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.
Thankfully for a kidnapped 16 year-old girl from Wheatland, Oregon, her captor, 37-year-old David Anthony Faboo, did not take her cell phone.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
BurlJeanD said 2:56PM on 2-26-2008
This man looks like an unkept mountain man right out of red wood country up where the tall trees grow. He is part bear. Wonder how a man can keep his face clean with that mop on his face? Does he know how to use a comb? Am happy this girl is safe in Oregon.
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VIC POWERS said 4:10PM on 2-26-2008
he looks baked
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Vahn said 5:30PM on 2-26-2008
Damn,he's a looker.
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susan said 6:45AM on 2-27-2008
I dont know the whole situation but what 16 year old girl in her right mind would get into a car willingly with a 37 year old man she met online...At least she had enough brains to play it cool and was able to text for help afterwards. She's lucky he was as dumb as she was as to not take her phone while kidnapping her...Dumb and Dumber...
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Sue McDonough said 6:48AM on 2-27-2008
My cell phone beeps when I call 911. Asked the Verizon guy and that aalert can't be turned off. BAD
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qtrapchic8 said 7:37AM on 2-27-2008
Since when is it okay to meet someone you met online?
When I was 16, AOL and dial-up was the popular thing and it was well before all the horror stories of meet-ups gone wrong. Yet even though we hadnt already heard these stories, we never ever thought of meeting someone we met online.
How is it that today's kids have more information on their hands yet can't connect the stories they hear to common sense? I don't care if you think you are madly in love with the mystery friend online - we need to stick with making friends from real live people at home, work, school...
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Jimster said 9:37PM on 2-27-2008
Lucky girl....things could have been a lot different....guess it was good she was picked up by this back woods hillbilly
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Jennifer said 10:17AM on 2-27-2008
I have to agree partially with don't meet people online in real life. I believe that if you have spoken to someone via online chat rooms, online date sites, etc. that if you meet them in a public place and make it a group date things are typically better. I am glad to girl is safe and had enough brains to text for help.
Not all online people you meet are out to raip,murder take advantage. Some people are actually interested in being friends, partners. Best of luck to this girl. Hopefully she will have learned her lesson the hard way and play it safe next time.
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Paul Brothers said 7:46AM on 2-27-2008
Definitely a liberal Democrat--no doubt about it!
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Andi said 8:00AM on 2-27-2008
I've met many people from the internet, but something tells me that if that was what showed up at my door...I wouldn't have went anywhere! He just looks like he wants to rape and kill ya.
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Angel said 8:21AM on 2-27-2008
She is old enough to know better. I hope the parents take this time to correct her actions instead of passing the blame onto myspace and everyone else.
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chris said 8:28AM on 2-27-2008
Who is saying you cannot meet people you talk to online? Meet at a public place such as a mall. It's only a one time thing that can be discussed afterwards online if there is a chance for more.
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dick cheney said 8:29AM on 2-27-2008
if the parents don't have her computer ripped out of her room, then they should have a tracking device attached to her ankle and their entire household disconnected from the internet.
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Lzy said 8:34AM on 2-27-2008
I cannot believe how stupid some people are. Let's hope this girl doesn't have children. Her DNA is obviously full of STUPID.
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Danl said 8:42AM on 2-27-2008
We met online in a chatroom too, however we spent a long time chatting and calling each other on the telephone that when we finally met at her home, it was like we had known each other for a long time. Even her cat accepted me when I visited her hometown 2000 miles away.. Her cat had heard me on the telephone and would purr when he heard my voice. And this happened almost four years ago, and soon we will be married.........."different strokes for different folks"
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Pat Says said 8:48AM on 2-27-2008
I agree with Angel, Dick and Chris. More parenting and some consequences at home can deliver a clear message to this girl... She is 16! What was she thinking when she accepted this trip?
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Bobby said 8:56AM on 2-27-2008
I bet her "loser" alert went off about this guy. It doesn't say any type of force was used or that she resisted in any type of way. Although technically this may constitute kidnapping I'm sorta thinking this guy's gonna walk in a hurry.
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pjase67 said 9:07AM on 2-27-2008
Dreamin' Demon has this at their site and Imp found the guy's Myspace and the girl's too.
http://dreamindemon.com
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phylesmith said 9:07AM on 2-27-2008
Wheatland is in California. And the girl is developmentally disabled.
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dorothy said 9:08AM on 2-27-2008
no where in the story does it say she was forced into his vehicle.....after she realized he was heading to the state line she relised her error...WELL DUH!!!...I have a 17 yr old daughter and she knows better than to give out ANY personal info...therefore you cant meet wierdos online...what is wrong with these people. This guy was wrong for having the girl in his car but she was stupid for gettin in...Im wondering if shes impared?
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