Look to the past for best deals

Amid a lack of new products, holiday shoppers are likely to find good buys on not-quite-the-latest items

From flat-screen TVs and GPS units to Blu-ray DVD players, cashmere sweaters, and digital picture frames, specialists expect deals to be ''plentiful for the balance of the season.'' (GLOBE DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION/UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE INC./WARNER BROS.)

If you're wondering where all the deals are this holiday shopping season, you may be looking in the wrong place. Try Christmas past.

Retail specialists say holiday deals abound. But you probably won't find the greatest prices on the latest versions of must-have items like the Apple iPod or Nintendo Wii, they say. Rather, you'll likely find deeper discounts on products you have been pining for since last year.

"There really isn't anything new this year," said retail analyst Marshal Cohen. But the good news is that prices on items that have been on shoppers' radars for a while, such as flat-screen TVs and GPS devices, have dropped considerably - and the discounts likely will last throughout the holiday shopping season.

"Last year, you had to have a shopping strategy in place," Cohen said. "This year, deals are going to be plentiful for the balance of the season."

Flat-screen TVs

Once hard to come by for less than a $1,000, some smaller flat-screen, high-definition TVs can now be had for as little as $200. On Black Friday, Wal-Mart Stores was selling a 42-inch, high-resolution TV for $600. The TV is now on sale at Wal-Mart for $748. Comparable models sold for close to $2,000 a year ago.

GPS devices

The Garmin Nuvi 205, one of the more popular portable global positioning systems, normally retails for around $200. But the system was being sold at Best Buy for $120 on Black Friday. Now, it's selling for around $169 at Best Buy and Target - still a good deal - and older models and lesser-known brands can be found for less than $99.

iPods

Apple doesn't have to slash prices to stoke demand, so don't expect any deep discounts. However, the new generation of the Nano has twice as much memory - 8 GB - while costing roughly the same as last year's model - $149. And $250 will get you a 120GB iPod Classic - holding 30,000 songs. Last year's model for the same price only held 80GB.

Nintendo Wii

Not surprisingly, prices for the popular game system haven't gone down much from last year - anything less than $250 would be a good deal. There are, however, deals to be had on popular game kits, such as the Wii Fit, which Sam's Club sells with an exercise board for $78.

Blu-ray DVD players

Blu-ray has become the standard for high-definition DVDs, and the players can now be found for $230 to $250 - deeply discounted from the $400 price tag earlier in the year.

Digital picture frames

Digital frames - which allow you to put photos from your digital camera on your mantle - from Kodak and Sony can be found for around $120 and up, considerably less than they cost last year. And lesser-known brands go for far less: An 8-inch frame by GiiNii, for example, is selling at Wal-Mart for $60.

Digital cameras

Deals are plentiful for digital cameras. Popular 10 megapixel cameras can be had for around $150 to $200 - or in some cases, cheaper - a good deal considering that cameras with this resolution could cost twice as much last year.

Cashmere sweaters

There's more to life than high-tech gadgets.

Retail analysts say some of the deepest cuts are being made by fashion retailers, in particular J.C. Penney and Kohl's, which is selling cashmere sweaters for $35.

Dora the Explorer

12-inch girl's bike

There also are deep discounts on popular children's toys. Dora's favorability ratings remain high among the young female set.

Dora bikes, which normally sell for around $70, are selling for $50 at Wal-Mart. Go Diego Go bikes for boys are similarly priced.

Video games

Older versions of popular games are being sold for $10 or less at Kmart and Toys 'R' Us. Guitar Hero III, with the guitar interface, went for $50 at Toys 'R' Us and Wal-Mart on Black Friday, and can still be found for under $70.

Meanwhile, Guitar Hero IV, the latest version, is on sale at Toys 'R' Us for $40, but without the guitar.