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.
Professor Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona is very interested in what's growing on your cell phone, and we're not talking about your bill. He's been testing cell phones and finding that, in general, they're riddled with germs and bacteria that can cause skin infections. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Denise said 11:20AM on 7-16-2007
This is scary. I don't share my cell often, but I do have a family member with MRSA. It is a horrible disease. Once you have you can't get rid of it. Be careful!!!!!
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Elizabeth said 12:51PM on 7-16-2007
Don't forget to wash the cell phones too as daily cleansing!!!!!!!
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MIKE said 2:22PM on 7-16-2007
If Anything, Money should cause skin infections. Thats got more jerms on it than anything. With the passing of it from person to person. How many of them don't wash there hands that often. Than pay with there money. Boy, that a jerm passer.
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Betsy said 3:08PM on 7-16-2007
I can't stand it when people comment on things as if they're so much smarter than the researchers or whoever the article is about and they can't even spell correctly themselves.
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Rose said 3:13PM on 7-16-2007
Before cell phones people used public telephones and they must have had many more germs with so many people using the same phone. I don't remember it being a problem. We have become so germophobic.
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MIKE said 3:12PM on 7-16-2007
TALK ABOUT GERMS WE TRY TO KEEP THEM DOWN BY WASHING OUR HANDS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM. BUT FAIL TO REMEMBER THE ONES THAT DONT WASH THEIR HANDS TOUCH THE SAME DOOR HANDLE YOU DO WHEN LEAVING "NASTY"
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KingFella said 3:53PM on 7-16-2007
YUCK! Sounds like the answer here is to use a bluetooth device. I can't live without my phone, and I don't share it (only with my boyfriend), but try a bluetooth! Once you go bluetooth you never go back.
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Jessica said 4:03PM on 7-16-2007
I always dissinfect my phone with a clorox wipe...everyone should do the same
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Ralph Garcia said 3:39PM on 7-16-2007
Believe it or not, since cell phones have been out I have heard a good maybe 100 guys using the cellphones in the toilet with them as they take "a dump." I'm usually at the urinal. Only about less than 10 of them have stopped at the sink to wash their hands. Even of the 10, they still didn't stop talking on the phone. I'm wondering if this is how that eColi Spinach outbreak started by some guy taking a cell phone into the bathroom. This is just plain nasty. It hasn't happened in the bathroom of a restaurant yet. If it did, I'd run out of there and never visit that restaurant again unless I wanted to die. Even if he didn't work at that restaurant, he has to touch the door knob or door handle to get out of there. Think about it and how many germs he could spread to make people die.
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JoJo said 3:43PM on 7-16-2007
The reason why it wasn't such a big problem waaaay back in the day of public phones is that handwashing was something that was taught and expected to be performed even in the school system. In these litigation laden days, if a teacher suggested a child wash their hands, some parent might "freak out" ranting how their child was singled out and sue, so I don't think schools bother anymore....
But, for some reason many people seem to think that washing one's hands after going to the bathroom or before preparing a meal isn't necessary. I guess they have to SEE poop on their hands before realizing their hands "might" be germy and making the big decision to wash up.
Go figure.
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Ed said 4:12PM on 7-16-2007
Due respect to Professor Gerba and the study, but this is just another piece of useless information. Who funded this study? The maker of one of the products being promoted to make our lives germ free? The practical approach to personal hygiene is soap and water applied to the hands when returning home and before eating.
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JoJo said 3:59PM on 7-16-2007
Ralph Garcia says:
Believe it or not, since cell phones have been out I have heard a good maybe 100 guys using the cellphones in the toilet with them as they take "a dump." I'm usually at the urinal. Only about less than 10 of them have stopped at the sink to wash their hands. Even of the 10, they still didn't stop talking on the phone. I'm wondering if this is how that eColi Spinach outbreak started by some guy taking a cell phone into the bathroom. This is just plain nasty. It hasn't happened in the bathroom of a restaurant yet. If it did, I'd run out of there and never visit that restaurant again unless I wanted to die. Even if he didn't work at that restaurant, he has to touch the door knob or door handle to get out of there. Think about it and how many germs he could spread to make people die.
LOL I was beginning to think I was the only one that had issues with this type of behavior. I remember being in the lady's room years ago (when cell phones were much more expensive and fewer people had them) a woman in the stall next to me was peeing, she answered the phone!! I was STUNNED!!
Just like the men Ralph mentioned in his post, if some man called me while he was "taking a dump" I can tell you that that phone conversation would be extremely short as in "I can't believe you would call me while going to the bathroom", say good bye and to not call me again.
People only mention doorknobs, don't forget about the faucet handles. Some people just run their hands under water for a quick blast and that does NOTHING. I turn them on normally, but when it comes time to shut them off and they require twisting, I use my papertowel to shut the water off, then use the same papertowel to open the door if there is a knob. No papertowel? Then I use TP...maybe management will get the hint!
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Jay doll said 4:08PM on 7-16-2007
AOL is yanking the germaphobe chain today,
Just ask yourself this, how have we manged to have the phone for over 100 years without any discernable fatalitys?
Of course AOL would like you to go to one of its sponsors for your cleaning needs, they want you to run not walk to the Germicide aisle and buy buy buy ! In reality you should not avoid germs or you will never build up immunities when you need them and get sick all your adult life. Let your kids play in the dirt, it's good for them.
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payal said 4:00PM on 7-16-2007
Its true. About a year ago i broke out on one side of my face. My dermo told me that it was probably because of the germs phones carry. I began cleaning my phone weekly and guess what....problem solved.
Ive also done some research and am able to say...If public phones are touching your face then you maybe using it wrong, its also why you look at the reciever before you put it to your ear.
Money...you would be suprised how much dirt you would wash off your hands just after 30 mins of handling money. Thats would be why i dont eat or tounch my face if i handle money.
And door handles...we all know about
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Sarah said 4:01PM on 7-16-2007
I took microbiology when I went to nursing school and you would be "OCD" if you knew what I knew and saw what I saw! Don't let this cell phone article frighten you too much because, the cultures we took for experiments and colonie growth for bateria and culture studies would make you want to live in a bubble because, the entire surface of everything in this world is contaminated with some sort of viral or bacteria substance at all times. Just have good hygene, wash your hands, and drink plenty of weater to flush out any toxicities in your body and you should be just fine. Keep your immune system in good health and your body will be able to fight off most of the infectious micro organisms. Yes, cleaning you cell phone is a good idea! Cleanliness in all areas will keep you at a lower risk of just about any culprit from bacteria to allergins such as dust and dander,etc.
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K9 said 4:19PM on 7-16-2007
My cell phone does not give me a rash,but 411 like this sent to me sure does!
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toytobyhanna said 7:43PM on 7-16-2007
OMG dis is scary..now i think we all need to start carrying around a pack of those alcohol mini-pads whenever we use a/our fone?!?!?!
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Joe dollinter said 5:35PM on 7-16-2007
Maybe it's the chemicals they use to
manufacture some of these cheap cellular phones, it's not like the Feds inspect the ingrediants in these phones from China, they could be made out of anything.
Don't go out and buy a bunch of Germicides, thats what AOL's sponsors want you to do.
No, germs in the phone are not going to kill you.
Let your kids play in the dirt, it's good for them.
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Joe dollinter said 5:34PM on 7-16-2007
You germophobic neat freaks are sad but I guess
you are wired that way. My best friend was a germophobic neat freak and he always had something, finally a viral infection killed him.
I'm convinced that some city types unknowingly
lower their immunity to common bugs because they haven't been exposed to them. They keep themselves in a sterile environment and don't build up immunities to common bacterias when they are young. Enough said..JD
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diana11223344 said 4:30PM on 7-16-2007
Germophobic.....YES, I agree with Rose, if we aren't spending money on it, they come up with a way to get us scared into spending the $$$ on endless, needless things, and the worry it causes......no wonder our kids are a MESS!!!!!
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