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 3)
Joel said 8:09PM on 7-08-2007
Where can I get one ??? I LOVE IT.....world disasters as they happen
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donald e somers said 8:42PM on 7-08-2007
How about showing the number of ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (without wedded parents) born in any given period??
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Doris said 9:17PM on 7-08-2007
How about adding the numbers of illegal aliens coming into the US daily? Do they identify the numbers of deaths caused by illegal aliens? It is estimated that over 3000 people die each year are caused by illegal aliens.
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Serena said 9:25PM on 7-08-2007
If you click on the image it does show the number of illegal immigrants.
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Adelina said 1:33AM on 7-10-2007
I just have to know, where in the world you got that statistic if only because it sounds absolutely preposterous. . .
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looksbooks54 said 9:29PM on 7-08-2007
Is there a reason the media is so focused on death and destruction?
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Jewily said 9:39PM on 7-08-2007
"How about showing the number of ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (without wedded parents) born in any given period??"
Hey Donald.... they'll show that as soon as it shows the number of incompentant boobs posting comments like yours. Does it really matter if the parents were wed when the child was born?? Nope. And we would have been wed, had his father not been killed serving the country YOU live in.
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bfaithluvr said 10:04PM on 7-08-2007
what about children deserted by their parents teens kicked out of their homes anmd children killed by their parents?
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ron said 10:21PM on 7-08-2007
neat
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enna said 10:30PM on 7-08-2007
yeah donald...like Jewily said, what the heck diff does it make if parents aren't married? Me & my hubby didn't marry 'cause we didn't wanna rush into everything too fast...but still it dont matter, 19 married this yr-22yrs together this yr...another 9months of having a paper that says "you are married" wouldnt have made a friggen' diff...and 9months less of the marriage tax. Married or not, parents are still "mommy & daddy" to the kids!
Ya boob!!
enna12 in nh
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Donald E Somers says: How about showing the number of ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (without wedded parents) born in any given period??
07/08/07 8:42 PM
Jewily says:
Hey Donald.... they'll show that as soon as it shows the number of incompentant boobs posting comments like yours. Does it really matter if the parents were wed when the child was born?? Nope. And we would have been wed, had his father not been killed serving the country YOU live in.
07/08/07 9:39 PM
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u think i care? said 10:44PM on 7-12-2007
uhh juily ur a moron cuz idk if i can say f tard 1. yes it does matter if the parents were wed cuz if there not then there is no responsablitiy in the kids well being. 2. the guy died defending fredom did he? how does a defeated country pose a threat to our fredom? we are only there cuz bush didnt plan how to get out 3. im sry he died but wtf were u thinking having a kid knowing he was serving and not getting married b4 he deployed u knew he could have died dont take it out on donald he was just noting all of the poor kids whos fathers walked out on them and didnt care im glad urs did but shesh its not donalds fault he died chill
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Kayla said 11:03PM on 7-08-2007
The title of the article was "depressing stats". It is horrible! All of those things happening to fellow human beings and all you can think about is adding EVEN MORE depressing statistics? It's depressing enough, without you all complaining about it not making you cry when you glance at it! Where is this world going?
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Kelly said 10:57PM on 7-08-2007
Doris: "How about adding the numbers of illegal aliens coming into the US daily? Do they identify the numbers of deaths caused by illegal aliens? It is estimated that over 3000 people die each year are caused by illegal aliens."
Pull your head out of your ass Doris. How many people does your type of ignorance kill each year!?
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StephanieKnows said 11:10PM on 7-08-2007
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN?, Donald?
They ARE still children, you are obviously a moron who lives in the past and criticizes people because you are unhappy with the way the world is going, but at the same time, making no effort to better anything.
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Elizabeth said 11:14PM on 7-08-2007
Amazing! It shows us the bigger picture of what is really happening around the real world.
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James said 11:44PM on 7-08-2007
How about adding the number of deaths directly attributed to the Bush/Cheney Regime!
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alessandra said 11:40PM on 7-08-2007
shut up Doris
give it a rest
i'm not an illegal alien but will you leave them alone! do you have a life, because to me it doesn't seems like it since you can't stop blaming illegal aliens while your commenting on a world clock!what a loser! its negative people like you who bring all of us down.
p.s. you and your ancestors were once immigrants too so stop acting like you own the united states just because you came here first or for some reason feel more valuable then them!
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Tonya said 12:05AM on 7-09-2007
The world is going to hell in a handbasket and someone is capitalizing off its demise by selling this depressing piece of shit. If we would all stop buying into these high-tech capitalist everytime they come up with a new gadget, maybe we they will stop making these useless machines. CNN will give you the same depressing news everyday and its on your cable tv.
As for you Donald...my mother raised 2 kids with no help from our pathetic excuse for a father and was never married. She struggled everyday but she did a great job and raised 2 open-minded kids who learned to stand up for themselves and for those who can't. Instead of bashing parents based on your own beliefs, have a talk with an unwed mother or father and get their story first and them maybe you'll understand why they didn't want a band of gold. A piece of paper doesn't make you a family...love and understanding does.
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Linda said 3:58PM on 7-10-2007
How about tracking how many illegal immigrants are taking away jobs from people like me who are looking for a job to just survive!
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Alicia said 12:19AM on 7-09-2007
I think what Donald was trying to say is for all the "illegitimate" children that were born to stupid people that don't give a crap who they sleep with, who they impregnate or get pregnant by, and who keep on poppin out babies by different men when they don't even take care of their first ones. I think that's the kind of illegitimate children Don was talking about. And BTW, I'm not racist or sexist or homophobic, but I don't think it's right for anyone to be living in the US or any country illegally either. More power to them if they're here legitimately, but I have to agree with the illegal aliens comment. So all you snarky people out there need to get your head out of your butt because the world does not revolve around you, like it or not.
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