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.
Our friends at Engadget are giving away a "super-rare signed 300-Edition Xbox 360 Elite and 300 HD DVD." In other words, they're giving away one of those really nice, black Xbox 360s with the bigger hard drive and HDMI ports. What's more, the console is signed by 300-director Frank Miller atop a nice blood-red graphic. Only 20 of these were made, so get to it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Wes said 11:24PM on 7-08-2009
my fav parts were this is SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the ending! :)
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Debbie said 5:42PM on 8-01-2007
i have 2 favs really. The first is when his wife is in front of the senate, she actually handled that well, kudos for the women! secondly would b when they said they would fight in the shade. I laughed my butt off! thanks for the thrill and the movie!
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steven villicana said 5:58PM on 8-01-2007
my favorite part is the ending because you do not expect them to get killed at the end after kicking everyone elses ass
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Ronin said 6:05PM on 8-01-2007
That missed spear throw was the killer for me - all that work... so close! so close!
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Pen said 6:11PM on 8-01-2007
My favourite part was when they were walking on the fallen enemy and killing them while they talked and joked of mundane things like health, lol
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Ryan said 6:24PM on 8-01-2007
The best of the movie is when they meet the immortals and the wall of bodies gets pushed over onto them and proves that they are mortal after all
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Eli said 6:37PM on 8-01-2007
The final battle was awesome. King Leonidas' death was really cool. I can't wait to watch it on DVD. The battle was awesome. I liked how he died and how they made it a graphic bloody action film into a dramatic history lesson.
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Hilmi said 6:39PM on 8-01-2007
my favorite part.. "This is SPARTA!!"
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Janice Tayloe said 8:24PM on 8-06-2007
If you've killed too much, chances are you are going to get killed. Talking about health, killing people and then getting killed. What a way to go. Karma, baby, karma! I liked it all. Can't pick one part. Makes no sense to do that, it just "kills" the entire thing if you put a vice on one particle reel. Thing is, you either learned that what goes around comes around even when you think you are on top, or it goes to show you that you have to be smart to stay ahead of the rest. Either way, it was all good!!
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serpx said 6:43PM on 8-01-2007
My favorite part of the movie? How about THE ENTIRE MOVIE?
Nothing is more epic. What a beautiful 360, and what a beautiful movie.
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igiggle079 said 6:57PM on 8-01-2007
I really did not expect to enjoy this film, I went with my boyfriend. I was quickly proven wrong. I was stunned by the excitement, and how well done it was. I loved everything but if I had to chose a favorite scene it would be the ending it was so unexpected and thought provoking. Well done!
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Lisa said 7:08PM on 8-01-2007
The sex and nude scenes are so hot, sexy and passionate. AH! wonderful bods MAKE LOVE NOT WAR!!!(oh well there were both, what the heck it's a great moive)
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david mueller said 7:06PM on 8-01-2007
My favorite part of 300 is in the begining. King leonidis throws the messenger that insulted him into the pit. This is a great scene becouse it shows the kings true charector. Nobody will offend him or his country. Especially in front of his wife. Memorable scene that eventually leads to all out war.
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Kanbo said 7:23PM on 8-01-2007
The kick scene, definitely. Oh man, the kick scene. The entire dialogue there does a great job of setting up the rest of the movie. The sassy, yet serious words of Leonidas as he speaks to the Persian messenger are truly worthy of a king. "You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city's steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death!" The ferocity of the King is well representative of the entire Spartan army. His strong, hard hitting words fly in the direction of the Persian man. Leonidas stares him down, delivering a glare that could only be matched by Death himself. "Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same." Frightened, the Persian babbles, "This is blasphemy! This is madness!" Leonidas looks at him inquisitively. "Madness?" He quickly changes to the raging lion, as he proclaims "THIS! IS! SPARTA!" and sending the messenger into a deep pit with a powerful, yet elegant kick to the chest.
Just like a Spartan should.
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Chris Santangelo said 2:23PM on 8-02-2007
This is an amazing movie. Just got the special edition. I like the beginning with the wolf as it shows the stability and builds the characteristics of a spartans life. But the most exciting part is the slow to fast and vice versa fight scenes. The focus on key fighting stances was awesome. Rockin movie, amazing graphic novel.
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felix flores said 7:23PM on 8-21-2007
My favorite scene from the movie is invasion day 1 As bold leonidas with his handful of spartan warriors look on at the living mass that is the evil king xerxes horde Leonidas calls out to his men "this is where we fight, this is where they die" we then see the greeks feared war machine the "phalanx" and that 1st explosive push off when the spartans charge into the living monster that is xerxes army. leonidas calls out "give them nothing but take from them evrything" and you can see the look of grim determination on the faces of his men . after watching this i realize the true price of freedom is blood. iT was true then as it is true today. "Today No Spartan Dies" This movie is my new favorite for many years to come
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Kaisu said 8:12PM on 8-01-2007
The death of Leonidas. Beautiful and moving, the demise of one of the greatest military Kings ever teaches each viewer the true meaning of devotion and loyalty to one's ideals. He sacrificed himself and his greatest of allies to bring hope to his people and to strike fear into those who would wish to destroy all that he has made into his Free Kingdom. He not only proved that even a God-king can bleed, but he also showed the world that a King who is willing to bleed his people will be axalted as a God for centuries to come.
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Ian Carter said 1:30PM on 8-02-2007
To be completely honest, the whole film was an amazing ride.
However, I the seen with the wall built of bodies and the Persians' incredulity was hilarious.
Also the see where Leonidas is mocking Xerxes by telling him his legs are stiff, and all of the battle scenes were awesome.
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colin said 9:32PM on 8-01-2007
I'm a Marine currently stationed in California. Spartans and Marines are very similar in the fact that every Marine is a rifleman. No matter what his job is, any Marine may be called to fight as infantry. My favorite scene is when the spartans leave sparta and meet the athenians and are challenged about their numbers. Leonidas comes to the conclusion that he has brought more warriors anyway.
Hell, their war chant "Haroo!" is just Oorah backwards.
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Jenn said 10:29AM on 8-03-2007
When 300 fight 1000 me my friends were like WOW!!!!!! THAT WAS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!
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