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)
Jeff said 2:49PM on 11-26-2008
First of all, I'm not catholic. Second of all, he didn't say that cell phones were bad for the soul. What they are saying is that it's really easy to be so distracted by the multitudes of ways that we can keep ourselves entertained 24/7 that we never take any quiet time for thinking about life, or prayer, or meditation, or considering weighty matters like what happens to a person when they die and what is my purpose in life.
I think this is absolutely the case. I'm sure we've all see people who won't ever set down their phones. All day long they are touching, using, or peering into their phones as if their lives depended on it. This is especially true in the case of the youth culture.
No one is blaming technology for the downfall of society. But I think it is a good thing any time someone encourages us to step away from the noise, and spend some time feeding our souls. Because whether you are a religious person or not, we all need that quiet time for reflection.
Reply
Art said 3:54PM on 11-26-2008
I can't think when there is too much noise going on around me. Especially television. I find it annoying and distracting. I am retired and during the day when I'm alone at home I keep the TV turned off and like it to be quiet so I can just hear my own thoughts. Sometimes it is good for the soul to have quiet and solitude.
Lady Ann said 4:49PM on 11-26-2008
JEFF,
You explained the Pope's comment very well. Anyone reading this blog....if you do not have a close relationship with "Jesus Christ,"
and are on a cell phone, computer, telephone several hours a day,
just THINK ABOUT THE POPE'S COMMENT.
Many are running away from reality with all the evil going on in this world, especially the young people. Just remember that God is always there to listen to you, """ALWAYS.""" and remember, He does give us free will...just ask for help and mean it, God will take care of you.
Debby said 2:15PM on 11-26-2008
I couldn't have said it better Jeff. Too often we are so busy that we fail to take time to be thankful and to receive the peace that could be ours for the asking. I also am not Catholic but I think the Pope is wise and we would be smart to listen and ponder what he says rather than ridicule and make fun of him.
Reply
LB said 2:16PM on 11-26-2008
I must have missed where the pope said its bad for the soul. I'm not a supporter of the Catholic church by any means, but don't misquote people.
Reply
Davyd said 5:24PM on 11-26-2008
Well at least Mr. O'Brien knows where he's going. So I guess it would be superfluous to direct him there. What an absolutely ignorant interpretation of comments from the Vatican. The old saying, "The press is only free if you own one" would come into play here.
Reply
Tania G said 6:19PM on 11-26-2008
What? If you are not alll backward living in the dark ages you don't know that the hell has been created mostly by religion?
Dave Tuck said 7:23PM on 11-26-2008
Actually, I definitely agree with your position that hell has been created by religion, primarily Chistianity. Pagan religions generally don't believe in the concept of either hell or the devil. While I personally don't think that cell phones or the internet are inherently evil, I believe, as the Vatican spokesman put it so elequently, that they both are a deterrent to self realization and meditation. No matter what your belief system, looking inward is the first step on the path to spirituality - in my world, at least. I don't mean to preach, just my opinion.
Tania G said 6:11PM on 11-26-2008
Is this pope psychotic?
Reply
Tania said 6:20PM on 11-26-2008
Religious people want you all in the dark ages again so you can believe their crap and control you into submission
Reply
Terrence said 7:51PM on 11-26-2008
You guys take everything way too seriously.
But allow me to defend my light hearted post anyway...
You can easily read his comments as saying that cell phones are bad for the soul. By being part of the noise and distraction that are preventing the faithful from developing satisfying spiritual lives it leads to losing your soul.
The interpretation is hyperbolic for the sake of entertainment and to draw in the reader. By the way I am Catholic, was in choir, was an altar boy, went to a catholic school for my first 10 years of school plus a year in a Catholic university. Have a sense of humor people.
It is actually good advice, but the Vatican is certainly not immune mockery.
Reply
Mark said 9:38PM on 11-26-2008
Unfortunately (for you?), it just wasn't funny.
James Miller said 8:13PM on 11-26-2008
Look, The Pope means well, but the Catholic church is in crisis. Like all religions, they have lost their way down through the ages. Technology can be detrimental to the world and a person's health. But it also can be a blessing. We have cured many deceases with modern science and the pope and most religions are all for that, but if anything challenges the church's authority, watch out. The pope's main problem is Europe. After hundreds of years of death and destruction despite Christianity, Europeans have turned their back on Religion. They look now for things to make sense before they accept advice. The pope is just a man who made his way up through the ranks. they say he was openminded when young but that is no longer the case. It's the same thing all over. He's against birth control in a world suffering from starvation and over population. Priests are still not allowed to marry which is foolish. They are just men and the policy has fiiled the ranks with gays looking for a place to hide unnoticed in straight society, which is ironic because of the churches stand against gays. The church, for the most part, failed Europe during its horrible wars. And to top it off, the church failed God's creation, remaining silent while the world, mostly Christian nations, raped our planet. yes, I think the pope should forget about cell phones; he has many other things to think on deeply.
Reply