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)
John T. said 4:00PM on 11-11-2008
The Clapper was around a lot longer than 1985. My micro professor had one in his apartment in 1968.
Reply
Bruce said 11:47AM on 11-13-2008
I agree with John. My college roommate had one in February 1968 when we became roommates. Not sure how long he had it before then.
Do you realize that in its long life The Clapper has witnessed men walk on the moon, the Tet Offensive leading to the end of the Vietnam Conflict, Watergate, Irangate, two Gulf Wars, LCDs eveywhere replacing the CRT, cellular phones, the end of analog TV signals.
Wow!
It's like my Grandma who saw the first airplane on the silent movie screen and men walk on the moon in her lifetime. Some technologies, and people, are so enduring.
Ted Webb said 4:59PM on 11-11-2008
Greatest INVENTION SINCE 1900: TRIODE VACUUM TUBE; 1906.
Second greatest: the TRANSISTOR; 1947
Reply
Denne said 5:06PM on 11-11-2008
Why does the clapper have to be linked to laziness?? For some people it's actually very dangerous to stumble around in a dark room to go back and forth between a bed/chair and the light switch. My room isn't even that big and I've had a few mishaps trying to navigate in the dark. For an elderly person a simple fall is not just a clutzy hassle, it can be life ending. Even though I'm far from elderly... I wish I had a clapper in my bedroom... and one for the entrance. My mom always says you should never just walk into a dark house.
Reply
Jan Fuger said 9:30PM on 11-11-2008
The Clapper not only responds to a clap but will turn a light on and/or to any other loud noice. My mother had a terrible cough and every night when she coughed the light would come on and the next time she coughed it went off. All night the light went on and off; needless to say it went back the next day!
Reply
Caterina Pryde said 8:54AM on 11-13-2008
I applaud the clapper. We have a back door that enters into the basement and kitchen stairs through a pantry, and there is absolutely no light back there except the pantry bulb, which has a switch in the kitchen, not near the backdoor. That means coming up the stairs in the dark when coming home in winter. Adding the clapper to a light means it's always bright enough to come in, or to get into the basement at night. And having the clapper means that we don't have to leave the light on, saving a lot of energy.
Reply