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 2)
Sassyjamiet said 8:00PM on 3-25-2008
Potential criminal thinking ...
"Oooo...look... pretty girl....GET pretty girl!"
Blinks. "Hey! Where pretty girl go?"
BTW, even if he does get thirsty after a chase, no respectable mugger is going to carry a coin purse. He may be dumb enough to slip a few dollar bills into her "slot" before giving up ... actually making the "victim" alittle richer in the process. I LIKE that idea!
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mitch said 9:14AM on 3-30-2008
so this gal is hiding behind this wearing just her underwear? Take your clothes off to hide? What's wrong with this picture. A guy came up with this right?
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sporky16 said 7:22PM on 3-26-2008
Rich-
how on earth is "a coon up a tree" a racist comment?! A racoon who has been frightened into a tree does not at all sound racist to me.
But the real point is, if you read the rest of that particular comment, you will see that he is in no way making a racist remark! He doesn't mention anything about minorities being responsible for most/more crime, or anything related to race at all!
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bill said 1:27PM on 4-05-2008
FAKE!!!
SOO obviously photoshopped. There is no such thing as a skirt that turns into a soda-machine. Think about it, people. How heavy that would be! Duh.
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earth3600 said 2:47PM on 6-14-2009
A real ninja, would in fact use this I am sure, but it would be just long enough to confuse the attacker, a weapon of some type would be behind it for sure.
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mr peanut said 6:09PM on 10-22-2007
In any big American city these 'vending machines' would be a magnet for theives. They would be up that 'skirt' faster than a coon up a tree. The woman better have a gun behind the coin box...with the hammer cocked.
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bkwormsjv said 6:21PM on 10-22-2007
Whether it works or not, I gotta admire Japanese ingenuity!
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MEL said 7:53PM on 10-22-2007
SODA OR PHONE SKIRT WONT WORK MINORITY AREAS.
THEY'D HAVE THE SKIRT UP AND THE "COIN BOX"
OPEN IN 20 SECONDS.
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Rich said 9:03PM on 10-22-2007
Of course 2 of the 3 first responses are racist in tenor. "Like a coon up a tree" "Minority areas'
Wake up Middle America, the crime is in the suburbs too, in fact it is often worse. Just a bit more hidden--especially underage drinking and drugging.
I have lived in the suburbs in a very wealthy area (Mid Sized Southern City) and I have lived in Atlanta, NYC & Minneapolis.
When a minority kid gets caught, they go to jail, when a rish suburban kid gets caught--they just call Daddy who fixes it for them.
BTW I am white and very secure financialy
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Devlyn said 10:21PM on 10-22-2007
it is pretty ingenius but the reality is it will not work but carrying a gun would or a scalple just cut it off they will never try that again *smiles*
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Greg said 12:24AM on 10-23-2007
Leave it to the Japanese to think of more useless, inane things that will be about as effective as praying to the God of Gasoline to lower the gas prices.
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Marny said 2:21AM on 10-23-2007
Hey Rich...if you're so secure FINANCIALLY, maybe you should hire someone to teach you how to spell it. Who are you trying to convince with your little speech about being WHITE and SMART and RICH ? Hmmm...."Me thinks he doth protest too much". Do you know what that means Mr. Smarty? It means I think you're full of crap ! You may be white (doubtful), you have proven you're not smart (spelling proof anyone?) and I doubt you're so very secure financially (if you were, you wouldn't be reading this article trying to learn how to hold on to your last nickel) Get off your soap box, no one is impressed that you deign to speak to us and point out the error of our ways. Get real and get a life.
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Devynn said 3:12AM on 10-23-2007
while i do agree that Rich does, indeed, protest too much, one thing is for certain: crime is up! but it's not just in the hood anymore. the suburbs are just as bad. but they'd rather not talk about it, lest they look as bad as those ppl in the inner city. get over yourselves, Middle America! not that i think making yourself look like a Coke machine will do you any good in trying to keep crime rates down, but denial ain't working so great, either, now is it? didn't think so! get real, get out and protect yourself. no harm in doing that. that's what the "self defense" defense is for! and also, speak out! if you don't want the badness in your neighorhood, then let it be known! make sure the criminals know you're on to them and you're not going down without a fight. the petty ones just may give it up and get real jobs, but since there are so many that won't, it behooves us to remain viligiant. not paranoid. not scaredy catty. but viligant. aware. smart. SAFE!
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neoterranova said 7:20AM on 10-23-2007
Now that's neat. And, seriously, think about it for a moment. You're not going to use this to stand around all day dressed like a soda machine. If a crook starts hovering around your personal space, working up the courage to go after you, the smart thing would be to duck behind a corner or something out of sight and "transform," then wait for the bugger to simply walk by. It'll buy you an extra few seconds, and confuse a potential attacker just long enough to add additional distance between you and them. That can give you the time needed to either get away, get to your car, or duck into a store or something and put yourself in a public area with people close by (and call the police or a friend). Not everyone on Earth can legally own and carry a concealed firearm, and not everyone is capable of performing self-defence moves. I think it's a dandy idea. Besides soda machines, perhaps a snack machine or something might also be a good idea.
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Doris said 10:22AM on 10-23-2007
This is an insult to the intellengence of muggers. A while skirt with a red apron being touted on the tv news and the webb. Instant target. And what self respecting lady is going to wear a white skirt every day --just in case...
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Sweet Diva said 12:23AM on 10-24-2007
Bwahahahahaha!!!
Picture this. Bad guy spots you and begins to hastily make his way toward you to rip you off. Your response? You stand still and raise your skirt over your head. Of course he's NOT gonna notice that the person he was just targeting has magically turned into a coke machine now is he? And this isn't gonna piss him off more and cause him to add some extra bodily harm or rape to his act now is it?
What are you completely nuts? LOLOLOLOL, who comes up with these?
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Texhnolyze said 10:22AM on 10-24-2007
Never does it cease to amaze me, the idiots that post on spelling corrections and punctuation. If you would take half that energy and put it to a personal use, You might actually experience a life.
As for the Coca Cola skirt, rather ingenious. You are dissing the Japanese for coming up with this, yet i bet you were 2nd in line to buy a pet rock, personal misting system, or any of the other 99000 inane american products that have ever been invented.
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JDub said 5:35PM on 10-24-2007
LMAOOOOOO...
Ok, so someone is beginning to eye you, then you do the "transformer move" into a soda machine?Womever is doing the potential mugging is probably going to freak out, then start probably start laughing, like OMG WTF, and then the mood of the whole thing is blown. I could see how that could possibly be a scenario...but, uh, it's just kind of obsurd, really. I mean, the person using it, too. I'd buy it for novelty purposes, make my friends laugh.
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Dreolin said 6:50PM on 10-24-2007
Rich, I don't know if the "coon up a tree" was intended as racist.(Although the word is sometimes also used in a racist manner)In the south we (blacks and whites) call raccoons "coons" short for raccoon. That is why dogs that are bred to hunt racoons are called coonhounds. For example the AKC/UKC dog breed known as a Black and Tan Coonhound. But I guess a wealthy city boy wouldn't know that.
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Angel said 8:34PM on 10-24-2007
"OMG,I Love this "disguise".
Although, I, just as "JDub", would use this item as a novelty only.
My friends and family would find it extremely fitting for me as well as Hilarious!
Where do I buy one?
Seriously?! lol.
Then again, considering what's been going on in the world lately with all the recalls from food, to toys, and clothing (think drawstring tops, etc), I'd 1st want to make sure this shirt/skirt (whatever) contains no lead paint, salmonella, E-coli, Rat Poop (Think NYC Taco Bell franchises).
Aw, as much as I love a great laugh- Forget it- I'll just carry mace, an ice pick, heavy key ring (as usual) or just hit a potential perp with my purse- that'll knock him (or her) clear into next week and I'll save my $19.95 (+ S&H of course).
Have a Great Week Everyone- and Stay Safe, However you have to do it.
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