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)
OwN said 2:40PM on 3-14-2008
Try to put a chip in my body, and I will shoot you in the face.
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Lloyd Reich said 11:48PM on 3-24-2008
Chips to be implanted in the bodies of our soldiers? What a capital idea! Has anyone figured out that the enemy might just be able to track our troops as well, thereby making our entire army a collection of sitting ducks?
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I often have my doubts about the former." - Albert Einstein
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charles__cureton said 10:43PM on 3-28-2008
Can this country stoop any lower? Under the
cloak of security, safety, and other b---s---,
we are becoming no better that the countries Bush condemns for their actions against it's
citizens. And to use this on the military like
they are guinea pigs. When will this control
of people stop?
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alwazaswethart said 7:09PM on 4-02-2008
I find that this is down right wrong. Who has the right to take our privacy n freedom away specially the ones that are fighting for it? We can't even walk down the street without someone watching via camera...we might as well all live in Glasses houses
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Crazy-Times-Ahead said 12:00AM on 10-03-2008
Hmm... Interesting post... I find it interesting because there are a lot of religious posts here... Yet, not to many of you are replying to them.
I see a few posts talking about how great this will be...
You'll never lose your kid, never be kid napped, never get lost!
You'll also never get robbed either!
I realize that this is only for soldiers, but give it a few more years and it will replace cash. Instead of swipping the check card, you'll be swipping your hand.
So is this in the bible or now? The answer is yes, it is in the book of Revelation. This is when John had dreams and visions about the end of the world. If you'd like to read the scriptures online you can check them out here.
http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=mark+of+the+beast
But then again, we could just be crazy wacky Christians... Think what you want... but when they tell you you have to get a chip put in your right hand or forehead, then remember the scriptures listed about.
Cheers..
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LEON said 4:47PM on 1-31-2009
.. a justification here .. another there .. since the days of the original Caeser and his census .. the objective is man's ' control' of mankind.
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Eagle said 1:02PM on 7-31-2007
Excellant idea of a chip in each military member. Not only will it provide health info, but location of each. Just think if some one is taken as prisoner of war , or better yet gone AWOL.
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Ben Roman said 11:31PM on 8-17-2009
Yeah, and if the enemy figures out how to scan, or hack the information just think of the possibilities! An external, harnessed, lightweight, and tiny apparatus connected by probes/clips for monitoring and gps during battle seems good enough.
I have a feeling it's more like the author had started to imply. It's another step closer to putting chips into everyone so they literally can "control and monitor" our lives. Think of it this way. It may still seem far-fetched to some of you. But as time continues on the military will flaunt the succeses of recovering soldiers in battle, or alerting people to medical conditions that are potentially life altering before they even know about it, thus possibly saving their life. On the other side you've got the very real "what if" happening just a few weeks ago with a patent being denied for a microchip sensor with an attached vial of poison... handy if someone deviates from where you want them to go. Beep. Dead.
We are living in a police state here in America, ask the rest of the world and they'll agree. We need to open our eyes.
On Friday I was at a sports restraunt/club where a band was playing. They had hired a professional photographer. As the night wore on I noticed the photographer was no longer taking photos of the band but was lurking off to the side taking photos of women dancing. He started concentrating on the girls who were obviously the most annebriated. He started to get bold when the dancefloor was packed. I wasn't drinking as it was an event for my wife and her friends and I sat and watched this guy start creeping, kneeling and sneeking in on women taking photos of individual "parts" of women. I confronted him as he began to turn his attention to my wife's group because I was SURE they had not asked for pictures and sure didn't know they were being photographed. He told me he was hired by the band and could take all the pictures he wanted. I told him to give me a card... he then flipped on the view screen of his professional camera and started flipping through the pictures he must have gone through 30 pics as fast as he could and they were all of women there at the club (nobody was looking at the camera, if you know what I mean) I demanded a business card... he fumbled around pulled out a stack of cards, they said "EROTIC PHOTOGRAPHY". I told him there was no warning or waiver at the door stating photographs would be used for promotional purposes and were were'nt on private property. The Restaraunt took no action against the guy that night, just said they'd watch him. His girlfriend came up to me later and stated she's repeatedly warned him he was gonna get in trouble some day for doing that, and that it creeps her out too.
My point, this big brother stuff- there's got to be a limit or horrible human and personal rights abuses will abound.
Matthew Kracher said 1:28PM on 7-31-2007
I bet I already have one in me. LOL no joke.
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PurpleAngel said 5:18PM on 7-31-2007
Just like On Star, this chip would be a great thing to use IF it is used for the good, and not so our government can control, and keep track of it's citizens. I do not trust, nor have any faith in our government after all the research I have done, and the fact that they are run by the Secrecy Society, and the State of Israel makes it even worse. With these chips, and On Star, eventually we will be even more of just a number than we already are, instead of human beings. Be careful as they can make this sound so good, yet it can be used in such a bad way to take even more of our rights away, and privacy.
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Matthew Kracher said 1:27PM on 7-31-2007
I think that this is wrong in every single way possible. How would you like to be a prisoner of war with sensative intel and your government has a little button that instantly kills you. That is what it is coming to. Yea they want to monitor your vitals to make sure your dead. And who really cares if someone goes AWOL what kinda warrior is going to do that in the first place not one I want fighting next to me.
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AVGJOE said 2:09PM on 7-31-2007
It is a great idea, just think about it, your number could be 666. The comment about prisoners of war, if captured, why carry the prisoner around to disclose your position--it would make better sense to kill the prisoner.
Citibank had this several years ago and it did not go over very well. What happens when you go bankrupt, do they repocess your arm???????
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Cabal said 2:27PM on 7-31-2007
"He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been good or bad so kill those insurrgents right away,...."
Wonder what Bush's would've shown? Oh, yeah - forgot ~~ NOTHING. But I bet those "vitals" were humming right along.
What would they see on the monitor if you were sleeping, woke up and decided to have a go at it with Rosie Palm and her five fabulous friends?
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merle howard said 3:21PM on 7-31-2007
If you belive in the bible, then you already know about the "mark of the beast" you won't be able to buy or sell with out the chip, it's already being forced on our pets, we are next, I will die before I allow any one to place a chip in my body--
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Marina said 2:18PM on 2-02-2009
We are living in the end days-and yes, the bible does say many things about the 666 chip. We won't be able to buy or sell without the chip. I would rather die than take this chip. Let's get right with the Lord for our salvation EVERYONE!
martine said 3:43PM on 7-31-2007
THE END IS NEAR - READ YOUR BIBLE TO FIND OUT MORE!
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Al said 4:55PM on 7-31-2007
Just think, no more hefty VA payouts for old vets. When they've lived the government-regulated number of years after discharge, they push a button and the old soldier has a heart attack. Very convenient. And nothing to show for it in a regular autopsy. This is your future in fascism, American; it will kill you and your children if you let it.
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wlvs75 said 5:29PM on 7-31-2007
I agree both ways but what happens when the enemy can track our troops just like our government? I think there are better ways out there than trying to turn us into a machine they can monitor 24/7
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kelly said 5:40PM on 7-31-2007
Is anyone REALLY surprised? Is America the first to use these? Probably not. My son is 6, I'll never let him join the military,because of what it has become. I have nothing against a good war, if it is for the right reasons. I haven't seen one yet. If my son wants to defend his country,he can do it here when there is a civil war. I had rather die and he die than to take the mark. LIFE IS ONLY TEMPORARY,FOLKS. I had rather suffer and die for GOD than to live in evil for man. I know God will take care of us, so go ahead Big Brother, do your worst!!!
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R. W. Morgan said 5:53PM on 7-31-2007
This is a great idea - being a vet and knowing what's it's like to be lost behind lines - BUT with one caveat. That chip must be voluntary and also retractable when discharged at that person's request.
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