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.
Privacy advocates, prepare thy letter writing hands. A student at Timberline High School, outside Seattle, Washington, has recently been arrested for calling in repeated bomb threats. That, you should have no problem with.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
DonR said 1:07AM on 2-05-2008
So it's ok with some of you that if you call or email a lover or spouse and have a very personal conversation it's ok for the government to listen in. If so you not only have lost your sanity,you have also lost your freedom!
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OldJim said 8:57PM on 2-26-2008
Reference my comments last July about the Prattville, AL PD. I doubt if the Sgt. in charge there had anything to do with the hacking at my residence. I apologize to him.
I received over a span of time, many IMs with meaningless addresses. In flustration, I replied to two, only to be invited to "meet a girl" at a motel. When I asked the senders badge number, they disconnected. Who was it? I have no idea. I Googled the name at that time and no response was found. An imposter? Someone playing games? We can only guess BUT the fact remains, someone had targeted me for some unknown reason. It is time for Congress to put some guts in getting rid of spam and unsolicited perverted Internet individuals and companies.
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JimAnderson said 10:47PM on 2-27-2008
Test
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Jennifer said 2:05PM on 7-23-2007
I say go for it.
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Daniel S. Mawn said 2:14PM on 7-23-2007
This doesn't bother me at all, in fact it's about time this info got out. To many times I'm apalled at what is sent over AOL's "post your thoughts". These sick people out there need to know that they aren't really hiding behind their fake identities. that sooner or later someone will come knocking at their door! But to all those who fear "Big Brother" is watching....if you've done nothing wrong then you have no fear!
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Harold C said 12:47PM on 7-24-2007
Let me see if I have this right: one sends comments,etc. on the internet for the whole universe to see,and now they're complaining about 'privacy?? Duh,duh. Plese,give me a break. No wonder those padded cells are empty-they're all on the internet.
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Penny said 2:43PM on 7-23-2007
I agree..I think if it's a way to stop people from terrorizing, abusing or doing any kind of crime, I believe our Federal Goverment should have access to any information to proceed to stop the person/persons..However, I don't feel as if this should be done at State level and our local police dept. is given access to one's privacy..
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Gail said 2:41PM on 7-23-2007
GREAT!!!
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Common-Sense Prevails said 2:45PM on 7-23-2007
DANIEL MAWN - I totally agree...couldn't have said it better myself!
To all those who claim that big brother thrives on public fear: Not all of us shutter at the thought of someone checking what they're doing. What marginal behavior of yours are you afraid they'll detect?
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Jason said 2:51PM on 7-23-2007
Yeah...say hello to Big Brother.
You people and your willingness to surrender your freedoms is disgusting.
Yes THIS KID needed to be caught.
But what about some time in the not so distant future you're talking to someone about the time you tried pot in college but didn't like it. Guess what? It's an admission to a crime that law enforcement has access to and now you can go to jail because you willingly applauded letting go of your freedoms.
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Traz said 8:10PM on 7-23-2007
I see nothing wrong with doing what the FBI did. They did NOT target some innocent person randomly, they targeted someone who threatened to bomb a school. In my opinion, the kid who made the threat was a complete idiot.
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Michael said 2:53PM on 7-23-2007
Absolutely I agree that people should be held accountable for their actions both on- and offline. However there should be a system of checks and balances such as exist everywhere else (i.e. search and seizure warrants). As near as I can tell from this article there WAS probable cause but no real procedure applied here. As far as Big Brother...he is watching. I've nothing to hide, however I like my privacy very much. I refuse to bow to the moral or any other majority as far as my privacy is concerned and having something to hide or not is irrelevant. So no I won't be polishing my jack boots and marching down the street yelling "For the greater good" and "Resistance is futile" at the top of my poor ignorant lungs. Wait this just in....Patriot act: 1 Constituion: 0. I suppose there is no privacy anymore. Look it up. I'll be waiting for the men in the black ops gear to bust in to arrest me and my family for exersizing my rights that used to exist. RIP
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Tigermoon638 said 2:54PM on 7-23-2007
Does this mean that hacking is now legal?
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keith said 3:03PM on 7-23-2007
to all you minions who are ready to give up all your privacy to our govt.
I'm sick of the old saying" if you aren't doing anything wrong, there's nothing to worry about"
That's BS. What you are doing you may think it's not wrong, but others have different ideas about it. One of these days, they'll show up at your front door or your job. Then remember, you asked for it. Naive dumb-asses.
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wahoo said 3:12PM on 7-23-2007
yea that means hacking in legal now
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dal33t1313 said 3:28PM on 7-23-2007
Don't be stupid!!
Viruses don't solve a thing!!!
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lnnstr9 said 3:30PM on 7-23-2007
As in 1930s Germany, If you're not Jewish,Gypsy,Gay,Jehovah Witness or any number of different folks then you have nothing to worry about. {Remember the frog in the pan}
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geoff said 3:40PM on 7-23-2007
If you have nothing to hide there is nothing to worry about.
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grif8013 said 3:39PM on 7-23-2007
The FBI was able to install this program without a suspect or wiretap warrant because "under a ruling this month by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ... Internet users have no 'reasonable expectation of privacy' in the data when using the Internet
Thats a scarry ruling if you ask me...Yeah its great they were able to catch this kid...but think about this each and every time you use the internet to pay a bill or search for something. If the government is able to create this type of softeare and tap into your privacy at any time and for any reason it's definately contradicting what the constitution stands for and we are left without any privacy. Warrantless search and seizure is prohibited by the contitution. We the people are provided this in the 4th amendment people. In todays world so much of the internet focuses on strictly telling customers or consumers that the data is exactly that "PRIVATE" What about that? Or the other false advertising that goes on or anything else...
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Donn said 3:41PM on 7-23-2007
Just to head off the trolls. The FBI got a warrant from a federal judge to use this, just like if they wanted a search warrant.
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