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 1)
bigy15 said 4:59PM on 2-19-2008
man im from new york and i can tell you this happens practically everyday either betwwen students or something like this...and how dis one occured makes it seem as real as ever
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nat1192 said 8:59PM on 12-06-2007
It is a sad day in America...
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JesseL said 8:09AM on 12-07-2007
BPBBP
Black people being black people
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D said 8:07AM on 12-07-2007
Typical.
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change needed said 10:08AM on 12-07-2007
what a sick bunch of girls with some racist anger issue's ! what will happen to them HOPEFULLY if there's any justice, JAIL TIME & A CIVIL LAWSUIT ,make these young azzed punks pay both ways ! the more they get away with harrassing & beating other people the more they will coni=tinue to think its cool & acceptable ! Now what are they going to cry that they where being targetd for being black?? NOT for being black but for PLAIN iggnorance & anger to other's in my book ! lock them up !!!
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Owen said 10:22AM on 12-07-2007
I can see it being staged because they seem to know the camera person (one person smiles and says hey as well as the camera person was getting right in thier faces. If you were already pissed wouldn't you not want a camera in your face by a random person?) But on another much sadder point, this could be real because many of todays younger people, black or white, seem to have no respect for anything. It sounds like a racial argument in the video and this cannot help any races issues, staged or not.
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B Wilson said 10:46AM on 12-07-2007
Typical black girls, think they are tough, and always loud. They ran up against a weak guy. There are guys who single handed could have beat them all.
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optimizedtraffic said 1:15PM on 12-07-2007
Imus would have a field day on this one...
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chanley said 10:31AM on 12-08-2007
This is how it is on NYC subways in the afternoon when the NYC Dept of Education lets the animals out of the zoos (really, schools). This is why the decent young lady of brown skin has a hard time being respected - because of wildabeasts of the ilk in this video who behave like nothing more than savages. LOOK at what they are doing, how they are behaving. I wonder if they would be so tuff in jail? All you really need to do is grab one and pummel the living day lights out of them. Just one. Their parents should be charged as well....for raising animals instead of children.
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Marsahall Dillon said 1:22AM on 12-11-2007
Animals. Stupid, senseless, animals. The power of a large group attacking one person. Cowards, they are only empowered by the size of the group, and will impose their tyranny on anyone who is weaker in strength or numbers. This is an example of what we are going to have everywhere, once the system breaks down completely. Roving groups of animals.
We need STRONG law and order in OUR country, never mind being policeman for the rest of the world, we need it HERE, NOW. We need a gunslinger sherrif.
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Jorge said 6:40PM on 12-11-2007
Thats what happens when you can't defend yourself. The guy just didnt have any street smarts so, like in the wild, he was prey. For the little black kids who dont know any better thats what it is like in their world(products of there environment). Our society is created this way. 90% of these kids will grow up with correction officers at our expense. White,black,spanish, it doesnt matter if your poor, try to get an education and learn from these kids on how NOT to be Ghetto black....Also, you've got to learn how to kick some ass!
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Jeff said 9:20PM on 12-11-2007
Staged? Ha. These people aren't smart enough to "stage" anything. The fact that the camera person knew the so called "girls" (which is also debatable), only suggests that this attack was premeditated. I wonder what Al "I only defend blacks" Sharpton will have to say about this. I don't know which is worse for the city: the rat infestation or these hoodlums. They both seem to be everywhere.
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CR said 10:30PM on 12-11-2007
Subway rules...
Never argue with a group of females on a train...who knows what to expect...
Stand up and walk away from argument...move to another car...or alert the conductor...
Where were the police?
The whole thing could have been staged...you can't be to sure...
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Marsahall Dillon said 6:10PM on 12-12-2007
HI Everybody, Marshall Dillon back again. One question ------ WHERE THE HELL IS SHARPTON NOW?????????? Come on, Al, step up to the plate.
And I don't mean the buffet. Let's go, "Rev", Let's hear your thoughts on this. Talk to us! Do I here the sound of silence out there? Hell0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0!!!! (Echo, echo echo)
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Andrew said 10:24PM on 12-14-2007
Marshall,....I completely agree!! why isn't rev. al protesting against hate crimes?? I'll tell you why...cause, its OKAY to committ a crime against a white person if your black. However, if your white and committ a crime against a black person....we should protest. Its sad that soo many people actually follow that jerk!!!
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