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.
Whether it be caused by a rapidly spreading virus or nuclear war, we gave you a head start on surviving the apocalypse. Those gadgets might keep your person safe, but what about your sanity? You'll need the Internet, of course. Thankfully, there's the Network Relief Kit, which, according to Make Magazine, guarantees you'll be able to check Facebook even in the event of a terrible disaster. Best of all, you can carry the kit on your back. (Portability, as you well know, is crucial when running from zombies.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paul said 7:04AM on 9-28-2009
Why do this? Get a short wave ham radio and brush up on morse code and if it really gets out of hand practice smoke signals and mirrors.......
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James said 10:30AM on 9-28-2009
This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a long time. People need to GET REAL and prepare for Emergencies with a REAL Disaster Plan not this HORSE HOCKEY. Forget the Internet..Get a portable AM Radio and quite a few rechargeable batteries. Wal-Mart sells 100v inverters cheap that you hook up to your car battery. It will keep recharging the ones you need. Get extra gas cans and gas. Stock up on canned goods and non-perishable items. Always get extra Flour, sugar and Rice. These foods are cheap in large bulk quantities. Firearms - Hopefully you have that end covered. Hungry, desperate people can be dangerous.. in an extreme emergency you must be prepared to protect yourself and your family.. at ALL costs. Try to stock up on medications if you can and OTC stuff. If you have a E-Bag/Box.. cycle the materials in this every 6 months/year. We lived in Florida when it was struck by 3 hurricanes within a 6 week period. We sustained power outages for days. Our family was FINE.. I had everything set up beforehand. Coleman stoves and all the food and water we needed. Most other people had NO WAY to cook or get along and were forced to go to the Red Cross stations for food. That is the difference between being prepared and being "caught unprepared". If its going to be an extended crisis.. you had better have a plan - the Government may NOT be able to respond or help in time. Besides.. its NOT their job. Seriously... its YOURS. Read the Constitution about the responsibilities of Government. Take responsibility for yourself and you family and.. forget nonsense like this junk they are selling. The internet will NOT feed you, it will NOT keep you alive when things turn ugly... besides.. if its a world wide disaster.. the Internet despite its resiliency would be down... for a long, long time. All these people want to do is RIP you off for something you’ll NEVER use.
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