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 2)
J. Brian Thompson said 8:59PM on 6-17-2009
Crap.
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pookienonie225 said 11:43PM on 6-17-2009
I hate the digital converter boxes!!!!!!
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Andy said 11:44PM on 6-17-2009
What saved this guy's life is the fact that he STOPPED watching TV !!!
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rashasbetter said 12:11AM on 6-19-2009
He didn't stop watching tv. If you read the article, it says he went to watch it in the kitchen where he had a converter box.
pookienonie225 said 12:04AM on 6-20-2009
I HATE the DIGITAL CONVERTER BOXES!!!!!!
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cmoorepsiguy said 11:47PM on 6-17-2009
I used to watch tv with rabbit ears and had no problems. Now, I have a Radio Shack converter, 3 different amplified antennas, and can't get a single station to come in. This is a lot of crap. A money grab by the govt to sell the frequencies, and force everyone to get cable, satellite, or new gear. So who exactly was representing me in congress?
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Don said 5:33AM on 6-19-2009
This is the major problem with today's politics. NO ONE in congress is representing any if us. FIRE THEM ALL. Dems or Republicans. They ignore us all.
chris comisar said 12:11AM on 6-18-2009
your an honorable man, thank you for serving your country, and don't worry, God wants you to watch a little more TV
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C.R said 12:50AM on 6-18-2009
TV is whack now, no good programs at all, and they have the nerve to go to HD!
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SouthernMan said 1:24AM on 6-18-2009
Bless the gentleman and a mighty salute for service as a WWII hero...I wonder if he believes the country is headed in the right direction? As far as the switch to digital...the government wants to be able to completely control the airwaves and with analog they could not do it...digital is easier to control.
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diegosbest619 said 1:26AM on 6-18-2009
If you dont like america and we are so "pathetic" then why the hell are you reading headlines on AMERICAN ONLINE. you idiot
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Gunner said 2:19AM on 6-18-2009
I like the Digital Converter Box-I have access to MORE local channels now than I ever did before AND they come in clearer-no I don't work for the company, and yes I was leery of the switch over, but now that I've done it, I was very nice to have that many more channels to choose from.
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LJ said 4:42AM on 6-18-2009
The county in AZ that I live in has not made the change. Someone told me they don't want to spend the required amount of money, probably for about 5 more years. If the change over was a federal law, how are they getting away with this? Still getting the normal channels with my antenna on the roof - old TVs.
Hooked up a converter box to one, just in case, but haven't found more than one additional channel on it.
Never could figure out if I needed to have anything changed on the roof-top antenna. Any experts out there are welcome to reply.
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Dave Hogan said 4:21AM on 6-18-2009
Any antenna you had should work, unless you're far away (more than 25-40 miles) from where the broadcasts originate. If there are mountains, tall buildings or trees in the way, it's less.
You can get amplified antennas, if needed, but if they're not needed you can actually kill your reception by using one.
Also, consider trying more than one angle. There are many web sites that have maps of where transmitters are so you can better aim your antenna.
I found the best antennas I could use are both over 6 years old, and one came with my TV. The other was about $10 in 1998 when I was in college. I've canceled cabled due to the quality being so good.
Yes, the federal government pocketed $16 billion or so from it, but it's really not all bad. The FCC has said they'll offer new (digital band) licenses once they know the full impact of this phase of the switch. In 5 years, it should be quite a bit better. And we get significantly better emergency and communications services.
LJ said 4:13AM on 6-21-2009
To: Mikey,
You might be a happier person if you lightened up a bit. People all over the world call coincidences "miracles" all the time, and many of them are. He certainly sounds like an OK guy to the rest of us who are glad he's still alive.
As for the converter boxes being tracking devices for the gov't., am curious to know what makes you think so. Our TVs and the boxes aren't necessarily going anywhere, at least not any time soon, and most of us who might move in the near future, could just as easily buy a new TV and not need the box, so where is your so called superior logic? Get off your high horse buddy, and confess your own nationality that you refer to Americans as ignorant and easily amused. Are you one of us, speaking of yourself or coming from somewhere else?
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Tinkerbutt20051974 said 3:46AM on 6-18-2009
GOSH I HATE THESE STUPID BOXES THANK U F UP GOVT. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO RESCAN and Mess with the Antenna all the dang time.
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j said 3:55AM on 6-18-2009
I'm with you. It's a pain in the ass constantly scanning and adjusting the antenna. I wonder if they will put up new antennas like they finally had to do with cell phones. Anyone else lose reception when a plane goes overhead or it's cloudly outside? Please reply.
Todd LeBaron said 5:51AM on 6-18-2009
One less way to get emergency information when the power is out. Just about no battery operated TV will pull in a digital signal. Could it be that this was an idea designed to boots radio's role in getting emergency info out? If so, then let's go the rest of the way and make sure that local radio has the personnel there to get that info out when it's needed. Far too many small town stations are humming along with satellite-delivered programming from some other part of the country way too many hours of the day (this is also my theory about why a lot of people aren;t renewing their XM & Sirius subscriptions...why pay for satellite radio when so many small market stations are running satellite programming now?)
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HELGLOVIN said 3:12PM on 6-18-2009
I've been watching tv and recording on my vcr/dvd while watching another channel NO PROBLEMS then came the news no more tv only static if we do not switch over to
digital (thanks mr. bush) As a senior citizen with limited funds the tv is my entertainment a bit sad but true sobought a new tvwhich I will still be paying off for another year NOT EASY anyway was told didn't need new vcr/dvd it would work as long as tv is digital. An out and out lie so I purchase a converterbox cause I couldn't afford a new vcr Well that doesn't work called the FCC and they apologized but had no clue on how to resolve this if my tv had been analog then they could have helped me they gave me a number tocallfor in free in home help SURPRISE they don't do anything concerning vcr in fact "we don't know how to do that. End result get same channels I got before only difference cannot tape anymore. ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I CAN DO?
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HELGLOVIN said 3:32PM on 6-18-2009
have to add my buildinf have oan outdoor antena so had absolutely had no problems
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