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 3)
michael said 6:15AM on 3-05-2008
Conn , you said it brother, Oh yeah and boss...you're an a$$hole
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Cliff said 11:58AM on 3-05-2008
Please don't suggest that being dumped online (or any where else) is excuse to go on a shooting rampage... Please let's be adult...
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allison said 12:02PM on 3-05-2008
to the very 1st post...
you're retared.
she is not why we live in an unsafe world.
if someone would walk into a mall, or any other area, and shoot someone(s) they have far more problems than their recent breakup.
Wait, let me guess...you're a hippie liberal also fighting gun control?
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femme fatale said 2:15PM on 3-05-2008
Diana, you are a moron. so this girl haven't thought about feelings of this one poor guy, and now it is her fault that some douchebag shot 8 in the mall? Because obviously pain of humiliation can only be redeemed by a sacrifice of 8 random people and the following years of suffering of their familiaes.
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Diana said 2:16PM on 12-06-2007
It is really sad when you think about this....yesterday someone who was really disturbed with life's turn of events in his life walked into a mall and killed 8 innocent people. Ironic people can actually ask why after reading about something like this. This chick and all her stupidity is the reason why we live in such an unsafe world! It is because people like her would rather get a good laugh then stop and think about the feelings of others!
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alikat1205 said 2:05PM on 12-08-2007
shocking, really, and according to her birthday, she is an adult nearing 30. completely classless. will should be relieved not to be associated with her any longer.
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Conn said 2:31PM on 12-08-2007
Diana, are you kidding me? If someone lost it and started shooting people over getting dumped via facebook, they were already too unstable to begin with.
Enough already with the "respect everybody's feelings" crapola. I'm from the last couple of years of the generation that was actually raised by their parents and not TV or day care.
I was spanked as a child. I was told what was and what was not acceptable in public. I was taught that life is not always fair. I was taught that "good enough" is not a goal. I was taught that beign the best at what I do is the goal. I was taught that disappointing those who love and support me is a terrible thing to do.
And I am a successful ThirtySomething that has had more than my share of setbacks and disappointments.
I do not blame society when I have a bad day. I do not blame my parents when I don't have everything I want. I dig down, pull up my socks, and work harder to get what I want.
Stop blaming the psychotic behavior of a malcontent on the actions of others when you should look back at his life and find out where he was allowed to believe that "fairy tales do come true".
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Cern said 2:39PM on 12-08-2007
It's all a hoax. That's what a WIRED article infers.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/12/is-the-infamous.html
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nunya said 2:48PM on 12-08-2007
Well, I certainly think you should still respect everyone's feelings as best you can, regardless of when you were raised. But, yes, people today are punks. They take everything too hard and use it as an excuse to do something crazy or a sob story. Don't pick on people at school and don't dump someone publically using facebook, but if that does happen to you (probably by someone who hasn't been raised by their parents rather than TV...since one of the things real parents teach IS to respect others and not to call "respect" "crapola" or rant and rave about how you're better than everyone else because you were spanked and had good parents), you don't have to shoot up a school or mall--get a spine and stop being a wimp.
To get back on topic, this is a case in which the punishment fits the crime. This chick's facebook was hacked, and now eye for an eye--she tried to embarrass her (ex)boyfriend publically and now she's getting embarrassed publically for being a cold-hearted b!tch like so many young and/or immature women are.
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boss said 3:12PM on 12-08-2007
Conn, you're a queer
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Jason said 3:12PM on 12-08-2007
Way to go Conn, tell them how the cow ate the
cabbage. I feel the same way ,nobody gave me
anything in life,I worked for what I got and
if I didn't have it, it was my fault, nobody
elses. I just rolled up my sleeves and worked
harder.
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keywest69 said 3:12PM on 12-08-2007
I don't know why anyone would post ANY personal information on Facebook or any other site. You are making yourself a target of Spear Phishing Identity Theft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_phishing
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NANCY said 3:26PM on 12-08-2007
WHERES THE STORY?
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David said 3:37PM on 12-08-2007
That's just fine. Burn in Hell.
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Guy said 3:40PM on 12-08-2007
That's ok. Soon-to-be-old-maid.
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ashers said 4:10PM on 12-08-2007
I think Thats Rude and Disrespectful and shows how low this new generation is!!!
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JLCis said 4:12PM on 12-08-2007
I agree w/Conn...write the person off as a waste and move on with your life. What that guy did was of his own (whacked out) making.
Nobody but the person commiting an act is responsible. Geez people, change your diapers already!
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just wonderin said 4:21PM on 12-08-2007
I think it is unfair to lump the girl in Omaha with this chick. I don't know how the other girl broke up...but the guy in Omaha had a lot going on, the majority of it was with his family...the breakup and loss of job was the final straws it seems. This is not how anyone should break up with someone. This is about as inpersonal as you can get...no worse than a dear john...at least with that ...no one knew what had come in the mail. It is immature and cowardly. This is not about rolling up sleeves...and working...this is about having a modicum of respect for another person.
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Dean Friend said 4:25PM on 12-08-2007
Conn,
Thank you!!!
For bringing a moment of sanity to these boards.
Well said. What's so uncool about taking responsibility for your own behavior, having acceptable limits placed on your actions, and not disappointing the people who love you?
Sounds like a plan for success to me!
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Tony said 4:31PM on 12-08-2007
this got way out of hand I see I wont post my first comment hopefully. But look at this girl emotionally who would ever get involved with her again she's a dirt bag she might as well become a hooker because no one is ever going to invest any emotion or time in somone who disrespect you like that. maybe the guy deserved it. But 2 wrongs DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT it makes you look bad! that guy killing 8 people well conn its nice to live in a fantasy world where what we say or do don't effect other people but not everyone grew up in that kinda environment. if you insult somone in darfur you're gonna die. insults are just useless unless you want to make somone hate you.
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