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.
We bring you another reminder that our cell phones are trying to kill us, this time from Cincinnati, Ohio. It turns out that an 18-year-old was crossing the train tracks while texting and was struck by a train. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jim said 11:46PM on 2-04-2008
One less idiot to worry about on the hiway. If he is too stupid to look out then he should be plastered
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Lacie said 4:38PM on 1-29-2008
How in the world do you get hit by a train? Even if you can't hear them, you can feel the vibrations from them. Sounds like someone needs to put the cell down and pull their head out of their butt!!!
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verizon bin laden said 7:03AM on 1-30-2008
well obviously. his cell phone contract included roll-over minutes and he got one.
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Brooke said 2:23PM on 1-30-2008
Im glad he's ok.
And he probably just
learned a major lesson.
Shouldnt ppl know not
to be texting while crossing
a freakin railroad track??
Hello..THE WORLD NEEDS TO WAKE UP!
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'Ello poppet said 7:09AM on 3-12-2009
How stupid are you peole??? "Too bad he lived!" What is WRONG with you. EVERYONE makes mistakes. SHould you deserve to die every time you pick up your phone and get distracted? Yes, this kid was stupid but NOONE deserves to die!!!!!!
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otrpu said 12:50PM on 3-12-2009
Braindead parents raising braindead children. If you're really stupid you might get hit by a train. But you probably have to really work at it.
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Harmy G said 11:07AM on 3-13-2009
This can happen even without texting. When two trains intersect like this, bad things happen.
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iso said 9:00AM on 3-13-2009
I think we should get ride of trains. The children are our future not trains.
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David Rosenberg said 1:29PM on 8-22-2007
I guess I'll be the first to say it, Don't Text while crossing the Tracks.
The person was very lucky, the train was probably moving at a very low speed although, he was thrown 50 feet.
Does anybody know if the Phone was damaged? The maker of the phone could make a great commercial out of this.
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James C said 9:53PM on 8-25-2007
obviously the parents never told their children too stay off the tracks.>??< the common sense went out the window when the text messaging started. this type of accidents stem from the all Important chatting text messaging. they run in to walls& doors also. that phone Is way more Important. then thinking safety for them self's shame shame. brite side parents bill will be less in the future.
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Ann said 1:06PM on 8-22-2007
This is one way to weed out the gene pool. Messy, yes, but if today's teens can't get their heads out of their I-Pods, then, they will get hurt. Last year a boy I know ran out into the middle of a busy street while talking to friends on his cell. He just couldn't multi-task and he forgot to look both ways. he got hit, sailed 25 feet, broke bones, was concussed, etc.
weeding the gene pool...
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Gunsmoke said 8:54PM on 8-22-2007
To find out what that Teen's last words was is to scoop all the text letters left scattered on Train tracks to solve the puzzle.
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Mark said 10:11PM on 8-22-2007
Think texting is bad, wait till those idiots with IPhones try to work those and drive.
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Chad said 10:33PM on 8-22-2007
It's bad enough in traffic when someone is driving while using a cell phone and doesn't look where they're going. But it's sheer stupidity not to watch where you're going as you're texting something!
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Rollando said 11:40PM on 8-22-2007
I pray and hope the Cinncinnati boy recovers quickly.
Train vs Man. Train most always wins. Most always too late for the train engineer to stop the train in time. The weight, speed, braking distances etc., physics defies it. No way the train is going to stop in time. Most unfortunate to happen. It is up to everyone else to pay more attention and use common sense. On occassion it is the fault of the railroad, no warning signals, poor crossing conditions, etc. On occassion the weather, poor visability, etc.
In this case, the boy did not pay attention while text messaging. Where was his common sene? Duh?
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webby said 7:09PM on 8-23-2007
I cannot even go to a movie with an old friend of mine, as she pays more attention to texting friends than the movie, or dinner, or our cobversation. SWhe rarely answers her phone, but will usually respond to a text message. This work is getting sicker.
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Darrin said 1:14PM on 8-25-2007
Just shows that parents arent teaching their kids to look both ways before crossing.I taught my kids early and still watch them to see if they actually look as well as any other kids that are crossing the street ,parking lot ,etc.,and if they dont look first i yell for them to stop and then talk to them about it.
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darthlegion said 3:57PM on 8-24-2007
im glad it happened that way. if you're so stupid that you would pay more attention to your phone than your safety, you deserve to be hit by a damn train. just one less stupid person to deal with. if he ever does recover, i bet he wont roll over to any tracks in his wheelchair anymore haha. i dont feel sorry for him at all, i feel sorry for anyone who would feel sorry for him.
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Angela said 12:08AM on 8-25-2007
LOL DARWINISM IN ACTION!
He would've gotten the Darwin award if he'd died! I bet he was listening to his iPod or some other stupid multitasking thing. God forbid we actually look around our surroundings anymore without multitasking.
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val said 5:26PM on 8-27-2007
Technology & Teens don't mix.... and it is not a good mix for some adults either. When will people learn? I have seen adults try to drive, while talking on cell phones, screaming at kids and having the car radio blasting... then they run a red light almost cause a wreck and have the nerve to give the finger to the innocent person.
I feel sorry for the kid because he almost got killed...but I sure as hell hope he has learned a lesson.
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