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 2)
My Opinion said 1:59PM on 3-06-2008
I think perhaps the loneliness and desperation that there characters shared is misconstrued as love. This is about two people surviving their circumstances.
And his geriatric appearance juxtaposed to her youth is creepy for any woman anyway... definitely!
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Doc said 7:38AM on 3-22-2008
Boy, am I ever glad that twotonetommy, pi87 and others have complained about the sound editing of todays movies and television! Actors mumble, music is dubbed over dialogue, ambient noise from a given scene drowns out what is said, native accents prevent comprehension of the spoken words, and actors are in SPEED-SPEAKING mode-somewhat like a VERBAL EVELYN WOODS version of the script. Think of the old Fed-Ex commercials where the guy spoke about 400 words a minute or Demosthenes who used to study oratory talking with pebbles in his mouth and recited verses while running. Even multiple playbacks on my DVR fail to elicit any comprehensibility. It's NOT my hearing...I can detect a mouse-fart at the far end of the Milky Way!
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skatone17 said 1:26AM on 12-14-2007
This is fake, other sources have used sound equipment and come up with totally different results. BBC2's The Culture Show got, "I love you. Don't forget to always tell the truth." Personally, I can't hear a similarity to either of these two translations. Besides, the ambiguous ending is perfect as it is. Nothing they could possibly say would be as powerful as what we imagine they say - that's the point!
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Phlegmbot said 3:41PM on 1-12-2008
Okay. Great. Now can they use their digital superpowers to tell me what was in the box at the end of Barton Fink?
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Unbekannter Soldat said 2:39AM on 12-14-2007
Good Lord! Bill Murray is old enough to be her GRANDFATHER!!!!!!
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Linda said 3:13AM on 12-14-2007
I don't think we'll ever really know what Bill Murray's character said because it isn't whatever Bill Murray said. My guess is that Bill probably said something like, "I am saying the most amazing thing ever said to a woman," or "We're done Sweetheart, we finally get to blow this taco stand and go home." The point is, that in this perfect film by the brilliant Sofia Coppola, his character said whatever each viewer wants to believe he said. That is why it is a perfect ending, a transcendent film, and why we love it so much. It's pointless (and not possible) to figure out what he said because no matter what it is, it's not the character's line. Now I have to watch it again. Bravo, Sofia!
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Jim said 9:01AM on 12-14-2007
We're not suppose to know what was whispered...but rather imagine what should have been said.
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Carlo said 6:43AM on 12-14-2007
Who gives a frog's fart what the "final whisper" was in the film LOST IN TRANSITION. Most Americans these days (except the galactically stupid ones) hate all Hollywood actors because politically, and on the plane of sincere humanitarianism, that's exactly what they are...hypocrite ACTORS!
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Bott said 7:13AM on 12-14-2007
It's easier to understand what the ghosts are saying in the EVP's on Ghost Hunters.
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Pierpoint Windsor said 7:17AM on 12-14-2007
Are you talkiname?
WE do not view movies NOT to understand every word in the dialogue and frankly we are beyond frustrated with poor sound quality and actors minus training to ensure we are able to comprehend what the script writers have provided for them.
IF those making this film had felt it was important for their paying customers to understand that line, would they not have ensured every word was crystal clear? WE NEVER go to movie theaters any longer, instead stick with receiving DVD's in the mail-and as for clear understanding of dialogue we no longer expect it from so called 'movie personalities' instead feel secure with Donald Ducks always clear statements!
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pi87 said 7:34AM on 12-14-2007
I think Pierpoint Windsor is on to something. It seems to be the penchant of directors to have a great deal of the script's dialog to be acted in softly whispered, intimate conversation while too often the actors are turned away from the camera and microphone. What's with that? I prefer to see a live play where the actors feel the obligation to communicate with their audience.
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twotonetommy said 8:13AM on 12-14-2007
Besides the background music is SO loud, I have a hard enough time hearing what the actors say most of the time. Directors please turn the volume down
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vivianleigh said 8:35AM on 12-14-2007
The most famous last words: Oh, I'll worry about that tomorrow!!!
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steve said 9:12AM on 12-14-2007
paul is dead ..........i bury paul .........take ob la de la da.........dont spoil your dream hear what you will .....bill would have said a party a party for me.......... baby steps
who knows but i bet his last words were funny
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Terrie said 9:13AM on 12-14-2007
Thank you Jim I agree...we're not suppose to know what was said....in fact it doesn't really matter what was said between them....that's just another part of the film. Use a little imagination...personally I think he said "This movie sucks and I am glad this is the final scene" HA I am kidding of course call your dogs off future posters!
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aj said 9:34AM on 12-14-2007
"rosebud"
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Rhiannon said 10:02AM on 12-14-2007
A friend recommended this movie to me last year and I loved it. It's never bothered me that I couldn't understand what he whispered..that's the beauty of it. I think I'm going to have to rent this movie again though.
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Charles said 11:13AM on 12-14-2007
Thank you for revealing your own hang ups prejudice about age.
Only the Anglo world is so judgmental about this an issue.
In the rest of the world age is respected.
Relationships between adults are not judged on such an irrelevant standard, but rather on how each person can contribute to the happiness and well-being of the other.
Unbekannter Soldat says:
Good Lord! Bill Murray is old enough to be her GRANDFATHER!!!!!!
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mike said 10:40AM on 12-14-2007
I dont know all i herd was "couger" and "pants"
sounds like he told her I have a couger in my pants ok and then she said ok. not joking thats what it sounded like
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Barbara Loden said 10:44AM on 12-14-2007
He may have just said : I am glad this stupid movie is over and I can get out of here and spend
the money.
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