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 2)
Ray said 5:19PM on 3-07-2008
Funny. American taxpayers are forced to shell out billions each year for foreign aid, a ill planned Iraq post war strategy that takes billions more out of our pockets, and pay for health care for illegals born here. Yet Americans are forced to deal with high gasoline, food, healthcare, and unemployement.When do we get to fix OUR problems? America first! I am sick of sending money to foreign countries who laugh at us and spit in our face. Build a fence along the mexican border, and anyone caught here illegally gets immediately taxed, penalized and sent to the back of the citizenship line, where they will have to wait 10 additional years. NO more foreign aid unyil the budget is balanced, the social security system is fixed, and the unemployment problem improves. American first.
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Share C. said 1:19AM on 3-12-2008
Forget immigrations be glad someone did good for a child we can't do that here! Bush is producing drop out factories here in America where 70% of students who started 9th grade didn't graduate hih school! We have 7 in Washington state!What happened to no child left behind! Think how many laptops Bush could buy to keep students up on technology for jobs when they graduate! More money goes to war and they say before we pull out troups that Country needs rebuilding and health care! We don't have health care in America and New Orleans is not even rebuilt another thing that happened on his watch! Who voted for him anyway? I agree we shouldn't have iileagal immirgrant when we can't take care of students we already have. But thank God someone does anything for any student in any Country regardless of what they already have. Not many do that here in America and they have a lot more money overall in our state!
Share C.
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Cec said 5:05PM on 3-17-2008
Wow! A MEXICAN successful businessman tries to do something charitable, as well as, socially and politically savvy for his country - which, by the way, is MEXICO, not the U.S.A., as a few commentators erroneously assumed - in order to attempt to improve conditions in his country and all some ignoramuses do is exploit the hot button topic of illegal immigration in the U.S.A. Sad, on so many levels, truly sad.
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M.Tulha said 6:28AM on 4-04-2008
Dear Sir,
Iam Muhammad Tulha from ASIA (PAKISTAN),Sir i have no any major comments i have only a little request or suggestion,Sir ihave passed my Bachelor in 2005 and i want to study at any Eurpeon country but my parents cannot afford my fee,so please can WORLDs Richest man Help me to pay my Tuition fee or can help mr to take any University admission,I very humbly request that only once pay my fee after coming i do any part time job and carrying my study and return all his amount so please have you any support for me,so dear sir where Worlds Richest Man Donated One Million Laptops to children there is not any difficulty to provide me such kind of help,that help which is very little for Him and for me its great Dream and can change my Dark life into Bright Future,so please i am waiting your kind and positive ans at this mail adress tulha387@yahoo.com
If sir you have not any support for me then please please can you tel me any other way or any other suggestion for this Thanks.
M.Tulha
From Pakistan
tulha387@yahoo.com
Mob: 0092 3024352966
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B. Taylor said 8:59AM on 6-06-2008
Dear Sir,
It is wonderful when someone in your position is able to help those in need. I am a single parent who is barely able to make ends meet every day. Any donation is greatly appreciated!
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Hamisi said 1:15PM on 10-10-2008
To speak the truth iam poor, i have 3 children if i get suport from you i will be glad, i come from kenya please help, cause with the situation i have iam jobles and idont want my children to on street to beg i want them to have good education but iam poor.
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aloksingh_akela said 2:55PM on 5-21-2009
sir iam a poor man i have a baby but iam unable to live good life and to give my baby good education i hve no home my earns poor amount of money .god has blessed u with money u r doing many good things kindly do on more good thing to help me to make me stable in my ife iknow here are many poor ppl like me in this world but if u help me and try to stable me i be able to help those who r poor then me. iknow sir some dollors willnot make your mony less but my prays will be always with u and to your family.kindly contact me plz sir
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sueplpn said 8:45PM on 6-17-2009
My son is on his way to college (was awarded a scholarship) now he needs a laptop (while he was looking up some on the internet ) he decided that the apple was what he wanted but they are really expensive . Would you please consider my child for this great gift. Thank you so much
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hernjlhrnndz said 4:18PM on 8-08-2007
I tilt my hat to him. Usually people with so much money are too busy trying to get more money instead of giving it away, But why give 1 million laptops away, when he can just donate money to charities that feed starving or homeless children we have in the States. There are so many causes that need attention, I just hope he picks one.
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Jeanne Wolf said 5:15PM on 8-03-2007
The world's richest man should do something for the 21 million illegal Mexicans in the USA.
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James said 6:03PM on 8-03-2007
I'm responding to this comment: Jeanne Wolf says:
The world's richest man should do something for the 21 million illegal Mexicans in the USA.
Yes he should. He should purchase (or rent) a fleet of busses to get the 21 million illegal Mexicans back to Mexico and out of our country. Maybe he could build some type of industry in Mexico that actually keeps the mexicans there working. That would keep them from taking American jobs while still not paying taxes.
Personally, I think there should be a 30 day period for you to prepare to be an american. If after 30 days you are still not a citizen, back you go. We should also offer citizenship via a lottery system that can only be applied for through US Embassies in your home country. The only way you get into the US without being a citicen is either work visa or vacation.
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Debbie O. said 6:10PM on 8-03-2007
Its great that this man is doing something great for the children in other countries, However...There is a real need HERE in the good old US of A, for the same thing. Maybe its time our wealthy people take a field trip to our inner cities and their schools. Laptops...great
teaching equipment that our kids could use is a much greater need. Keep some of the wealth here where its needed. I would love a laptop to go back to school with, but I can't even afford Health insurance or the medications I need on a daily basis. So please Mr. Stevens Help us out.
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Dickie said 6:33PM on 8-03-2007
this is in response to james. i have a comment WHAT! mexicans come over here and take all the jobs from americans thats just down right stupid they do the jobs that we lazy americans dont want like roofing,landscaping, and working the fruit fields if you dont believe me watch the movie "A day with out mexicans" than get back at me
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sheila smith said 7:09PM on 8-03-2007
This country originally belonged to the brown people, so I'm not sure what you mean by they should go home. I suppose everyone in America needs to go back home. This counrty was built on illegal immagration. So, what the hell are you talking about?
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countrybrenda said 11:05AM on 8-06-2007
Yes when came over on the mayflower we stole from the Indians, so yes American was built by illegals. But we have also became citizens.
We were all these are to be used for the children in Mexico Carlos Slim
MEXICO CITY -- Billionaire Carlos Slim says he doesn't care if he is the world's richest man and has promised to donate hundreds of thousands of laptop computers to Mexican children.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22185284-663,00.html
The Mexican telecoms mogul pledged yesterday to donate 250,000 low-cost laptops to children by the end of the year and as many as a million in 2008, saying digital education held the key for Mexico's poor.
So not why re-build Mexico. Maybe we there should be a movie a month without financial aide of any kind (since the government only pays once a month no government housing no free lunches, no free medical care) of kind to illegal immigrants
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tom said 8:30PM on 8-03-2007
It is certainly one thing to be the wealthiest man in a prosperous nation;quite another (and an embarrasment)to have gained your unmeasureable wealth on the broken backs of a disheartened populace.I would enjoy slapping this man's face.Pompous,self aggrandizing.Why not do something about the corruption in his country.Mexico has a reverse "trickle down theory" The "People" as a whole enjoy poverty. The Bible warns against an employer/nation who muzzles the mouth of the Ox that grinds the grain
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Loretta said 8:26PM on 8-03-2007
Where are these kids going to get the electricity to charge these laptops? It sounds like they're poor in the first place and mom and pop sure ain't gonna let them use any electricity for a laptop! LOL... this is particularly interesting that AMERICANS are even reporting on such a story. We need to focus on AMERICAN NEWS! We give way too much attention to Mexicans and Canadians and British and Iranians and oh....let's keep going... make a phone call to your "local" McLeod USA and you'll end up in India...for that fact, call any # on your charge card and ask for customer service... Phillipines, India, NOT USA!!! WE have a huge problem and I don't know where in the world it starts... but we need to PRAY that someone fixes it soon. I did get lost once in San Diego when I was there watching my son graduate the USMC and I couldn't get directions because they all spoke SPANISH!!! Scared me to death! NEVER AGAIN! LOL...
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kdclyde said 9:49PM on 8-03-2007
He should go to war with a mid Eastern country and have his young men and women killed.
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kdclyde said 9:49PM on 8-03-2007
He should go to war with a mid Eastern country and kill off the Mexican youth like Billionaire Bush and friends have.
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Mig said 2:19AM on 8-04-2007
With all these comments, we can clearly see the ignorance of some "American" people toward "foreigners". If you are well educated, you will notice that these "Americans" don't even know English well, but are very fast to judge someone else such as Spanish speaking people. You feel bad because you couldn't understand Spanish, learn the language if you feel that terrible about it. Open your mind and don't expect everyone to accomodate to your needs. Wake up "Americans"!!!!!
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