Deals for gadgets on Black Friday

Looking for the best deals on gadgets on Black Friday? I’ve found dealnews.com to have arguably the most thorough roundup of the absolute best deals to be had on Black Friday. The Fox News Tech Tuesday roundup is informative, as well. Here’s a look at what it has posted:

Cheap laptops: Wal-Mart is coming out with a laptop that’s incredibly affordable, at just $198. “A sub-200 dollar price … puts it in the consideration set for a lot of people,” says AOL consumer adviser Regina Willis.

My note: Remember that the best laptop prices usually come in April and September, and you could very well find prices to beat those currently being advertised. Still, the laptop sales are worth taking a look at this weekend. Also, Staples has confirmed the $300 price on the HP Intel Celeron 16-inch laptop.

Cheap Apple gear: The iPod-manufacturing technology giant has already sent Black Friday teasers to customers, advertising a “special Apple one-day shopping event” scheduled for Nov. 27th. The circular doesn’t list specific deals, but Apple hints at better than ordinary prices. If you’ve been hankering for a new MacBook, the prices may not get any better.

My note: Last year’s discounts were in the 5 percent to 10 percent range, so don’t expect to see dramatically reduced prices. Still, any savings is good. Here’s a look at Apple’s 2008 sales: 13-inch MacBooks, $101 off; 20-inch iMac, $51 off; 8 GB iPod Nano, $11 off; 8 GB iPod Touch, $21 off; iPod Classic, $21 off.

Cheap digital cameras: Best Buy is advertising a 10-megapixel digital camera for the almost embarrassingly low price of just $49.95, and other stores such as Office Depot are matching that price with different models. Digital cameras will almost certainly be a huge seller on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Cheap Blu-Ray players: The price of high-definition Blu-Ray movie players has been dropping steadily since the products first debuted in June of 2006. Watch for sub-$100 players at Best Buy and other retailers. Wal-Mart is even advertising a $78 model, which is certain to sell out promptly.

Cheap HDTVs: The cost of high-definition televisions seems to plunge by the day, but which deals are worth your money? Keep an eye on Wal-Mart for a 40-inch Sony Bravia, which will be on sale for $598. And rival Target reportedly will sell a 32-inch Westinghouse set for just $246.

My note: As you’re shopping the national retailers, keep an eye on the deals offered by local stores like BrandsMart , hhgregg and Fry’s. I’ve not found any leaked ads by the three, but if history is any indication, there are certain be outstanding deals at the three.

Wal-Mart vs. Amazon…and the winner is, YOU!

These two retailers are duking it out in a price war comparable to prize fighters in a ring. Wal-Mart is the behemoth, a heavy weight in the bargain shopping arena. However, Amazon is on the fast-track and closing, according to this report by the New York Times.

Here’s an excerpt:

The tussle began last month as a relatively trivial but highly public back-and-forth over which company had the lowest prices on the most anticipated new books and DVDs this fall. By last week, it had spread to select video game consoles, mobile phones, even to the humble Easy-Bake Oven, a 45-year-old toy from Hasbro that usually heats up small cakes, not tensions between billion-dollar corporations.

Last Wednesday, Wal-Mart dropped the price of the oven to $17, from $28, as part of its “Black Friday” deals. Later the same day, Amazon cut its price, which had also been $28, to $18.

“It’s not about the prices of books and movies anymore. There is a bigger battle being fought,” said Fiona Dias, executive vice president at GSI Commerce, which manages the Web sites of large retailers. “The price-sniping by Wal-Mart is part of a greater strategic plan. They are just not going to cede their business to Amazon.”