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 5)
Christian Rodriguez said 8:47AM on 2-04-2008
People be aware that it’s not true that’s what they want you to believe they absolutely can not snoop around your laptop. That is violating your Privacy Act and they continue to do it to innocent people that are unaware of their rights. They have the right if you’re suspected by the government to have any type of links with known terrorist. And be aware that they know who are they and know their every move. So that’s a lack of BULL that they can just snoop into your laptop in the air port because they just feel like having fun with an innocent civilian. If you experience such violation let them do what they want with your belongings and while their conducting their search take all their information you’ll have at the end a well lawsuit against them.
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Jim said 9:59AM on 2-04-2008
I get pulled aside and patted down whenever I fly. I'm deaf so I can't understand TSA demands. My carry-ons are searched unnecessarily and my CPAP gets inspected with a fine-toothed comb. TSA in general makes taveling a nightmare for the handicapped and they offer no apologies. While I'm being wanded and patted down my belongings are waiting on the conveyer to be picked up by anyone.
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Phil said 1:43PM on 2-04-2008
With Al Quaeda having pronounced that all Americans, including civilians, can be justifiably killed in the name of Jihad, we should be thankful that TSA and the govt. are scrutinizing every little detail when we are flying.
So stop your whining about Cheney, Bush, invasion of privacy, etc. These people are trying to prevent another 9/11 and also trying to save your life.
You should be focusing your anger and disgust on Bin Laden, Zawahiri, and the other Jihadis who created this mess in the first place.
Besides, if you have nothing to hide you should have nothing to worry about.
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Leslie said 7:00PM on 2-07-2008
Damn! Looks like our right to privacy is gone out the window! The whole world is under surveillance! Can't wait to see what's next!!!
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Marilu said 8:13PM on 1-09-2008
Geez, now Big Brother is snooping through our computers? Makes me sick. So what if some lewd dude has porn on his laptop. How is that a security threat?
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jmarksman2 said 8:17PM on 1-09-2008
Good old Bush, and his master, "Prick" Cheney, saving the world by supressing one right at a time.
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Paul said 9:31PM on 1-09-2008
Child pornographers are the scurge of the earth and should be caught any way possible.
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kittie6968 said 8:31PM on 1-09-2008
i dont believe this... i think its a bunch of hooblahh
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smlashmate said 8:41PM on 1-09-2008
Well I told U repub worshippers the paitrot act was a major taking of our rights and u laughed now its true they can catch the fundie preacher with child porn in his puter when he travels to meet the 14 YO boy he met online !!!
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Marian said 9:01PM on 1-09-2008
I have 2 different trains of thought about this. First, if you have something sleazy on your pc- you deserve to be caught. Second, Can they think of Anything else to slow the lines? Haven't they ever heard of password protected? I can't imagine being forced to reveal that to a stranger. I'd rather be felt up in their so called searches.
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gabriabell said 9:02PM on 1-09-2008
umm. marilu? its not just porn. it was child pornography. read it again.
i think going through peoples stuff is enough, but looking through it and reading things and asking questions is a bunch of asdhfjidsfjisdj.
thats personal. and this is a free country, so what happens if you dont tell them. dont we have a right?
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cmp1996 said 9:11PM on 1-09-2008
jmarksman2 might be more concerned about the liberals in California passing a law that allows the government to potentially control the thermoset setting in your house to control the temperature than to worry about whether President Bush had anything to do with the inspection of your computer. Typical left wing -- just wait if -- Heaven forbid hillary get in the White House -- every time you reach into your wallet -- her hand will already be there!
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JOYCE said 9:11PM on 1-09-2008
WELL I CAN SEE SOME OF THE REASONING BEHIND THIS ESPSCIALLY WITH THE BOMBINGS OF LATE SOMEONE WHO IS DETERMINED TO BLOW SOMETHING UP COULD USE A LAPTAP AS A DENOTEATOR TO START A BOMB ELSE WHERE ON PLANE IN ALMOST ANYTHING NOW IF YA GOT PORN AND STUFF YOU DON,T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO SEE I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GET RID OF IT ANYTHING PERSONAL
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Michael Kuhne said 9:15PM on 1-09-2008
Personally, I think this is sick. The customs agents now have what they have wanted all the time, the right to snoop into people's private and personal lives and and actually run them. Heil Bush! Heil Bush! Heil Bush!
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richard said 9:28PM on 1-09-2008
i believe intellectual property should remain unsearchable. unless there is just cause.
can they take it away from your presence?
what if you have a book or music, or other creative work your have written for release or publication. it is an easy task to copy a hard drive. also a lot of art work or writing could easily offend, or be seen as subversive, since it is so subjective, & different in various cultures. unless there is reason this is an unnecessary intrusion.
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Michele said 9:25PM on 1-09-2008
I don't do luggage anymore. I ship my stuff ahead to my destination via FedEx and it's all waiting for me when I arrive. I get on the plane with my carry-on and that's it. Luggage is a pain-in-the-butt that nobody needs to deal with anymore. And .. unlike the the airlines who can send your belongings into limbo .. FedEx tracks your stuff every step of the way from the time it leaves your hands to the moment it is delivered. You can also use UPS or DHL. It's worth the fee. NO MORE LUGGAGE FOR ME !!
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cbgb001 said 9:28PM on 1-09-2008
The policy was probably set up by republican (fascist) perverts like Foley, Craig and Little Bushie Jr. so they could set up a list of child molesters to recruit to join their gay republican parties.
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knippenr said 9:37PM on 1-09-2008
Perhaps the crooked lawmakers will get caught in their mischief.
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jack said 9:36PM on 1-09-2008
Will the be able to seach Thumb drives cd's DVDs that I carry on. My cd/dvd case hold 300. that will sure hold up the plane. lol an can the search a hard drive that is out of a laptop? So just take it out before boarding the plane, the reinsert it after you board.
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Victor Crumb said 9:45PM on 1-09-2008
whats the point, is porn a threat?
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