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)
ronald rianharet said 8:10PM on 3-03-2008
Wow ! Stem cell research finally is going to come about even if through the "BACK" DOOR". Medicine 5 years from now will be saying why did we wait so long ! Go, GO, GO, with Gods speed !
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Susane said 4:21AM on 1-12-2009
I heard lot about Zoft Gum, as they are good for the natural breast enhancement. I want to know more about Zoft Gum. If some one knows more about Zoft Gum please help me.
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elizabeth said 1:18AM on 8-16-2009
thats cool and yet probably gonna cause a little bit of controversy.but if its cells coming from your own body then where is the downside..besides the obvious surgery
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F. McCorkle said 2:34PM on 8-06-2007
Oh yeah, this will really get those right wing shove-my-religion-down-your-throat to vote for stem cell research. Stupid, stupid, stupid...Are these doctors men? I used to be flat when I was 96 lbs & not healthy! Geez!
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Lorrie said 5:32PM on 8-06-2007
I'm not sure!! First I'd like to see it being used to either save lives or cure deseases. Breast enhancement isn't high on my list! I'm to old to consider any kind of Breast enhancement either way!
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SocietalShrapnel said 3:11PM on 8-06-2007
Doctors should work towards helping Humanity not Vanity
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bod1900 said 4:43PM on 8-06-2007
Just a little heads up as to what this product was originally designed for....
Adipose tissue, also known as fat tissue, is one of the most recently discovered sources of adult stem cells. In addition to stem cells, there lies within adipose tissue a defined population of cell types that are also major contributors to healing, referred to as 'regenerative cells.' Together, these stem and regenerative cells represent tremendous opportunities for treating cardiovascular disease, spine and orthopedic disorders, vascular conditions, reconstructive surgery as well as a variety of other areas of medicine.
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steve woolf said 10:09AM on 12-26-2007
Ms. F McCorkle says that religion is being shoved down her throat. How? When was the last time someone dragged you to their church and forced you to do anything. I suspect that the mere mention of Faith is interpreted by you as being forced down your throat. The typical left wing athiest attitude is that until God is sterilized from the land religion will be considered as being forced upon them. And what has this got to do with the stem cell issue here?
SocietalShrapnal says "humanity not vanity" and I agree but don't forget that it is usually vanity that pays the start up costs for much of what becomes customary in the future.
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Jack Valentine said 10:52AM on 12-27-2007
Is enhancement of my significant body part next?
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Charlie said 2:40PM on 12-27-2007
Please find something more useful or creative for (mankind and) womankind than "boob-jobs" for stem-cell research. You can tell what was on these doctor's mind's, couldn't you?
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msdiviness said 5:52PM on 1-01-2008
300,000 breast reconstruction surgeries were done in 2006. Of those, over 14,000 were done to remove breast reconstruction (this does not include the 1,000's who could not afford the $5,000.to have them removed) due to some sort of complication. Infections from silicone are relatively common (which FYI were recalled & outlawed for use in 1996 USA), the "pain from saline" is unbearable.
The Dr. & his nurse said when I asked about how much pain will I be in afterwards?, they both replied absolutely NO PAIN, after 5 yrs. of constant unbearable pain,a gentle soft touch even hurts so terribly bad so after constant visits to my Dr. He finally tells me there's going to be a lot of pain for a long time. Clearly, breast augmentation is an imperfect surgical art.YET: SO CLEARLY it is a surgery that women / men will continue to undergo, like face lifts, dental implants, nips, tucks etc. If there is a natural way to do this as described I am "1" of many women who wish that procedure was available when they went in for their surgery, or the day after their procedure.
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