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 14)
Martha England said 11:48AM on 4-19-2008
To begin with, thanks to so much current funding for research, diagnosis tools have been developed to get more precise diagnosis of this sometimes elusive disorder. Unlike what many would like to say, Autism is a disorder of the person's system and is not a superficial set of symptoms that are beijg merely looked at in making a diagnosis. The sad fact is that until recent years, even medical professionals were misdiagnosing or not diagnosing it at all when it was indeed present. That is no longer the case as more specific areas of the brain affected are being isloated by MRI, CT, etc, to pinpoint the problem, along with the obvious external symptoms. You hear how the diagnosis rate seems to concur with some changes in medical criteria for diagnosis. The criteria has been changed according to the progress, finetuning that criteria to define it better as more than only a behavior symptom as before. Autism has other very specific and related symptoms and that is why it is called a Spectrum disorder. The increase shows that the diagnosis criteria is good at weeding it out, is being followed and is actually accurate so that early intervention can assist in treatments that are known to help along developement. I say thank goodness it's finally being caught and helping those who have it.
Martha England
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gman2008 said 10:34AM on 7-19-2008
sig.
It has not been proven that vaccines do or do not cause autism, there are studies both ways. The pediatricians are not evil but thay are backed by the AMA and their research, which is largely funded by drug and vaccine companies.
Oh and by the way, autism is virtually non-existant in the Amish community (non-vaccine) while this is purely anecdotal evidence it is compelling.
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clint said 11:13PM on 7-05-2009
Maybe drugs are part of it in some cases. It's a pretty new condition, so it doesn't have a strong historical trail. I notice a lot of dumb adults everyday who are very irrational/erratic thinkers and wonder what it would be like to be raised by one, especially if predisposed somehow to be a little slow.
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Lee said 10:04AM on 11-21-2007
Why doesn't anyone find out if these parents were drug users in the past? The use of designer drugs and cocaine, etc. must linger in the body of the user and cause ill effects, yet no one wants to talk about this. Just find sometime that they can SUE over, rather than look inward.
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Jack C Waterfield said 1:22PM on 11-21-2007
My 11 year old son suffers from Autisim. We found out about it when he was 2. We have not and have never used drugs, but I also find it hard to believe that they are trying to connect it to WI-FI and Cell phones. Someone knows something but they keep sweeping it under the rug.
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I See Dumb People said 10:47AM on 11-21-2007
Idiocy, thy name is "Lee".
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Cheryl said 10:12AM on 11-21-2007
Lee:
Your comments show your lack of knowledge on the subject. I have a 6-year old granddaughter with autism and my brother has a 6-year old grandson with autism. There is NO FAMILY HISTORY. We live on opposite sides of the country and both children were born in the same year. His grandson's autism is much more severe than my little granddaughter. THERE IS NO DRUG USAGE IN OUR FAMILY. For you to suggest such a thing is outrageous and unthinking. Back in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's ... there were hardly any cases of autism. So think what's been going on since the beginning of the 90's with all the extra vaccinations kids are given and the "bundling" of the vaccines. Think environment and pollutants, as well.
By the way, don't you think that the studies have already eliminated that connection?
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martin said 10:13AM on 11-21-2007
Lee says:
Why doesn't anyone find out if these parents were drug users in the past? The use of designer drugs and cocaine, etc. must linger in the body of the user and cause ill effects, yet no one wants to talk about this. Just find sometime that they can SUE over, rather than look inward.
11/21/07 10:04 AM
What a stupid comment... you're a very ignorant person
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patricia said 10:16AM on 11-21-2007
Lee are you stupid!!!! that is the most insane thing I have ever heard, drugs!!!! Educate yourself before you start talking alot of crap!!
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Dk said 1:43PM on 11-21-2007
Are you really that dumb that you think autism is caused by the mother using "designer" drugs in the past? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of-- do your research. I have a brother thats 37 and autistic. He was diagnosed around when it became known. If autism is caused by anything-- its innoculations or mercury-- I know 3 women whose children were developing normally and abruptly stopped developing when they had their immunizations. Think about that.
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Jake said 4:02PM on 11-23-2007
You are a dumb ass.
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autismmom99 said 10:21AM on 11-21-2007
OBVIOUSLY IGNORANCE IS PLAYING HIGH HERE!!!!!!! HOW DARE ANYONE STATE THAT DRUG USE BY PARENTS COULD BE A CAUSE OF AUTISM?.
I AM A PARENT OF A 9 YEAR OLD BOY WHO HAS AUTISM. AND NOT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE HAVE I USED DRUGS, SMOKED, AND VERY RARELY DRINK AND DEFINATLY NOT DURING ANY OF MY PREGNANCIES.
PLEASE UNTIL YOU KNOW THE FACTS ON AUTISM AND HOW IT IS CAUSED..( NO ONE DOES STILL TO THIS DAY SO THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU ANY SMARTER OR CLOSER TO KNOWING WHAT CAUSES AUTISM) REFRAIN FROM SHOWING STUPIDITY AND GO MAKE THOSE USELESS BRAIN CELLS YOU WASTED ON THAT REDICULOUS POST AND READ AND LEARN ABOUT AUTISM.
IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ANNOY THE CRAP OUT OF US THAT ARE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, OR EVEN HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE AUTISM IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES.
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Coleen said 12:02PM on 7-26-2008
Your true ignorance is not being open to all possibilities of what the cause could be. You went on the attack for a person who asked a question as to a possible link and you don;t even know yourself if there is a correlation. You yourself said no one know the cause so can you definitively rule it out in all cases?
KLS said 10:23AM on 11-21-2007
As a parent of not one, but two children with autism, I find that 'drug' statement insulting. I did not smoke, drink, do ANY drug in my youth that could contribute to my children's autism. Just as with other developmental diagnosies, there rarely, if ever, is one concrete answer as to 'why'. Environmental? Heriditary? Just one of those things? Who knows. But until there is a breakthrough in curing autism, let's focus as to treatments, therapies and getting funds released to help the children and families who are living with the fastest diagnosed developmental disorder.
Autism is now diagnosed 1:150 children. 1:94 boys. Autism often follows siblings. If one has it, it is a higher probability that a younger sibling will, too. Autism is not contagious, but ignorance is. To learn what autism is, and what it is NOT: visit: www.autismspeaks.org
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Judy said 10:42AM on 11-21-2007
I often wonder if it has to do with microwave usage, say maybe from what ever mom and dad's usage was before,during, and then child's breastmilk or heated formula.....just a thought for the timing thing
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debbie ramsay said 10:32AM on 11-21-2007
I do not think it's the parents drug use, are you insinuating that all parents of autistic children were drug users?
If you have not used drugs and you have an autistic child, you would see how ignorant your comment truly is.
If your assumption held up, it would be real simple right?
Do you work for the government?
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Sarah said 10:25AM on 11-21-2007
As the non-drug non-alcoholic non-smoking parent of two sons with autism, I find this article to summarily dismiss in a very trite flippant manner the FACT that autism has been linked to these things. To simply dismiss the findings and lump them together with other studies the writer of this article also appears to have dismissed is immature and ignorant. What one does not read is that it is vital to have children evaluated early and get the remedial help so that the impact of autism on a child's life is minimized. It is worth the years of therapy early on in the child's life. Their quality of life improves drastically when parents are educated. The studies being done are important. Any child sitting for hours in front of any screen is going to be negatively impacted--whether for autism or just plain old lethargy and lack of exercise. I am thankful for the research and the help our family has received. There is so much that can be done to help a child with autism and to support parents with autistic children.
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gd said 10:34AM on 11-21-2007
Why don't people look at the age of women in the United States bearing children....There seems to be a trend with women having children in their 40's and 50's when their systems are worn out.
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Ron said 10:28AM on 11-21-2007
Prior drug use doesn't cause autism but it sure causes stupidity.
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debbie ramsay said 10:33AM on 11-21-2007
I can not believe anyone would say such a foul thing. Not only are you ignorant, but obviously you never used drugs and have a perfect child. Do you also work for our government?
Please go back and sit in your box.....and stay there. People like you should not think or speak.
God bless the parents of children with Autism,as well as the children. I think people that say these kinds of things are simple minded and should be gagged.
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