Black Friday Deals: Big Ticket Tech Items to Watch For

Music Devices

Apple just gave its music devices a nice tune-up, and this holiday season you can find discounts on the iPod Touch and iPod Nano for up to $50 at your local retailers, including Best Buy and Target. Some will feature in-store discounts, while others offer rebates. If you're buying in-store, you'd be smart, again, to bet on nationwide retailers, rather than Apple stores.

Computers

Another holiday season where Apple runs the computer show, bringing a new line of MacBooks with improved retina screens and the ability to multitask like a raging lunatic.

The MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are currently the biggest hits with retailers, both online and in-store, offering up to $150 off the new model. It also doesn't hurt to be a student in these computer-buying times, as additional discount are offered for those in school.

More Computers

Dell Inspiron and Sony's VAIO are also both offering to knock a couple hundred bucks off the original asking price. The Dell Inspiron 14" Ultrabook laptop is one of the best-selling computers online already, next to Apple's MacBook Pro, so if you're looking for a good computer but don't want to spend an appendage, you've got your answer.

There's a lot of great deals online, so put on the coffee and get into it. Chances are that a lot of electronics will get picked over quickly, and it's much nicer when you can just sit at home in your comfy chair, eating cheesy, poofy things while you make your purchases.

Big Screen TVs

Every year, a couple hundred people huddle outside the doors of their local retailers, breathing on the glass and exchanging body heat until those doors open. A fun fact is that lately retailers are starting their Black Friday on Thursday, so you can still get great deals if you go early, especially on LED and plasma TVs.

There's a nice-sized list of LED TVs for less than $500 and even more between $500 and $1000. For instance, a Samsung 43" plasma will be handed off to the toughest shopper for an easy $378 at Walmarts and a 50" LCD HDTV for $349, but in limited supplies, kids.

Everybody thinks they're going to go home with the best deal on these TV sets, but the sad fact is that retailers offer very limited numbers, so it's in your best interest to take the road less traveled in this case and try to hit up either an online deal or less likely retailer. Do the research first.

Game Consoles

For years, every holiday season has featured one or two hot new game consoles that promise gamers the best new thing. This year, a lot of those prior best new things are available at the best prices we've ever seen (Ars Technica). Black Friday will be a great day to finally spend the cash to get the gaming system you've always wanted. Specifically, with the launch of Nintendo Wii U, regular Wiis will be available at various retailers at rock-bottom prices.

Digital Cameras

If you've suddenly decided to become a professional photographer like everybody else, or if you've been holding out for a good deal, now would be the time.

Canon fans, especially, are rolling into an exciting time with new cameras on the block while older, still-excellent models are reducing their prices. The latest model that everyone is salivating over is the Canon EOS 5D Mark III - which is up to $200 off online for Black Friday, maybe more. Although it's an expensive investment, you can always keep in the mind that the Mark II will be getting more affordable now that his new big brother has arrived.

Canon also released its latest upgrade, the T4i, in June of 2012, which can be found online for up to $150 off. Again, if you're looking to spend less, the T3i, which is considered new to most folks, will be getting a slight reduction, as well. In most cases, you'll probably find the body with a stock lens for the same price you would find just the body, around $650.

More Digital Cameras

Nikon is also offering up to $250 off its Nikon 1 model, two-lens kit, which retails around $850, and up to $500 off more expensive models like the D800, which retails around $3,000. Keep in mind that Black Friday is also an excellent time for camera accessories like tripods and monopods, which can be found at prices lower than $50.

In all likelihood, your chances of getting a steal of a deal on cameras are better if you watch like a hawk online, as opposed to standing in the frigid cold at a department store, putting all your eggs in one crowded basket.

Software

On top of the many great electronic deals, you have to keep in mind that the computers, cameras and mobile devices occasionally require future software purchases, so you might as well take care of it all now and save yourself the trouble, as well as putting off spending more than you need to.

Adobe is offering a pretty solid deal to photo and video editors alike, with its new CS 6 package around 25% off, maybe more depending on which package you buy, but the entire bundle can be purchased for around $500, down from $699. Keep an eye out, as that deal may even increase more for both Mac and PC users. Windows users can also get Windows 8 Pro for practically nothing - nearly 70% off - so be vigilant, tech geeks.

If you don't want to spend a bundle on that bundle, you can always go for the individual programs, like Elements 11 for programs like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop, which are nearly half off. Again, keep an eye out online, as Black Friday tends to blow your mind on occasion.