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)
Ruth said 2:52PM on 10-26-2007
Coo-koo! Coo-koo!
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Fank Schwartz said 3:51PM on 10-26-2007
Another mindless celebrity who has not learned to keep her mouth shut.
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AvgGuy4Fun said 3:17PM on 10-26-2007
Oh lord........this chick is just a mess.....goes to show what happens when you let money and the wrong crowd rule your world.
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shara from atlanta>paris needs more than 23 days!! said 1:09PM on 10-27-2007
she is a legend in her own mind she really does'nt have very much talent as I see it ! whats that all about her drunken vile,drugged out, car crashing, snotty, childish whorish, ways are her claim to fame?, thats not to be proud of and she has the nerve to tell her (ex assisant to leave) whom was there with jessica beil, jealousy again lindsay? your washed up there sweetie, many other fresh new woman have passed you by !!
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DTHOMAS said 10:05AM on 10-28-2007
I THINK THAT THEY ONLY PUBLISH HER DOWN MOMENTS, WE'VE ALL HAD THEM PEOPLE.....
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kategrneyes said 5:13PM on 10-26-2007
Lindsey is an accident waiting...............she had no guidence from either parent,that's why she is a mess,plus she does not know what to spend her money on.
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Luanne said 4:45PM on 10-26-2007
Has anyone noticed that whoever hangs out with Paris Hilton, winds up like this. Just a thought
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Tom said 4:52PM on 10-26-2007
Hey, get together girl.
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Colleen said 5:03PM on 10-26-2007
Lyndsay Lohan - now there's a nasty wench. *shivers* All that fake tanner over pale skin with freckles and bleached hair. She constantly looks like she has an orange mustache because she puts it on her face. Who cares if she's been through rehab. She looks like a terminal mutant. YUCK. I hope she stays wealthy, so she can at least keep a stylist on hand to make her look like less of a SASQUATCH.
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eV said 5:39PM on 10-26-2007
You know... I really feel sad about the way things are turning out. She was such a cute and talanted kid in Parent Trap. I SOO wish she stayed that way. It breaks my heart to watch a girl like her totally wreak her life at such an early age.
I with there was someone out there, that could help her.
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The Man said 6:33PM on 10-26-2007
Never liked her to be "Over Her". Why is it assumed that people automatically like these lunatics?
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george said 6:42PM on 10-26-2007
I've seen more talent in many high school plays. Why would anyone put up with this semi pretty, semit talented child?
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Patricia Hoskins said 6:48PM on 10-26-2007
It's really a shame to see how parents can screw up their kids...
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BARAK CHENEY said 7:00PM on 10-26-2007
.SHE LOOKS LIKE THE SOUTH END OF A PIG HEADING NORTH !!!
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Oswald said 7:08PM on 10-26-2007
Lohan puts the beyotch in beyotch.
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srcanova said 10:16PM on 10-26-2007
LAME!!! It is easy for everyone to blame Paris Hilton or "the crowd" that Lindsay was running around with...what ever happened to taking ownership of bad behavior....she made the choices, she broke the rules, she got herself where she is. Lindsay is the only one to blame for the way her life has turned out.
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Di said 7:57PM on 10-26-2007
JUST ANOTHER SPOILED BRAT, GETTING ATTENTION FOR BEING BAD! WHO CARES?
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lita said 8:28PM on 10-26-2007
Another case where mother and father are shipwrecks. Sadly, they passed it on to their daughter. And still, after witnessing what she has gone through so publicly, the dimwits still do nothing to aid her in her recovery.
Oh, well. She's a paycheck!
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BlackMetal said 12:14AM on 10-28-2007
I feel bad for this girl. If her momma was not so busy partying like SHE is the star, and trying to get her 15 minutes of fame, she could be a source of guidance for her daughter. It must be crazy to be young, famous, have more money than you know what to do with, and people all around you wanting something from you all of the time. If she had parents that were worth a damn, maybe she would be a little more grounded.
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Suzanne said 1:41AM on 10-29-2007
Lindsay Lohan is definitely a walking time bomb. Most of it is her fault, but you have to look into her family history and enviornment to get a better picture of Linds. I believe Lindsay's father, Michael Lohan, is an alcoholic (and possibly a drug addict, although I'm not sure), thus turning Lindsay into an adult child of an alcoholic. Also, Lindsays Mom, Dina, appears to be quite dysfunctional. I heard stories that Dina parties with her daughter (Linds) and they drink together, maybe more. This is obviously not a healthy environment for Lindsay, as most people need consistantsy in their life. I hope Linds starts going to AA, NA and starts to act a bit more responsible. Between Lindsay, Britney, Nicole and Paris, there is a new generation of screw-up's that are going to find themselves in 1 of 3 places (unless they get help): 1. Jail
2. An Institution 3. Dead.
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