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)
IndyKitchen said 8:16AM on 2-03-2009
If India can do it, why can't we?
Reply
LEIGHTON said 9:16AM on 2-03-2009
INDIA CAN DO IT BECAUSE WE WILL END UP FOOTING THE BILL.
Jason said 9:11AM on 2-03-2009
What is the deal with all the other countries taking advantage of great ideas like this and the great, ha ha ha, US thinking that we are to good for a $20 laptop? or a $5000 car? That is what is about right? We have to have the most expensive of everything and now we have kicked off a national depression formed out of greed. I want to be able to buy a $5000 car since this is a free country (if you have the money to be free country). I have a new truck so I am not saying this because I can not afford it or because I am lazy and dont want to work. Its just why do I need to spend $15000 on a truck, truth is I don't and rather spend the money on something else because I do not have endless amounts.
Reply
tamallred said 12:35PM on 2-03-2009
Where did you get a new truck for 15k?
Jack said 9:06AM on 2-03-2009
I hope they set up the tech support phone center in the U.S. I would quit my job and go to work there. I would be sure make every caller wait an hour, then read from a script that sounds like a 4th grader wrote it. "Unplug all the cords for 30 minutes, then turn it back on." etc... And I would speak in such a thick accent that they won't understand me at all so callers would eventually get frustrated and hang up.
The Indians would still be one up on us...they will only pay $10 for their peice of crap, we pay a thousand and still get treated like that.
Reply
BOBBYBOYII said 10:07AM on 2-03-2009
WORTH NOTING: I OWN AN ANSWERING SERVICE IN CHESTER VA. AND WOULD BE NOTHING LIKE KEEPING SOME OF THAT OUTSOURCING HERE, AND FRANKLY WE CAN DO AS MUCH HERE TO DO BUSINESS HERE AND MOST LIKELY DO IT BETTER AS WE MOSTLY SPEEK ENGLISH AND ALL DAY LONG I GET CALLS FROM CALLERS WE CANT UNDERSTAND THAT ARE SOLICITING OR (A COMPUTER COMPANY COLLECTOR) CALLING AND THEY JUST DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE SAYING AND VICE-VERSA. COME ON AMERICA KEEP IT HERE AND "A TRI-CITIES CONNECTION IN VA CAN HELP YOU DO THAT AND WE WILL HIRE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THAT JOB HERE.
OUTSOURCING CONCERNED
Reply
Jesus said 10:11AM on 2-03-2009
there is no $10 laptop, the price is being artificially determined and does not include the cost of the materials, labor or anything else.
SOMEONE will be paying for that laptop to be ten dollars, it just won't be the consumer
It also probably doesn't include the externalized costs of manufacturing the cheap plastics to make the laptop and the chemical waste that will be a by-product of the production of the manufacturing of parts for this $10 laptop.
never mind where we dispose of that waste or the laptop itself when it wears out. I can't imagine a ten dollar laptop having too long a life span
computer labs at schools, colleges and libraries are much more realistic and practical.
This...$10 laptop is either an unrealistic fantasy or it will be a horrible reality
Reply
Dan said 11:17AM on 2-03-2009
Back in the 80's so many things were "made in Mexico", as it was cheap labor and kept down cost. The quality sucked and things started moving to Taiwan and as they got more into electronics and their labor went up things migrated to China. I've been to China a few times and learned that even the Chinese know they have poor quality on low end products and they know to choose the best quality for their dollar. A $10 computer in India, or the $5K car, is going to be so cheaply made. Do people not realize that CHINA/INDIA MADE means CRAP MADE. Lets keep our industry going and keep our quality products going here in the U.S.
Reply
Noel said 12:18PM on 2-03-2009
Wow... I would not mind a laptop like that... The fact is that it can be done. but We here in the U.S are to Dollar driven we won't do it..not engough profit in it.. America can do anything it puts it mind to IF IF we wanted to. But the good of the countie unfortantly does not outweigh the DOLLAR at this time.........
Reply
Frost said 1:12PM on 2-03-2009
I think it's a shame.. the same deals can't be offered to America and Canada's children..
Reply
suds said 1:46PM on 2-03-2009
so what is the fucking point. if it aint here,dont waste my fucking time.
Reply
niap223 said 2:36PM on 2-03-2009
We lose out again.
Reply
why? said 2:34PM on 2-03-2009
Can we please take care of the American children first! Our children should have computers of their own before we attempt to be concerned about another country's youth.
Reply