is disassembling old tech stuff and has actually created jobs within the country. To bad someone here in the US didn't think of something along that lines because there would be a lot of factory jobs to be had in that situation and there is a ton of money to be made or at least was based upon what is inside of some of this tech. Especially considering how much is disposed of and people do not know where to dispose tech things. On a cautionary tale there is a lot lot lot of bad stuff inside computer monitors, plasma tvs and so on. Something I encourage everyone to do if and when they update cell phones is take them to a local shelter or find out if your provider will take them back and donate them to local shelter for people who are in abusive situations. They will be able to dial 911. Or keep the old phone, keep it charged and put it with the emergency supplies because once again you can always dial 911.
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