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)
Dick said 5:16PM on 4-15-2009
Texting is just another one og the useless things we can do without!
There are too many phones without.texting ! I our small mall we have ten different cell phones available!
The same thing will happen as with auto's ! there are so many that people don't know which one to by and we have a glut of cars!
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Jordan said 7:37PM on 10-31-2009
Please structure your posts better. You start out dissing texting but then go on to just a complete jumbled mess.
I agree, we could do without texting. I remember I used to send maybe 10 messages a month, now I wonder how I could even try to do that if I wanted to. I hate texting and would love to give it up, but society does not allow for it.
danzillo said 5:53PM on 4-15-2009
At least he was thinking of her...
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fastharry said 8:22PM on 4-15-2009
GERONIMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!( or would that put him over the 160 limit.,,,)
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big sal seech said 9:30PM on 4-15-2009
we must outlaw cliffs.
they are a danger to us all!
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Funke, Tobias Dr. said 11:23PM on 4-15-2009
"Rescuers rushed to the scene in a helicopter in order to stop the man, but, tragically, were too late. They could only watch him leap to his death..."
Sweet response time if they actually did see him leap to his death. Maybe they need some guest worker visas and some jobs at my local dispatch here.
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Chris Allen said 4:01PM on 4-24-2009
Here in the UK emergency calls to deal with IMMEDIATE danger must be reached in under 8 minutes if at all possible.
Plus - we have a very comprehensive Coastguard and Lifeboat service and also Navy Rescue centres in hundreds of locations around the UK - wherever he was - they'd have been close.
mistyexpressions said 5:00PM on 5-27-2009
You know what cheeses me off? Instead of calling someone up and saying what needs to be said it can take up to 20 minutes just to finish a texting conversation. Texting to me is like saying you don't care enough to talk to me and that's why you're texting. I hate being texted and to text.
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Brian said 3:54PM on 7-28-2009
It is a lot handier to invite several people to go see a movie, or go to a party, etc via text than by phone. And it also allows you to contact someone you know can't talk right then, but can respond later when they can. Texting has a lot of uses that calling can't accomplish. And yeah, you can leave a message for someone that can't talk, but it's quicker and easier to read a text than to check voicemail.
Sekinu2 said 3:46PM on 10-23-2009
Well Brian Id have to disagree with all of your statements. Cell phones have group setting for multiple calling people.. If a person cant answer a phone then they cant look or recieve texts messages either. In school and at work if you shouldnt pick up a cvall you shouldnt be reading text messages.. It takes much longer to open a text read it write and respond then it does to hit call back when your free and just call the original sender back and speak answer and hang up...Texting is slower and useless its only good to like send a bit of info if you dont have a pen like a quick number or name
John said 3:43PM on 6-12-2009
Too bad. No one is worth that.
I've lived for 65 years, killed lots of people in 3 years of combat (Vietnam) and can't think of anyone in my life that I would kill myself for.
At least he didn't take anyone with him.
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FLLady said 1:05AM on 7-14-2009
Everyone has to do those things their way in that situation. Sounds like he planned it out for awhile. Barring a mental illness or severe depression, it really is a selfish act. I have thought about it from time to time in my darkest hours but the aftermath for my parents & kids was more unbearable than my own pain. God bless him.
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wizzer said 1:37PM on 7-23-2009
I'm commentless.
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Patti said 2:42PM on 10-16-2009
That picture is of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, not in the U.K., idiots.
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a_monkey_with_a_plan said 3:24PM on 10-22-2009
I don't think anyone claimed the photo was the actual cliffs, or the actual photo of the cliffs the deceased sent, just some cliffs to illustrate the ... well cliffs angle. idiot. Still thanks for being boring, pointless and rude, 3 for 3.
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Cearralyn said 12:32AM on 11-17-2009
What a selfish, stupid man! I feel sorry for his family, not for him. He sure as heck did not love his wife or anyone else. He gave no thought at all to how she would feel.
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