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 3 of 4)
Daryn said 4:02PM on 7-18-2007
Makes sense maybe thats how I got my ear infection!!
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JonJon said 4:18PM on 7-18-2007
"Live Dirty...Live Long"
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JonJon said 4:20PM on 7-18-2007
"Live Dirty...Live Long"
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Linda said 4:22PM on 7-18-2007
MRSA, for the lady who asked, is a resistant strain of staph. I forget exactly what the "M" stands for, but the "RSA" is "resistant Staphlococcus aureus. "M" probably stands for the usual medication used to fight it.
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Marty said 4:27PM on 7-18-2007
So, what's new? This has been a problem with shared phones since Dom Ameche invented them.
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Tim said 4:44PM on 7-18-2007
I've seen alot of people that don't wash there hands after using the bathroom even in a hospital thats full of germs ect., I think everyone has missed the bus on this one. The US is full of people from other countries that hygene is on a different scale, the main problem is that the farm workers" illegals" just P or POOP in the fields thats how the e-coli problem got in the food chain and will only get worse if the chicken ass President on down don't fix the problem about all the "ILLEGALS" in this country. They work here but send their money back across the border hurting our ECONOMY.
WAKE THE HELL UP AMERICA
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Eric said 5:00PM on 7-18-2007
Urban-Amish!
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chick said 5:13PM on 7-18-2007
Kinda makes you wonder, perhaps the "rashes" are not from cellphone filth, as much as from the sweat on the area of contact, since many people are on their phones far too much these days!
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James Beal said 5:25PM on 7-18-2007
Interesting voter results of 6% rash, considering the research in Sweden, Canada and Germany that a general survey estimated that 3% of the population of highly industrialized countries (cell phones, computers, power lines) are electrically hypersensitive (primarily women)....and rashes common, especially with excessive use of computers (also often tied into sleep problems, chronic fatigue, and hypothyroid symptoms. Workman's compensation in Sweden for this problem, due to long term exposure to strong electromagnetic and microwave fields, along with chronic fatigue, sleep problems, and lots of other symptoms which clear up when away from electronic/microwave devices.
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Stephie said 5:37PM on 7-18-2007
Wow that's really disgusting. But you think that they could tell us how to disinfect the phone properly? Or how often?
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Danielle said 5:40PM on 7-18-2007
Cell phones are way too exposed everywhere. The fact that guys talk in the bathroom on their cell phone while going to the bathroom, is disgusting, let alone that they don't wash their hands and take the cell phone to their face, and hands, etc...start using those flourescent lights on people who walk out of a restroom, to show the germs, Cell phones should have manners sold with them, and I think most people put their cell phone above a real live person in front of them, and it's totally rude. I wait on customers all the time, who dont' even acknowledge me cuz their busy talking on their cell phone. People should realize they can wait for a stupid phone call. Very seldom is it so important you can't hang up, talk like a normal person everywhere to the people in front of you, bank, grocery story, restarants, etc... People need a revival on manners, it's ridiculous.
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Lynn said 5:43PM on 7-18-2007
USING the ear phone has caused me to get an awful rash INSIDE of my ear! I wiped the earpiece with alcohol but, I think because I leave it in the car, the rash reoccurs. It is extremely painful and I have no other choice but to use it when I'm driving!
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dozer said 6:03PM on 7-18-2007
I seem to have misplaced my phone.
FAT JAY, would you mind taking a look?
Also, my eight foot ladder has gone missing.
FAT JAY?
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Mad Bunny said 6:14PM on 7-18-2007
If you rub anything against your cheek long enough, it will probably cause an irritation. Maybe people are just using their cell phones too much...
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Helen said 6:31PM on 7-18-2007
MRSA is "Methecillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus". Atruly tough one to get...and it spreads like wildfire if ignored. Prevalentin close quarters like hospital rooms, nursing homes, boarding schools, etc.
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Anne said 6:47PM on 7-18-2007
Yeah, if I use my phone too much without the headset, I get a rash on my ear and cheek. It's not so much fun, especially in hot weather.
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Tammy Ashley said 7:14PM on 7-18-2007
Although I don't own a cell phone and don't intend to if I can help it and think that every state should have a law banning the use of them while driving I can see how they could be germ carriers especially if you have touched money, door handles, escalators, menus in restaurants, or the condiment bottles and salt and pepper shakers and then touch your phone and use it. Yuck. Some people do not wash their hands after using a restroom anywhere and thats where the whole germ thing starts. Pesky little things that they are. I never had a problem with germs unti I started watching shows like 20/20 and then my eyes were opened and it changed my take on this kind of stuff forever.
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cilla said 9:41PM on 8-06-2008
All phones carry germs,so be carefull and disinfect at all times
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Dave said 11:18PM on 7-18-2007
i am Fat Jays ass. i am like a black hole in space, only larger and more powerful. my gravitational pull is so strong, that even light cannot escape me.
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bill mattingly said 7:47AM on 7-20-2007
LOOK FOR A PREVENITIVE MEDICINE TO COME OUT ON THE MARKET FOR THIS SO CALLED RASH. THE MEDICAL PROFFESSION WILL COME UP WITH ANYTHING TO MAKE MORE MONEY.
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