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 1)
giff said 11:48AM on 1-04-2009
Good! I hope ALL states employ this strategy. there are FAR too many people driving on the road under the influence and thinking "I'm okay, I only had a couple of beers" until they hit someone. And unfortunately, the drunks usually come out of the crash easy and someone else is dead or severely injured. I'm sure there will be an outcry from the alcoholics of the world who think it's their 'right' to drive drunk or under the influence, but they forget that driving is a privilege not a right in the first place. And perhaps, instead of the 'rolling' test, they should just get a message that says "pull over and submit to an additional test, you have 5 minutes to get to the side of the road". If it interrupts their trip...too freakin bad.
the testing device should also include DNA of the testee so the right person is being tested. Otherwise, alky's will just get a sober friend to start up their car.
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Carolyn said 12:57PM on 1-04-2009
I don't drink, but I am making payments on a car in my mom's name. I & probably countless others wonder how effective this will actually be when all you have to do is drive someone else's car or have someone else start your's.
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Aine said 8:47AM on 1-05-2009
Giff... but the Carolyn too, gees: what makes you think a sober person is going to help a drunk one get behind the wheel of a moving vehicle?
Apparently you seem to think not only is alcoholism "bad," but anyone who befriends an alcoholic Must of Course lack so much in their own moral compass as to enable this behavior while stone-cold-sober themselves.
Wow. I don't want to live in the world you so delusionally think we all reside in.
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