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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig said 3:12PM on 9-24-2007
Why is it that these black gang bangers always get away with beating up white people? Why is it that this Racist Al Sharpton is always coming to the rescue of those blacks who are in the wrong? And why is it that the government seems to always go after the so=called white supremist? Where is the true justice? God is going to have a field day with you black racist, and those who condone their actions.
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Matt said 10:44PM on 9-24-2007
Craig I couldn't have agree'd more. For some reason nothing is ever racist until it is a white person doing or saying anything that might eb interpritated as racist, often by the media and the black community. Al Sharpton has no life and no job other then to make himself seen and stick his brown nose into everybody elses business. If a black mantrips and falls on a crack in a side walk that a white man had poured, Al sharpton is there to make sure everybody in the world knows that it is a white persons fault that here in the year 2007 the black man is failing. If he owuld open his eyes he would realize black people are where they are today thanks to white people. Last time i checked, all of Africa is a poverty, disease stricken third world country except for Egypt and South Africa. Clearly theres something worth noting there.
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Teresa said 4:05PM on 9-24-2007
Craig, I suggest that you read the entire story before you refer to those kids as being "gangbangers" and assuming that they are in the wrong. If you honestly believe that the white students did absolutely nothing wrong, then I feel sorry for you, because you are the racist in this picture and what comes around goes around.
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Joel Ventus said 8:20PM on 9-24-2007
Do you really think that those students( or every black kid)is a ganbanger? Sounds like YOU are just as racist as you are trying to paint Al Sharpton. This whole thing should have never gone this far. When ALL people are treated the same, then we won't have these issues, until then, it will take the kind of peaceful demonistrations that took place in Jena. Jena 6 keep your heads up, our prayers are with you.
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David said 4:21PM on 9-26-2007
well the white people need to wake up and see whats going on here the blacks will never be pleased no matter what you give them so why not just say to hell with them thanks
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David said 4:39PM on 9-24-2007
well the white people need to wake up and see whats going on here the blacks will never be pleased no matter what you give them so why not just say to hell with them thanks
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David said 4:39PM on 9-24-2007
well the white people need to wake up and see whats going on here the blacks will never be pleased no matter what you give them so why not just say to hell with them thanks
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Kevin said 6:49PM on 9-24-2007
Look,, lets get our heads out of the dirt. Six against one is mob action! End of story! It doesnt matter who is what color! If you want fairness and equality then explain why discrimination is white against any minority? why is hate crime a white against any minority? When 90% of violent crimes are done by blacks against whites! If your stupid enough to doubt me - then write me and I will send you a copy of an article written by a BLACK syndicated reporter who went to the seminar on violent crimes in America and he comments on this very same topic!
Polititicans, which include Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (God would cut my tongue out if I called either of them reverends), are the ones that highlight racisim - just think about it. If all were treated equally - what would they do for money? Politicians are the ones shafting Americans; however, they stay out of the lime light by highlighting racism.
Whites created the definition for discrimination and hate crimes - they are defined against whites! Only against whites! Because of our race! People - thats discrimination! If you are fighting against discrimination how can you approve of it? It isnt about equality - It is about gettin something for free or extreme leniency. Dont try playing the "slavery" card - I cant believe there is anyone on this planet stupid enough to do that anymore! With all the education systems that we have - to include the new Islamic academics - EVERYONE has at one time during history been a slave family! The pilgrims that came across to America werent the first here! Families came across the ocean escaping the kings rules and taxes in England. the peasants that worked for the king ran away to America! They were slaves, the Irish were slaves, Chinese were slaves, Japanese were slaves, Koreans were slaves - hello!! Africa sold slaves!!!!!! So, lets get off with that card.
This Jena crap is blown out of proportion! Whites who hung the nooses were disciplined - read the whole story; not just what the media is hyping up.
Blacks - or any race - who take six people and beat one person - of any race - unconscience should be jailed! END OF STORY!!!!
Thats equality!!! are you sure you want that?
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Delano said 8:55PM on 9-24-2007
Its amazing how one side this whole thing is. All the media is showing is how the six black students beat up the one white student, but what about the six whites that beat up that one white student, and got expelled only to have the Superintdent allow the six white to return to school. Lets discuss that. And what about the white man that pulled out the shoot gun on the three black teens ready to shot them, but they took the gun and no shots fired, only to charge to teen with teft of a firearm, what kind of mess is this. And you'll can only focus on the the black students did. Get the whole story and them make a judgement. And another thing, hang Noose in a tree has the same meaning as me flashing a gun at someone.
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Delano said 8:57PM on 9-24-2007
This is an exert from a new paper about what happen prior to the white student being beaten. If your going to talk about something, make sure you get all to facts Kevin and not just some of them.
"The noose-hanging incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on November 30, the main academic building of Jena High School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no charges were filed against the white man, the students were arrested for the theft of the gun.2
That Monday at school, a white student, who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After lunch, he was knocked down, punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital but was released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening."
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Dianna said 6:28AM on 9-25-2007
I cannot believe how racist the USA is in this day and age. I live outside of the US and I am stunned at how ignorant and backward some of the commentary regarding the Jena6 is. Clearly there was a distinction between how the white and black youths were treated. Many people seem to feel the need to voice an opinion before even familiarizing themselves with the facts, doing a disservice to all involved. When is the US going to step up to the mark and display the enlightenmnent we expect from such a nation, or are you destined to wallow in the quagmire of racism where the question "is America ready for a black President?" can be asked in 2007?
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alondra said 3:39PM on 9-28-2007
David,
You are a freaking moron. It's people like you that make this place so unpleasant to live in. We never got no freaking reperations once slavery was over, not even a damn apology from you rednecks, but as soon as the tables are turned, your faces turn red and blue or whatever the hell your skin permits you to shade and get all mad. Tough cookies! What about the six whites who beat and raped that black girl? I bet you don't give a damn about that. As soon as something happens to a white girl, the whole world is up in arms. Freak that s$it! You're all a bunch of dumbasses and yes, God will have a field day on judgment day and the whole lot of you will burn in hell with your white master satan. Peace!
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