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)
MadMike said 5:03PM on 4-27-2009
That is complete BS. There is work and then there is personal lives. Your job has 0 right to spy on you or terminate you for what you do outside of work.
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Maureen said 5:29PM on 4-27-2009
Actually, I can see both sides of this. Certainly, one can be too sick to come to work and still pass some of those long hours at home by going online. Would she have been fired if she spent the time watching television?
On the other hand, if you use the very specific claim that you cannot come to work because you have a migraine and can't take focusing on a computer screen until it passes, then it is pretty darn stupid to get caught being on the computer when you're supposed to be lying in a dark room.
So, while I can sympathize with someone who is truly ill, but unable to sleep and in need of a diversion from their misery - I have little sympathy for someone who obviously made a false claim about their health and then got caught doing the very thing they claimed they couldn't do that day.
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greeneydmantis said 5:56PM on 4-27-2009
It doesn't matter that she said she had a migraine and couldn't be in front of a pc. Work is obviously extended time in front of the pc. They can say someone logged into her facebook account, they can't prove it was her, how long she was there or WHY she was there. If a friend had messaged her the name of a great neurologist and she needed it - does that mean she can't sign in to get that info? Is there is a corporate rule that migraines last X number of hours? If she was better after 3 hours was she supposed to rush back into the office? If she was better because of medication - is she supposed to risk driving in to make them happy?
I hope she sues them. Unlawful termination and harrassment.
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Bethany said 6:44PM on 4-27-2009
I hope she sues and wins. Corporations have absolutely no business snooping into the lives of private citizens. We are workers, not slaves. I don't care if the woman was doing cartwheels in her sunny bedroom...she was in the PRIVACY OF HER OWN HOME!!! Very, very scary big brother going on here!!!! Beware, people.
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Tokunbo Tonade said 10:28AM on 4-28-2009
Am sure there's more to her getting the boot than meets the eye! How on earth can any sane dude fire u for being sick?
Quite sad that her employers have no idea they are fishing for a law suit!
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