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.
A man in Berkeley, California was struck and killed yesterday while crossing the train tracks on foot. Witnesses say that he was distracted by talking on his cell phone, resulting in the accident. The man stood by the side of two sets of the tracks waiting for one train to cross, then immediately stepped out onto the tracks and was struck by a second train passing in the opposite direction.
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Reader Comments (Page 30 of 32)
Pamela A. Talbot said 2:02AM on 12-28-2007
I have a few questions. First off, how could you possibly hear or be heard to have a conversation on cellphone at a train crossing? How could you stand at a train crossing and not hear a second train? I don't understand these claims. I lived probably half of my life within a couple blocks of train tracks. Trains are something that you get used to being there the sound of or the vibration of. There's more here than meets what's on the surface.
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firearmz said 1:46PM on 12-25-2007
Despite too much cell phone use in our everyday lives, these are the same people that will try to read a book, apply makeup while driving or just in another world of thought while going about their everyday routine passage. I wonder how many more lives are saved when accidents are called in by passing motorists with cell phones or life threatening illnesses in remote areas & criminals in their thoughtless way of life. Although this is just a thought, there are possibly many more lives saved with cell phones at hand.
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elya said 4:50PM on 12-25-2007
I get so sick of these people showing off with their cellular phones glued to their head when driving as if to say look at me, I am so cool.They need to keep their mind on the road!
As well, as the ones with their ipods stuck in their ears. So much for pettiness and distraction and less time for educating oneself with something else more meaningful.
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Myra said 7:13PM on 12-25-2007
CELL PHONES ARE A NECESSARY EVIL ,LIKE SAY...COMPUTERS ,BUT.....WHO KNOWS , THE PERSON HIT BY THE TRAIN ,NOT ONLY WAS ON A CELL PHONE,THAT IDIOT COULD HAVE BEEN DRUNK OR DRUGED OUT OF THEIR GOURD , OR MAYBE DEAF , BLIND OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.... GET REAL FOLKS, WE ALL DO STUPID STUFF , IN RETROSPECT , WISH WE HAD NOT ..
BE KIND , MYRA
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jeri said 9:44PM on 12-25-2007
I'd like to know why those numb-skulls that have a cell ph.& walk around talking on them "THINK"that other pple are interested in what B.S.they have to say.I tell them to get the hell away from from me or I'M GOING TO KICK THEIR STUPID A$$,& for those that are driving & talking at the same time should have a fine of 1000.00$.when i see them im calling the cops.yes i live in Ca.jaroy
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kikdigorilla said 10:43PM on 12-25-2007
Alright...cell phone use while driving or walking..or doing anything basically will DISTRACT YOU. This is no new news...so why are some PEOPLE DUMB ENOUGH to try this? Put down the phone while your in the car. Just put it down...who ever it is..YOU CAN CALL THEM BACK...I hate how some Americans have become so downright stupid.
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Arwen said 1:19AM on 12-26-2007
Go ahead keep using your cell phones. There are too many people on this earth that are a waste of space. I'm all for human culling! I like reading about the new Darwin Nominees
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ray said 9:57AM on 12-26-2007
that poor poor cell phone all it was doing was minding its own business an this man had to pick it up an use it its not the phones fault its just being a cell phone we need to stop blaiming these poor phones an start blaiming the users
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Judy an American said 3:02PM on 12-26-2007
hey Hope, it's not limited to Americans. Open Your eyes, cause if you walk blindly you can be run over too. Ignorant.
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gary said 12:42PM on 12-27-2007
Lets face it Nature has it's ways of thinning out the Herd
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Christine said 1:35PM on 12-27-2007
Ok... let me get this straight. You want be to believe that that idoit could not hear two trains comming at the same time because he was on the cell phone. Oh the poor phone. Does the media really think im going to buy that one? OOH.. they must of been those super, extra quiet trains, right? If anyone beleives that it was the fault of the cell phone, then you are just as much of an idot as the media.
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Carolyn McClenney said 7:13PM on 12-27-2007
I enjoy the cell phone and it depends on the area you're in if you get a good connection. It seems like being on the cell phone at a train track would be too noisey to hear. That's what probably happened to the young man. He probably thought the first train that passed was the same sound he heard which was the final train that hit him. He wasn't paying attention and everybody knows the tracks are dangerous with or without a cell phone.I send my prayers to the family but It's tradgic that he died like that but we all have a final distination and the cell phone has nothing to do with it. As long as you give your heart to the Lord then He has the final say about your life. Stop calling him names, feel his families pain and pray this is a lesson well learned. Stay away from the tracks!
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BUTCH said 7:25PM on 12-27-2007
mother nature has her ways of weeding out the dumbasses
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Yadira said 7:49AM on 12-28-2007
It was not really the cell phone that caused this accident and others like it. It was human stupidity. Common sense tells you to pay attention when crossing railroad tracks or driving a car. It's frightening that people put not only their own life at risk but others too. I've seen people driving while talking, texting, applying make-up, and even reading. It scares me. If you MUST talk on the phone, pull over or use a blue tooth. When crossing railroad tracks or in heavy traffic, just tell them to hold on or you'll call them back and pay attention.
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JB said 12:54PM on 12-28-2007
Sounds to me like we need MORE cell phones and MORE railroad crossings! Nature's way of thinning out the stupid.
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Dave Whitaker said 3:19PM on 12-29-2007
I say we ban trains. No, really...and cars too. THey both kill tens of thousands each year and using the logic of anti-gun wackos, this should be a perfect solution.
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Alan Brown said 4:29AM on 12-29-2007
Well for starters kids now days do not have a whole lot of common since,and every kid you see from grade school and up has a cell phone or e-pod. you could do away with both and we would be better off. I was born in 1950 and we made it through the years with out carrying around a cell phone every place you go. You can not go any place today without someone on a cell phone. Driving down the road on the cell phone or i-pod, and you wonder why there are so many accidents.
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dan said 7:35AM on 12-29-2007
This almost happened to me once, while tring to catch the eastboound, gates down, I rushed across and almost caught the west bound, just be more carfull peop........wait gotta go cell phones ringing!
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Richard said 7:47AM on 12-29-2007
But Vivi - you ARE a nitwit!
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kenny48 said 10:59AM on 12-29-2007
The cell phone didn't kill him. His inability to pay attention is what killed him.
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