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 2)
Jon said 9:22AM on 12-31-2008
your an idiot this tech form cnn was different and exciting. You must work for Fox news and have the typical right wing bias that all fox stations have
Reply
Rodney said 9:27AM on 12-31-2008
Jon, The reason no one liked this technology is because we were all watching Fox. And I do not work for Fox.
Volntyr said 10:16AM on 12-31-2008
Evan, of course the Hologram technology was gimmicky. It was also the FIRST time something like this has ever been done. Your article is just proving that any numbskull that can write a blog yet have no idea what they are talking about.
Reply
solomeeeo said 10:12AM on 12-31-2008
CNN is SO yesterdays news!
Reply
Tim said 11:18AM on 12-31-2008
I think it was a great idea!!
The technology is obviously on the ground floor but it beats the heck out of stock photos of the "correspondent/guest" on the phone.
Reply
Chrise said 10:42AM on 12-31-2008
CNN=sorry, failed, pathetic, trying to be hip Communist News Network. There's a reason they're failing.
Reply
Jerry said 10:59AM on 12-31-2008
The hologram worked fine. CNN didn't hype it. They just used it. CNN got it right.
Reply
Nick said 11:04AM on 12-31-2008
Those holograms were lame. It is just a high-def version of greenscreen video with extra cameras. Since Wolf Blitzer couldn't see the image infront of him it was NOT a hologram. It was simply a video posted overtop of another video that was shot with a greenscreen and multiple cameras. This is not much different than what they have been doing for years with greenscreens, making someone look like they are somewhere that they aren't. If you could actually see the image infront of you and not just on TV, then yes it would be impressive. But since you can ONLY see the image when watching it on TV, it isn't a hologram.
Reply
Hardishfo'shizzleyadigg said 12:55AM on 1-10-2009
it seems like you're the idiot my friend
Josh said 11:05AM on 12-31-2008
ok im sorry... but if anyone really thinks thats a real "hologram", then your a idiot that willing to believe anything on the news... you can clearly tell that was all done by computer. it's not that hard to do
Reply
MM said 12:22PM on 12-31-2008
Hey, Josh, one rule of thumb. Don't call someone an idiot when you can't even spell or use proper grammar. Kind of blows your argument.
Randy said 11:20AM on 12-31-2008
I watch a lot of different channels and I am more disapointed in all of them. CNN had this crap and FOX had super big screen tv's and monitors all over the place. I watch the news to see the news, not to see how much money they can waste on gadgets. Holographic technology is very expensive and has no place in the news room. What a joke. Just another example of Corporate excess. I'll bet the news channel's Exec's are making 30 to 50 million a year and throwing all this money away when all we want is the news.
Reply
Rex said 11:37AM on 12-31-2008
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! This is exiting, futuristic and REAL! And some idiot blogs it as poor tech gimmick. Dude, you don’t constantly have to be in opposition just to create controversy. Just admit it, THIS IS THE COOLEST THING YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR, RIGHT?
Reply
sandi and ryan said 11:48AM on 12-31-2008
What is wrong with you people. I think that is so cool! It would be very useful perhaps for troops stationed over in Iraq to get to use so their families could get to see them in true form. Think about where this technology will take us! ie: you wouldn't have dvd's today if it weren't for the first Betamax machine.
Reply
Fred said 12:29PM on 12-31-2008
Way to go CNN you have the others networks shaking in thier boots.
Hats off to Your Tech Team. Keep on innovating this is what makes AMERICA STRONG!!!!
Fred
Reply
Kyle said 12:41PM on 12-31-2008
I think that it was a good try but it doesn't look nearly as good as Cisco's version. They actually have the technology to make this work. Maybe CNN should talk to Cisco next time they want to get all fancy with the news. :)
Reply
Sasha said 1:09PM on 12-31-2008
The hologram was awesome! I think election night was the best night to do it. It was a night full of record breaking history! I did some research after watching CNN that night and the information on hologram was really cool. I'm excited to see it used more. What I don't understand is why people in this country are so hatefull and so negative all the time not to mention ,RUDE. The hate surrounding us is just getting worse every day and it's scary. GOD BLESS AMERICA, please!
Reply
Mike said 12:56PM on 12-31-2008
I used to dislike Fox News because of their apparent right wing leanings. After veiwing all the major networks during the elections, I now have a favorable opinion of Fox News, except for that pufter pansy, Sean Hannity and that god awful bi***, Ann Coulter. I Rather like there offerings of Foxy chicks, especially that gorgeous brunette, Juli Banderas. She keeps my eyes on her thighs - news? What news?
Reply
Bart Stewart said 1:36PM on 12-31-2008
Hmm, I watched CNN for a long time on Election Night and I don't recall seeing these holograms. Oh well, apparently I didn't miss much. By the way, for those of you who said Fox News is beating CNN in ratings, I think you may be a little behind the times. CNN had their best night for ratings ever on Election Night. On any given night Anderson Cooper beats whatever is on Faux, and Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow both beat Bill OReilly most nights. Fox News rose and fell with Bush.
Reply
Larry said 1:41PM on 12-31-2008
On the contrary I thought the hologram was quite innovative and a peek at the technology that is coming in the future. As it is refined in the future we should be able to speak to one another in a different dimension without leaving a particular location. Like "Full Body" talking to one another on the telephone. I find your article's comments short sited and closed mined. I care less about what CNN reports. I turn the channel often. But How they reported the news via a hologram was truly groundbreaking in the information technology arena. Bravo CNN!!
Reply