Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bill said 11:02PM on 4-19-2008
Yeah, this must be right on this sperm count stuff, I got my first cell phone when I turned 55 and my sperm count has be going down ever since. Oh! How about ED you think it's those damn cell phones?
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Jim said 5:53PM on 5-04-2009
Those silver-lined underwear can be dangerous in a thunderstorm. New phone will release less radiation in the future.
http://jamesmsingleton.com
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Tom Servo said 4:37PM on 4-12-2007
Could it possibly be that people who use their cell phones more lead more stressful, fast-paced lives and that's what's causing the low sperm count?
First it was brain tumors and now low sperm count - people are always looking for ways to scare the public... Yet they ignore the danger of driving while talking, or walking through busy city streets, or how mad the rest of us get when we have to hear half of your conversation in an otherwise pleasant restaurant. Sheesh. :)
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Ashley said 5:28PM on 4-12-2007
This I dont really believe. But if its ture than hey...New birth control!
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Ray said 5:42PM on 4-12-2007
The silver-lined boxer shorts look really weird, especially the 'frayed' bottoms of them.
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Brett said 6:19PM on 4-12-2007
Of course men who gab for over 4 hours a day on their cells have fewer babies. I'm only surprised the percentage of fewer babies isn't higher. Very few women will have sex with you when you are on the phone. Some nonsense about paying attention to them or something. I'm not sure, I never pay attention when they talk.
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tinymight78 said 6:38PM on 4-12-2007
I still don't own a cell phone and probably never will. I hate it when people come to my workplace for service and I have to quietly adhere to there needs without speaking so I don't intterupt their conversation. I don't want to know what they did with their boyfriend last night. If I am not at home to answer the phone that means I am at work, in my car, shopping or running errands. In any of those cases I don't need a cell stuck to my ear distracting me.
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wilson said 6:42PM on 4-12-2007
Hey, if it ever comes to that, these days there is a supplements for everything, including one to support health sperm count called SemenSutra....There it is for those who have been impacted by the effects of their cell phones:
http://www.zurichlabs.com/prod_semensutra.shtml
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ky said 6:46PM on 4-12-2007
hehehehehehe you said sperm
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alphamx290 said 8:19PM on 5-15-2007
Perhaps the low sperm count is due to them grabbing something else in their pocket other than their phone. As far as I'm an concerned that's B.S. because of all the years cell phones been around how many people worry about not having enough sperm. This just should like a marketing ply to get people to buy lighting rod underwear.
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JMWright said 7:27PM on 4-12-2007
low sperm count is not a problem. Premature ejaculation and overpopulation is.
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alex said 7:35PM on 4-12-2007
Wow wait, why aren't they telling every man this. Its male birth control so if I use three phones at once I'm in good shape. party!!!!
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numberoneweedaddict said 8:08PM on 4-12-2007
Wow i got to tell my husband about this!!
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Jamie said 7:50PM on 4-12-2007
lol yea cell phones the new birth control lol
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Richard said 8:12PM on 4-12-2007
First of all, how could silver lined underwear possible help. If you think about it they are saying that the electromagnetic fields are causing a lower sperm count right...so the waves can travel through our bodies and into our testies then why could they not be able to travel down from the inside of the top of our head and neck, down through our torso, and into our pelvic region then to our testies from the inside of our bodies. In my opinion i believe that the phone companies are getting some of the profit from the silver lined underwear sales and that they would not work anyway. TELL ME IF YOU AGREE WITH MY LOGIC!!!!
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bigyedi85 said 8:31PM on 4-12-2007
This is junk science and nothing more. There is no conclusive evidence to relate the two phenomena. For all we know, lower sperm counts could be because of higher UV radiation from the sun, chemicals in food products, or lack of sleep.
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JMates said 9:06PM on 4-12-2007
Even if the author's name wasn't there, I would know a guy wrote this by the quote "...blamed for a whole host of health problems, including nausea, upset stomachs, tinnitus, brain fog and short-term memory loss. The most disturbing charge, however, is the link between cell phone use and dwindling sperm counts."
Only a man would think that the dwindling sperm count is the biggest health problem...
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Bud said 9:40PM on 4-12-2007
Hummm low sperm count , were there cell phones around in the 70s when i was diagnosed with low sperm count?
I'm thing it's another scare tactic used by the few people who dont like changes (Those who dont have cells yet).
Who knows this may be the destruction of mankind CELL PHONES RIGHT!!!!
This may be a good way to deter rapist give them a cell phone.
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cp said 11:29PM on 4-12-2007
I assume this is a joke
CP
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jayme said 7:56PM on 4-17-2007
What pay phones?
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