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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dr mitchel w eisenstein, said 11:46PM on 9-13-2009
the only problem with putting reverse cameras into contact lenses is the small detail of letting transnational corporations look into your soul and placing advertisements and subliminal messages or even direct commands into your brain. the problem with the singularity event is that there are essentially two possible outcomes, one good and one evil. the good outcome is that with the wiring of human consciousness, together, through bionanotechnology, we can connect our brains together in a slow evolution which preserves choice and free will. the evil outcome is the profit driven demonish push to control the minds of the people, by various corporations or the government led by some corrupt morality. either way, we are headed inexorably down this road. the battle for your mind, and who owns it, is now heating up. monstrous organizations like microsoft will lead the way into tricking us into giving up our rights and selling our souls. for what? after the singularity, money is of no value to the enlightened. but the universe is vast and the potential for power is irrisistable. i fear that the thirst even for knowledge will lead to justifications for the surpression of individual consciousness for the sake of the group, which will be fought over by the factions which exist today. the war for your mind will be fought all over the universe. and i dont know why. i dont know why we cant give people the space to grow gently into each others consciousness, and each of us become the gods that we hope to be. it might work but there are so many evil people and ideas, contained within and without us, that keeping the course will require greatness. i only hope that we can hold fast to what is good. because when the singularity comes upon us. it will be like a giant tidal wave. and who knows what will happen? rebirth or self destruction.
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