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)
ShaRk Bait! said 10:09PM on 8-04-2008
Now I know why tigers eat their young! I feel bad for his parents and should have him sent off to boot camp. Then again his parents let him get away with this conduct which lead up to this. Poor kid, I think he needs a nap and his bah bah.
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Sean said 8:38AM on 8-20-2008
Honestly i'am a gamer im 19 and have been playing online for years and this kid is an angel compared to what i hear on a daily bases and to tell the truth his parents are to blame. if it were me in the first minute you would had heard the sound of my mother/father spanking me with there bare hand or the belt this kids computer should had been unpluged and sold and forced to read...
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Heather said 8:41AM on 8-20-2008
This is absurd. At what point do parents let a child get this far out of control? I'm 31 years old and have NEVER disrespected my parents like that, and rest assured that my son (now 4 months) will never do it either. I think the problem lies both in the parents' lack of strength to stand up to this kid and put a stop to it, as well as the kid being a deviant little s.o.b.....And over a VIDEO GAME? Get real, if they can't win this battle, imagine what's to come.....
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dwmcjordan said 9:09AM on 8-20-2008
You have to wonder how this brat acts in school and playground, and remember that his smartass is going to be in the real world and workplace in a few years. I BLAME THE PARENTS, SOMEBODY TAUGHT HIM HOW TO ACT LIKE THIS! The father maybe?
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secretagentj57 said 11:05AM on 8-20-2008
That is one of the reasons why putting a kid in the corner where he can play his xbox isn't a good idea for a punishment lmao
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Jerry said 11:17AM on 8-20-2008
im 13 and If I ever talked to my mom like this. HOLY CRAP!
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Clay Dopke said 2:42PM on 8-20-2008
This is living proof that parents today do not 'parent' their children. If one of my kids ever acted even close to that, first, the computer would end up in the scrap heap in a million pieces and secondly, I would be going to jail for child abuse and he would end up in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital. Children who treat their parents like this need the living crap beat out of them or put into a cell with 'Bubba' for a lesson in respect..........OH, and while we're beating the crap out of people, next in line would be those parents for letting this little pond scum sucking brat get that far out of control in the first place....I'll be my life this is NOT his first temper tantrum at the computer.
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TVGenius said 8:25PM on 8-28-2008
This is part of why I don't even want to have kids... I wouldn't want my kids to be around, let alone be in any way influenced by little pieces of trash like that.
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n0bi said 1:47PM on 9-10-2008
Chocolate milk?! What this little brat deserves is a good ol' knuckle sandwich! Hooray for tough love.
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Alexandra said 7:57PM on 10-03-2008
This kid makes me want to have an abortion.....I'm not even pregnant, but I think I'm going to go for one just for good karma.
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Patsy2 said 9:20PM on 8-08-2007
This kid would never have access to a computer again if he talked to me the way he talked and cursed at his mother!
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Petrochem said 8:47AM on 8-09-2007
That is why enabling friendly fire is an absolute necessity when playing R6. Nothing gives a gamer greater joy than observing a previously mouthy, obnoxious brat's grey matter stream down the wall.
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Jay said 8:12AM on 8-09-2007
Want chocolate milk? No, you'd want another video game after I threw it out the fucking window and slapped you around a little bit, you little fucking brat.
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Wade said 12:30PM on 8-09-2007
Absolute proof for the need for corporal punishment, and the dangers of sparing the rod.
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aprila434 said 5:28PM on 8-09-2007
This kid would never have access to a computer again in my house, as well as be absent a few teeth from the backhanding. How can parents let their CHILDREN talk to them this way? My 17 year old has NEVER once acted like this.
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mysweetbaby said 12:31PM on 8-10-2007
AND HE WOULD STILL BE A DOCTORS OFFICE ORDERING NEW THEETH AND WASHING THE BAR OF SOAP OUT. !!
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joe said 12:19AM on 8-10-2007
if i ever talked to my mom like that i would be dead.
and if my kid ever talk to me like that i'd put him through a wall.
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daqween said 12:52AM on 8-10-2007
i would have snatched that game out the wall and it would have gone into the trash...if he would have talked to me like that...the momma has no control ova her child..i would have wash his mouth out with soap...
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Alexis said 6:30AM on 8-10-2007
*blink*
Sorry, but the computer goes bye bye now, and junior goes to boot camp or something. He needs to learn some respect, like yesterday.
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Shel said 7:47PM on 8-16-2007
Terrible, Parents need to sensor all games prior
to purchasing them. When they are 18 or older the kids can buy what they want. But right now there should be a law that they can not buy these games. It's the parents fault for most this BS.
Control and disaplince. Knocking them around for something you allowed them to buy isn't the answer. These games are harmful to our children. PARENTS BE RESPONSIBLE... IT'S IN YOUR HANDS
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