ByKELLI B. GRANT
Consumers holding out> for great deals on some of the latest gadgets don't have to wait any longer. With Apple (AAPL)
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Read our story for five gadgets worth waiting for.
Most of the things we re going to see [at CES and Macworld] are evolutionary, not revolutionary, says Michael Gartenberg, vice president for market researcher Jupiter Media. In other words, many of the anticipated new product launches will be a bit more sophisticated than current models, but not in ways that make them significantly cheaper, easier to use, or, for that matter, obsolete.
Also, keep in mind that just because you see a cool new gadget in the news coverage of CES, you may have to wait months until you can actually get your hands on it. Remember, these shows are to a large extent a showcase for technology that shows up in the second half of the year, says Rob Enderle, president of technology advisory firm Enderle Group in San Jose, Calif.
Here are five deals worth looking into now, while there are still plenty of holiday leftovers on shelves:
GPS navigators
With more cellphone manufacturers and auto makers including GPS capabilities as a basic feature, there s less incentive for companies to develop standalone models, says Vipin Jain, CEO of electronics price-tracking site Retrevo. He expects clearance-level sales on many models. TomTom, for example, is having a givegive sale, offering $50 to $100 off all models at participating retailers through Jan. 24. At Walmart (WMT),
Price-controlled items
Manufacturers like Apple and Activision Blizzard (ATVI)
Digital cameras
Most of the announcements regarding digital cameras expected during CES will concern features, as opposed to picture quality, says Jain. If you re looking for a simple point-and-shoot rather than a professional-quality camera, now s a good time to buy. Circuit City and Best Buy both have sales of up to 30% off select digital cameras.
Videogames and game systems
Very few game announcements come out of CES. Instead, most occur during June s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Typically, games announced during the summer show don't see store shelves until late in the year, offering little reason for consumers who have their eye on a particular gaming system or title to wait, says Gartenberg. Dell (DELL)
Digital photo frames
This popular gift item doesn t tend to sell well outside the holiday season, says Dan de Grandpre, founder of Dealnews.com, an online consumer guide. While new versions debuting at CES will probably offer a few more bells and whistles -- including more storage space and Wi-Fi -- there s no major technological advancement worth waiting for. Meanwhile, many models already on shelves are priced lower than $40. Amazon.com (AMZN)



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