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 8)
b cup man said 10:11AM on 3-15-2008
all my life have been very heavy chested .. recently bought and started wearing a bra ..was embarrassing at first ..now that i've been wearing a soft cup bra for a few months .. feeling more comfortable and supported ..was too embarrassed to go shopping in a store so ordered a few from ebay .was easy with sizing charts.. hope you don't think i.m weird .. really need the support .. leave an opinion if you want ..thanx
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Tracie said 2:45AM on 4-05-2008
I'VE NEVER WORN A BRA FROM VS IN MY LIFE!!
THEY DON'T GO UP TO A 38HH..OOOH YEAH..THEY ARE REAL. I EVEN LOST WEIGHT AND NOW I'M A 36G...STILL NO LUCK THERE. I PAY THE EXTRA MONEY FOR THE SUPPORTIVE BRAS FOR WORK...WHEN THEY START TO GET PRETTY AND WITH MATCHING BOTTOMS, NOW WE'RE TALING ABOUT AT LEAST $100 FOR THE SET.
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Emmy said 9:29PM on 12-10-2007
As a young woman with 36F size breasts, research like this could be a Godsend for me. Jogging is painfully impossible without a sports bra, and even with the sturdiest of sports bras, I find myself having to support my breasts with my arms as I run, because the bra doesn't do enough. I hope they come up with some good stuff due to this research!
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jeano said 8:27AM on 12-11-2007
Ditto for me, Emmy. I walk now rather than jog or run, but I also had issues when I rode horses. The men were watching, but not for my skills I'm afraid. Beasts!
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yourpoconohome said 8:56AM on 12-11-2007
I love beautiful women with large breasts. Plain and simple. Women ARE beautiful and as part of God's design, gave them breasts to attract men. Call me a beast, but I am a beast who loves to please women.
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Get it right said 8:15PM on 12-11-2007
Get it right: yourpoconohome says:
yourpoconohome says:Women ARE beautiful and as part of God's design, gave them breasts to attract men. WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU HEAR THIS? WOMEN HAVE BREASTS TO NURSE THEIR OFFSPRING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ATTRACTING MEN MORON.
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Dan said 8:17PM on 12-11-2007
Breasts that do not bounce, are usually not real. I see women everyday, and if there is anything common about most of them, it is that they want a man to notice them, and usually use their breasts for this purpose. Cleavage, bounce, even their nipples are tools for them, and they use them well. Frankly as a man, this helps us while we have to put up with the rest they have that usually is not pleasant.
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Carol said 8:44PM on 12-11-2007
God made woman for man,hence Adam & Eve Duh ! So, (Get it right, name above) is wrong ! But calm down Dan.
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Heyhbbear said 5:50AM on 12-14-2007
Hey Dan, while there may be a few things about us women that are not pleasant to put up with, there is one single thing about a man that is pleasant to put up with. Before you say it, no I am not a lesbian either. I have been married for close to 31 years to a man who is a real slime ball that cheats all the time for no reason whatsoever. I do not divorce him because it is against my belief.
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Sarah said 12:58AM on 12-12-2007
I have real breasts, but they do not, nor have they ever, bounced or moved. Even after having and nursing 3 children I have zero breast tissue. They served their God-given purpose of nourishing 3 babies, but they have never increased in size, even after I gained a little weight after surgery last year. Sorry! I always thought they would get bigger when I grew up, but it never happened. I would never have surgery to augment them, though, that is just so fake unless you have to because of cancer. I've thought about it, and if I had to have a mastectomy, I would not have fake boobs put on - I've never had them, why would I grieve for something I never had?
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Victoria said 8:52PM on 12-11-2007
Hey Dan...since you seem envious of womem...why not get a sex change...lol...?
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Michael Bierman said 9:01PM on 12-11-2007
I love women and I love their breast too, please do take excellent care of both, but please leave a little jiggle and bounce for us. Ladies do
enjoy all that you may, and do things with
"Joie de Vie".
Michael of Art
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Ray said 2:29PM on 12-13-2007
There is NOTHING more beautiful than an attractive woman. True eye candy makes my heart stop, breathing stop, I am stunned beyond explanation - until she passes from my sight and the next one comes along. Then it starts over and I can not even remember what the last one looked like. You have to just takes it for what it is - beauty and let it go. But it is a woman's character, intelligence and the gift of her pleasure that holds a man in place.
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Justice said 9:48PM on 12-12-2007
Thank GOD. It's hard enough being 15, but with 36DD breasts and gym+cross country? I'm always so self-conscious when I'm running and doing jumping jacks, it's almost unbearable.
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martin said 9:08PM on 12-11-2007
Hey you ladies don't need a bra whenever you want to jog just call me, and I'll run behind you holding them for you
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Dale said 9:31PM on 12-11-2007
To: Get It Right, LOTS of mammals (from: mammalia; meaning, having breasts to feed young from) breast feed their young, but NONE retain a full, round breast afterwards, except humans. Breasts resemble the female rear end for a reason. Once we became erect (walking upright; get your mind out of the gutter), the hind quarters, which were very attractive to men way back then (as they also still are), were no longer as prominant as they were when we walked on all fours, so, breasts developed to assimilate the bum and help once again to attract a mate. Even women that are completely flat chested can still breast feed, or didn't you know that? You don't need to be Dolly Parton or Carol Wayne to have enough breast milk for your baby. Every woman gets pretty much the same amount when it comes time to feed Junior. Breast size is genetic, NOT quantitative. Even men can breast feed, but the baby would have to suck for a LONG time before it got anything.
So, in essence, the ONLY reason you have full, round breasts is to attract men, so, let your girls do their job!!
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Laura said 9:14PM on 12-11-2007
As a 36 C/D size, I enjoy wearing "The Frog Bra" sold by Title 9 (women's outdoor/athletic clothing company). I am a runner, and put in many miles, and I don't like to wear any other bra for running--they are THAT good at supporting you during activity! I highly recommend it!
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joe said 9:15PM on 12-11-2007
DAN MUST BE AN ASS MAN, BECAUSE WHEN EVER HE'S IN A CROWD EVERYONE LOOKS AT HIM AND SAYS, LOOK AT THAT ASS OVER THERE!!
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daisy said 9:16PM on 12-11-2007
I swear by Bali bras. They are inexpensive and have great thick straps for us thicker women. I buy my bras at Bare Necessites.com online at an online shopping mall that gives me between 5-55% back in cash on all my purchases.
There are over 1000 stores including Bare Necessities, Sephora, Apple, The Gap, Target (great for soo much), Macy's. I also wait for sales so I get my cash back and the lowest price
http://www.dailyoink.com The site is ugly, but well worth it.
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Dale said 9:31PM on 12-11-2007
Heyhbbear: Sounds to me like you should drop your man a.s.a.p.. I'm SOOOO sick & tired of hearing women cry on my shoulder about how awful their man treats them, but instead of leaving him, which EVERYONE they talk to suggests to them right off the bat, they stay and put up with the abuse, wrongly thinking that either, "it'll get better with time", or "I'm doing the right thing by being loyal."!! Is that REALLY what you want to do with your life???!!! Do you HONESTLY think any of us would stay with you if WE had to put up with YOU abusing US or our relationship with you like that??!!
I can't understand for the LIFE of me why women go right for nasty men when there are so many of us that are honest, loyal, kind, caring and very loving, like myself, that don't get ANY woman!! You all want Prince Charming, but not a single one of you can see him when he's standing right in front of you!! And you call US plastic!!!! Time to get your heart fitted with glasses that have a built in "asshole" filter!!
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