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 1)
Kelly said 5:17PM on 2-01-2008
I am an auto insurance agent and I am appauled at what I see every day with regards to texting, or talking on cell phones and weaving in traffic, especially at rush hour. Then the accidents happen and claims are enormous and yet still no laws against this?? VA is working on one that makes it a primary (not secondary) offense if a youthful driver does this; but why not adults? It is truely amazing and beyond comprehension. Just STOP doing this people and your insurance rates will drop - I promise!
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BlueEyes30101 said 3:14PM on 2-24-2008
What happened to the law that both hands were to be on the steering wheel while driving? Back in the day, hands were to be at 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock positions. People started eating while driving, make up being applied, reading the newspaper, combing hair, etc. Now, using cell phones and laptops while driving down the road. It's not just cell phones!!! ALL STATES should go back to the day when it was the law to have BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL!!!
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jsmithsumrall said 10:37AM on 3-21-2008
Teens on a cell phone while driving an SUV represent the two most dangerous situations we have on american roads. They can't drive to begin with and then they distract themselves even further with the stupid phone. All idiots!
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Mario Smith said 1:55PM on 4-01-2008
It's at times like these that we see the worth of politicians.
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S Wood said 10:15AM on 7-23-2007
Teens or adults - people on cells are dangerous, selfish and too full of themselves to think they can drive with their attention diverted.
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MalloryCA said 11:06AM on 7-23-2007
TEXTing while driving is a willful deliberate deadly act, not an accident, which has killed innocent people. It is a distraction from the attention the driver should be paying to the road and his/her environment. A car is a deadly machine, to be taken very seriously, and drivers put other peoples lives at risk for their self-indulgent behaviour. DO NOT USE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVINVG. Pull over to the side of the road and text away all you want.
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Sal said 11:26AM on 7-23-2007
In Miami I see people text -chat on cell phone while speeding and weaving in and out of traffic in their SUV .
Ofcourse its Miami and imagine the Mayor doesnt care since for 2 consecutive yrs they "won" the worse drivers "award" under this Mayors reign .
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Sandra said 11:41AM on 7-23-2007
The fine for texting or talking on cell phone while driving should be insanely high PLUS ADD community service .
I dont care if people want to kill themselves but dont put safe drivers in danger with their selfish attitude .
Highway over passes and streets should have cameras with telescope lens to catch them a MONSTER of a fine will help pay for this right away .
Place them in different spots every few months . Like someone said "Lets not turn America into Miami as far as dangerous driving goes"
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Kyle said 2:51PM on 7-23-2007
Well nobody can stand to do only one SAFE thing at a time. they have to Multi-task and make it extremely dangerous.
Just the other day I saw someone surfing the internet on their Laptop...While driving their Dodge down the Road at 40 MPH, This was a big truck. And just going 10 MPH and hitting someone Could kill the innocent person going to work.
I say Ignorance and Stupidity is right for imprisonment, especially when endangering the lives of others around you.
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Ohboymilost said 6:36AM on 7-25-2007
I still say the cell phone companies should be held partialy responsible for this happening.
Cell phones are an annoying invention!
Drivers killing people because of cell phone use, very sad.
Privacy is also being invaded. Look at all the photos that are being taken without people even knowing.
I myself hate cell phones. I feel that MOST people that use them seem to be so self absorbed and reckless. They seem to have no care for what is going on around them.
DETACHED FROM REALITY AND COMMENSENSE!
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Charles said 6:08PM on 7-23-2007
If you think cell phone antics are out of control, just wait for what is going to happen when mobile TV becomes the next big craze.
--- CHAS
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shara from atlanta>paris needs more than 23 days!! said 10:25AM on 7-24-2007
she killed a woman !!because of her driving negligence she took awy some ones mom ,grandmother,wife ! she should be getting more time then these kids and adults will see what happens look at the 5 newly graduates that just got killed from texting ! god can't texting wait till ya get pulled over and can pay attention instead of trying to drive and take someone's life !!!!!!!she will now see that life doenst have to be so fast she will have plenty of time to now WRITE OLD FASHIONED LETTERS TO HER FRIENDS.....!!!
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C williams said 8:56AM on 7-24-2007
I ran across this new highway safety program that caught my attention. the site is www.fivestarcommitment.com every driver needs to check it out.
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RealityCheck said 3:27AM on 7-28-2007
WHY is everyone blaming the cell phones? Why should cell phone companies be held partially responsible, as Ohboymilost believes? Do you know how many bimbos have caused major accidents while putting on makeup in the rearview mirror before cellphones were ever invented? What about the idiots reading a paper and drinking coffee, or eating a Big Mac and swerving alll over the place, while driving to work? Yes, I've seen it all... Let's get real - cell phones are NOT the problem - it's the idiots that misuse them while driving. That's like saying fire is bad because it has burned down buildings. These people themselves should be held responsible for being oblivious while driving, no matter what they have in hand to distract them. What we need is a more general law to penalize the stupid and the careless ones that put everyone else in danger.
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wolfMom said 10:33AM on 7-28-2007
Isn't there already a general law to penalize
distracted, no-matter-what-the-cause driving?
Driving to endanger? People are responsible for
their actions! Like seat belts, though, it will become necessary to make it illegal to text message, etc. Already too many people fail to exercise common sense. Don't blame the cell phones. Their existance often saves lives on the roadways for non-cell use related incidents.
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Britt said 2:32PM on 11-20-2007
Yes I think talking on the phone, texting, changing cd's, and many other things take our attention off the road and onto what we are doing while driving. But seriously, if you want to issue tickets to make people more aware of the road and not allow themselves to be distracted, why don't you make a law that covers all distractions that could put lives in jeopardy, not just texting. Just a thought.
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murrdog said 7:15PM on 11-25-2007
ban all cell phones while driving
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