12 (Hi-Tech) Items That Will Be Cheaper This Year

Blu-Ray Player
2009 Lowest: $76
Curtis Mathes Blu-ray Disc Player from Target (NYSE: TGT - News) ($11.83 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $50
Samsung BD-C5500 from HP Home & Office (free shipping)

2011 Prediction: $39

Why?: You'll probably see a lot of Blu-Ray players bundled as extras with TVs, but you'll also see them as doorbusters and priced like crackpots.
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Kindle eBook Reader
2009 Lowest: $259
Kindle 2 from Amazon.com (NasdaqGS: AMZN - News) (free shipping)

2010 Lowest: $130
Kindle 3 WiFi from Sobongo.com (free shipping)

2011 Prediction: $99

Why?: Because $99 is a major inflection point for consumer adoption, it was always the inevitable price for the Kindle. You'll pay just slightly more for newer models.
42" HDTV
2009 Lowest: $490
Panasonic VIERA 42" 600Hz 720p Plasma HDTV from Best Buy ($70 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $370
Insignia 42" 600Hz 720p Widescreen Plasma HDTV from Best Buy (free shipping)

2011 Prediction: $299

Why?: Once they hit $299, 42" LCD HDTVs will destroy the waning market for 32" LCD HDTVs.

55" HDTV
2009 Lowest: $1,115
LG 55" 120Hz 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV from Fry's ($110 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $699
Element 55" 120Hz 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV from Walmart (NYSE: WMT - News) (free shipping)

2011 Prediction: $599

Why?: 55" LCD HDTV prices are now where 46" LCD HDTVs were in 2008. So, for 2011, we're predicting what we saw for 46" in 2009.
Wii System Bundles
2009 Lowest: $170
Console Bundle from Conn's (free shipping)
2010 Lowest: $150
Console Bundle from Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News) ($10 shipping)

2011 Prediction: $99

Why?: Expect more price drops as new models come out and competition drives down prices.
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16GB SD Card
2009 Lowest: $20
Lexar 16GB Platinum II SDHC Class 4 Card from Adorama.com (free shipping)
2010 Lowest: $17
Centon 16GB SDHC Secure Digital Class 4 Card from TigerDirect.com ($2 shipping)

2011 Prediction: $12

Why?: Yes, it'll be cheap to pick up a 16MB SD card, but that's because you'll be needing a bigger card before too long for your new, cheap SLR camera.
Full-Size Digital SLR Camera
2009 Lowest: $346
Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm lens from Meijer ($8 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $319
Canon EOS Rebel XS 10MP Digital SLR Camera w/ lens from Barnes & Noble ($5.49 shipping)

2011 Prediction: $299

Why?: In 2011, these high-powered cameras will start to cost what point-and-shoots cost a few years ago. Why go for ridiculously high megapixel counts in a digital camera, when you can get a great SLR instead?

15" - 16" Dual-Core Laptop
2009 Lowest: $299
Dell Inspiron 15n Celeron 2.16GHz 16" Widescreen Laptop from Dell ($29 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $218
HP G56-127NR AMD 2.3GHz 16" Widescreen Laptop from Fry's ($8 shipping)

2011 Prediction: $199

Why?: Last year's $300 laptop is today's cheap grab for those who still want Computing power but want to pay what they would for a netbook or a cheap Android tablet.
17" Dual-Core Laptop
2009 Lowest: $450
Acer Aspire Intel Dual Core 2.1GHz 4GB 17" Widescreen Laptop from Staples (NasdaqGS: SPLS - News) (free shipping)
2010 Lowest: $450
HP G71 Intel Dual Core 2.2GHz 4GB 17" Widescreen Laptop from Office Depot (NYSE: ODP - News) (in store)

2011 Prediction: $399

Why?: This basic desktop replacement, with a dual-core processor and at least 4GB of RAM, will drop even further in price.
Portable GPS
2009 Lowest: $42
Magellan Roadmate 1200 at Toys 'R' Us ($8 shipping)
2010 Lowest: $45
Motorola MOTONAV 3.5" Portable GPS Navigator w/ TTS from Woot ($5 shipping)

2011 Prediction: $40

Why?: $40 appears to be the floor in GPS prices. As people have turned to their smartphones and in-car models, portable GPS manufacturers are desperately adding features, driving up prices for new models.
External 2TB USB Drives
2009 Lowest: $140
Fantom G-Force 2TB eSATA/USB Drive from NewEgg.com (free shipping)
2010 Lowest: $90
Fantom Green Drive Pro 2TB eSATA/USB from Buy.com ($7 shipping)
2011 Prediction: $50
Why?: 2TB is the new 1TB. Upgrade to one of these and you'll never have to delete a file just to clear up room.

iPhone 3GS
2009 Lowest: $199
iPhone 3GS from Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - News) (free shipping)
2010 Lowest: $97
iPhone 3GS from Walmart (in store)
2011 Prediction: $49

Why?: This price drop is already here! For an 8GB 3GS phone in 2011, at least.
Prices will drop for other models, but you'll likely not see the 3GS on sale new for too much longer.