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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
mdirtygirl2 said 1:03PM on 1-29-2008
I don't want to understand the mentality of the hacker, but I do understand religion. Religion is an emotional refuge for the weak who cannot find their own answers. People hide with their fears under the false umbrella of protection provided by the lies of organized religions. It is a deceptive form of control that makes you feel better, even though nothing has really changed. You are still in the same mess, and even worse because now you just gave away money that you needed to a church.
Organized religion is the biggest financial fraud in the world, even bigger then Wall Street. And yet everybody still plays.
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gb said 1:12PM on 1-29-2008
Guess it's a good thing I don't have religion...I have Jesus!
God Bless(es Always)
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pedro gross said 1:54PM on 1-29-2008
Good job to those hackers. There are a few sites that need to be shut down too. Keep up the good work. Next in line should be Neo-Nazis and Commie web sites.
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Lisa said 5:07PM on 1-29-2008
The hackers had a good idea, but when the "church" finds out who they are...there's going to be hell to pay. Oh yes. They don't like people who object to their ideas.
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Burce said 5:18PM on 1-29-2008
All religion is whacked to the next guy over. Just because you dislike or refuse to understand one person's religion,(be it a "cult", spiritual belief system, or whatever) should not give you the right to attack or belittle their beliefs. Hey if it works for you and you aren't intruding on other peoples beliefs more power to ya I say. Isn't that what our constitution implies on the subject anyway?... What would be the fall-out if this happened to the Southern Baptist website, or Pat Roberts of the world, or Catholic churches? Scientology is the easy target of the day. Guess it's easy thing to do when you can hide behind the so-called anonymity of the internet.
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thom said 5:01PM on 1-29-2008
This is great news. Scientology has had it coming for a long time. Let it rip!
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hehehe said 5:01PM on 1-29-2008
I guess Tom won't be jumping up and down on the couch tonight!
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adam herman said 12:16AM on 1-30-2008
If there was any question that this cult, and dont be faked into thinking its not a cult, was not an extremly dangerous one, it is going to rear its ugly head and soon. I am no fan of illegal hacking but on occasion a protest is very important to the preservation of right. Always remember there are two types of racism, the first is the group that hates others, the second, and the far more dangerous, is the group that not only hates, but are in the positions of monetery power that can really do large scale harm. dont fall for this groups line of bull!
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PITY said 5:26PM on 1-29-2008
mdirtygirl2 OUT OF THE MOUTH OF A BABE, WHO THINKS THEY COME FROM A TOMATO. I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOUR SOUL IS COLD.
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Leena said 5:30PM on 1-29-2008
Is it just me or was that uber creepy?
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Sara Sidle said 5:31PM on 1-29-2008
mdirtygirl2 says:
I don't want to understand the mentality of the hacker, but I do understand religion. Religion is an emotional refuge for the weak who cannot find their own answers. People hide with their fears under the false umbrella of protection provided by the lies of organized religions. It is a deceptive form of control that makes you feel better, even though nothing has really changed. You are still in the same mess, and even worse because now you just gave away money that you needed to a church.
Organized religion is the biggest financial fraud in the world, even bigger then Wall Street. And yet everybody still plays.
And you know this how?
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Some Guy said 6:27PM on 1-29-2008
Take ou the skin heads an neo-nazi websites while your at it!
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roger said 6:23PM on 1-29-2008
how does dirtygirl2 know this??? the code has been cracked, and now the attempts to hack will be readily available. secret code: CS
or now will be known as something secretly desired: common sense. she has said better than most of the best.
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Steve said 6:22PM on 1-29-2008
All glory to the dark lord Xenu! May the soul catchers find the world bountiful, and may Tom Cruise be infected with a billion thetans! Praise Xenu!!!
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Shiro said 2:43PM on 2-03-2008
OK, first, let me clear up a misunderstanding.
Anonymous is NOT A HACKER GROUP. Users of the pornographic imageboard 4chan are called "anonymous" because you don't have a name on 4chan. All posts are "anonymous." These hackers come from various boards on 4chan.com, such as /b/ and /i/.
But this is still bad.
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CD said 6:38PM on 1-29-2008
Whether one's faith is considered right, wrong or indifferent, what right does anyone have to deny that faith to those who choose to embrace it? The freedom of religion is one of the great graces of this country, and if we give in to those who would deny us that, then we are no better than those who would not fight Hitler. If we don't fight for their rights, who will fight for the us?
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Dee said 6:50PM on 1-29-2008
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.
TOO MANY ARE DECEIVEING THEMSELVES, AND OTHERS.
WE NEED TO READ THE WORD AND ASK GOD FOR REVELATION OF HIS WORD IN JESUS NAME.
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Dave said 6:54PM on 1-29-2008
Actually, the freedom of speech gives someone the right to belittle anyone's beliefs. Why should religion have protection that political, sociological, or scientific beliefs don't?
Yes, it is illegal under the United State's law system. However, from a moralist standpoint (be it utilitarian, nihilistic, etc), this act is justified.
Pshh.. Don't even mention Hitler. Godwin's Law.
They are hiding because they will be arrested. Everyone hides behind something, be it strength, money, social constructs.
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Dave said 6:54PM on 1-29-2008
Oh yeah, Dee, shut up you religious weakling. No one wants to hear your bullshit.
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sootro mendy said 6:56PM on 1-29-2008
Funny thing when the world criticize the way Chinese govt and many of it's citizens condemn FaLong Gong cult, while the same group of people do exactly the same intolerated other cult themselves such as Davidian branch, Scientology etc. How hilarious. To me, cult is cult and all religions were creation of cults from the very beginning.
Online harrassment, Online damage of private property etc are all equally bad if the so call democratic govt allow such disgusting thing to happen. It's a Shame.
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