Brier Dudley's Blog
Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest.
E-mail Brier|
206.515.5687
|
Follow Brier on Twitter|
Microsoft Pri0 blog|
Subscribe | Blog Home
November 20, 2008 3:42 PM
Black Friday still appeals, but how about this week's Blu Thursday deals?
Posted by Brier Dudley
Believe it or not, people are more willing to line up in wee hours to get a deal on Black Friday this year, according to a survey released by Consumer Reports.
It said 26 percent of consumers it polled plan to brave the frenzied crowds and go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. That's up 5 points from the 21 percent who shopped on B.F. last year.
The magazine said 85 percent of the people planning to shop the big day are looking to buy electronic devices, including video game systems (46%) and digital music players (43%).
Blu-ray video players apparently aren't that high on the list, despite plunging prices. Next week's doorbusters include Sony models at $249, but you can buy basic players this week for $100 less without the crowds.
Memorex models (they play 1080p discs but won't have the latest online interactivity features ...) have been available for $150 this week from Buy.com and Woot.
I noticed Wednesday that Costco has Sylvania models on the shelf for $180, including an HDMI cable.
A better deal next week may be the home version of Microsoft's Office suite, which will be available for $49 to $69 from some big-box retailers.
For those who really want to save, external storage devices are going to be on sale everywhere, with 8 gig flash drives falling to about $17.
If you can't wait for Black Friday ads that will be inserted into upcoming newspapers, they're starting to appear at sites like this but you'll have to wade through a barrage of Web ads to download fuzzy PDF scans, one by one.
Another reason to be patient (from last year's Black Friday deals and tips column): Many of the deals you'll see next week will soon become regular prices on this stuff.

nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new compact car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory

- Seattle may allow homeowners to build backyard cottages
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Police: McNair's girlfriend bought gun Thursday
- Mariners Blog | What the Seattle Mariners learned on their road trip
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Climber who died in fall was Duvall woman
- New laws help tenants evicted due to foreclosure
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Microsoft warns of serious computer security hole
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
221 - What Mariners learned on this road trip
163 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
118 - Seattle may allow homeowners to build backyard cottages
98 - FBI denounces rumors: Palin not investigated
91 - New laws help tenants evicted due to foreclosure
75 - Bellevue ordinance would fine retailers for not collecting runaway shopping carts
65 - Bicyclist fatally hit by SUV outside Bremerton
64 - 2 wounded in Central District drive-by shooting
63 - Man fatally shot by King County deputy during domestic-violence call
47
- Seattle may allow homeowners to build backyard cottages
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Researchers stunned by inmates' success raising endangered frogs
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- 250 gather in field near Twisp for fairy congress
- New laws help tenants evicted due to foreclosure
- Microsoft warns of serious computer security hole
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Home sales climb in June in King County; median price drops from year ago to $395,000

May
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |

Video
Demo of the Week: TeachStreet.com
Share your thoughts!
Gadgets and games | Fun stuff I've written about lately includes Apple's iPhone, Hewlett-Packard's HDX laptop and Microsoft's Halo3. Also on the radar are new digital video boxes such as the Tivo HD and the Vudu.







