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)
BlueStar20Amy said 2:21PM on 7-17-2007
of course victoria's secret ads are too racy fools, obviously the only people voting are lesbians and guys.
ive seen more skin in a porno than a typical american ad, you guys are sick here, sick
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Katzy said 2:28PM on 7-17-2007
Ok, what the hell is this? It's underwear! It's not the actual clothing that make people uncomfortable, it's its use. I'm so sick of people whinning & complaining about stupid things, out of ALL the things you could post about, you picked 'underwear ads'? This is most certainly not one of your best stories.
& when you use a word like 'sleazy' it makes you look like a biased a$$hole.
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perry gaffney said 2:43PM on 7-17-2007
Look the Men are prbably gay and the women dykes lol
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Kay Kay said 2:40PM on 7-17-2007
Only thing racy about the Gingh Gonch ad is that the guy stading on the fence has a flat butt. Where's the bubble butt as in other ads they have.
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john said 7:11PM on 7-17-2007
They aren't even wearing thongs. It covers there whole bottom. OMG WHO MADE THIS COLUMN?!!?!
whoever made this column is so stupid, of course 18 and over sites and magazines and lingire companies are going to be a LITTLE bit racy. BArely racy. WHAT KIND OF SUPER IDIOT THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE TOO RACY . AND ALSO, AS long as there's no nudity, why is it racy at all!?!!? Just look at the polls. Whoever started this column should quit life.
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Nanniedot said 3:14PM on 7-17-2007
Victorias Secret are no more than soft porn. They should be taken off of the public air and put in the back room with all of the other sicko pornography.
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David Talazs said 3:53PM on 7-17-2007
It's the human body, there's nothing wrong with it. People see just as much at the beach. This country is so backwards compared to others. The good Lord gave us these bodies, fat, skinny, in shape and not. We need to get over the shock of seeing someone nude, or wearing underwear...lol
Nothing different between underwear and a bikini, or a speedo, which I wouldn't wear, but to each his/her own.
Personally I hate all commercials, but I'm not going to complain about content, especially when it come to the human body.
Dave
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Marty said 3:53PM on 7-17-2007
The parents complaining about racy ads are the same ones that were banging away in a van in the 60's and 70's.
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dan said 4:06PM on 7-17-2007
compared to other countries, these ads are mild as compared to european ads.
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dennis said 4:05PM on 7-17-2007
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS ITS HOT AND SEX SELLS SO STOP HATTING THE TRUTH
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jdv said 4:10PM on 7-17-2007
i wouldn't say the ads are too "racy" or whatever that's supposed to mean. they don't do anything for me one way or the other (and i'm a streight guy). but then, some of these complainers seem to know more about porn than i do.
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wildbill said 4:19PM on 7-17-2007
Somehow I doubt that commenting on the subjective is worth while. Morality is morality and nothing more. It's sort of like the missionary that goes into a primitive tribal society and finds the women bare-breasted. It did not bother them, but it bothered us. Japanese families bathed together, quite nude, as you would if you are taking a bath. Simply a matter of what society you live in. Here, we preach a victorian style, but names in the madams book keep appearing. Funny, the names that appear frequently belong to those that advocate these tight beliefs. I choose not to worry too much about underware ads undermining our society. Humans are humans and this has been going on since biblical times and the bible says so. Amen.
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COOL HAND said 4:34PM on 7-17-2007
Life it's self is a beautiful thing lay back enjoy it COMPLAINER'S YOUR SO SIMPLE MINDED EVEN A CAVE MAN COULD DO YOU
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jay said 4:54PM on 7-17-2007
You can tell some people here are either ashamed of there looks or from a red state!
loosen up people god is not going to strike you down for looking at a half dressed or nude model...
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Fred Phillips said 5:07PM on 7-17-2007
Puritanical culture vs.the Sexual Revolution.Would the ads be any more offensive if the Supreme court made a law banning them?People can always switch chanels if they offend.Whether the models are gay or lesbian or not seems kind of sexist..people just making a living. Lighten up, OK?
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khristina said 4:57PM on 7-17-2007
well i think the ads are a lil overboard,even though victoria secret is a lingerie store and what not, they still should advertise in a more covered up. make the person want the underwear, not be discouraged by the anorexic model wearing them. also kids watch t.v and i know i dont want my lil bro watching commercials like this
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Jess said 5:02PM on 7-17-2007
Everyond who says, "sex sells" or "get over it, it's a free country" says so because they enjoy such ads. they might as well buy these products because sex sells.
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Pisces01 said 5:25PM on 7-17-2007
I have no problem with partial nudity or even full nudity in advertising. I just wish advertisers would follow Dove's lead and show people who are less than perfect. The human body is a thing of beauty.
Also, we all enjoy a good dirty thought from time to time. Just admit it and stop giving yourself a guilt trip, then force others to join you.
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Ge said 5:45PM on 7-17-2007
BlueStarAmy...........don't know what she is talking about.......creative art form, body , skin? do u need a dictionary? Oh please, nudity goes back during the Roman timesm this is nothing, using it in an art form It is fine, but for all the wrong reasons then it is ugly.
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punk4ever said 6:26PM on 7-17-2007
It's not the clothing that makes these ads too racy. It is the outright sexual nature of some of the facial expressions, motions and poses. Of course, its not bad to show the body in any amount of coverage - even totaly nude - the human body is beautiful in all forms; it is simply that most people would agree they wouldn't have people walking around their house in front of their children in these provocative ways. Freedom of speech is paramount but there should be some respect for the overall decency of what is available for children and adolecents to watch on T.V., see in mags and on billboards. Like it or not everyone is influenced to some degree by what they see and children are most suceptible. Responsible adults do make up part of public opinion.
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