by Doug Desjardins
While Black Friday sales are always a grab-bag of merchandise ranging from winter apparel to giant plasma TVs, Cyber Monday is more about the products favored by the technophiles that created it: electronics. And the key product category this year is likely to be low-priced netbooks that have thrived during the recession. 
While items like video-game consoles, DVD players and e-books will be on sale Cyber Monday, analysts expect most of the focus to be on netbooks and mini-laptops. “The promotions on Cyber Monday will essentially be the same ones we saw for back-to-school with rock bottom prices on netbooks and small laptops,” said Stephen Baker, VP of industry analysis for The NPD Group.
While most retail sites have not announced their Cyber Monday sales yet, there are rumors floating around which hint that mini-laptops and netbooks will be priced around $100 for screen-buster promotions. Rumored deals include iMacs and MacBooks on sale for up to 10% off, a Linux SSD Netbook with a 9-inch screen for $129 and a Basic laptop with a 15-inch screen for $249.
Baker said the promotions should be effective traffic drivers for retailers but said netbook prices have fallen so fast this year that finding an attractive price point is tough. “Even a netbook priced at $99 isn’t that big a deal anymore,” said Baker.
One thing that could help laptop sales is the recent release of Windows 7. Online retailers are expected to install a stripped-down version of Windows 7 on netbooks and use it as a selling point on Cyber Monday promotions.
Traditional retailers are using desktop computers to drive traffic online and in stores. OfficeMax is expected to sell a Compaq Presario Desktop for $239.99 on Cyber Monday and Wal-Mart is rumored to be putting a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion on sale for $299. Other promotions circulating in the rumor mill include Garmin and Tom Tom GPS systems for $69 and digital picture frames for as little as $29. Another product that’s expected to figure prominently in Cyber Monday specials are Blu Ray DVD players, with prices dipping below the $100 mark for the first time with free shipping thrown in.
In any event, online electronics retailers can expect better sales on Cyber Monday and beyond compared to 2008. A CEA survey estimates spending on electronics during the holidays will increase 8 percent. The CEA also estimates that 80% of consumers plan to buy at least one consumer electronics product as a gift. “Pent up demand for technology products is evident in consumers’ gift wish list and holiday CE purchase plans,” said CEA director of industry analysis Steve Koenig.
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