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.
We're pretty familiar with cell phones immolating themselves. Usually it's cheap, knock-off or poorly designed batteries that explode at the drop of a hat and cause some fireworks and fears of death. A story out of China reports of a very different sort of cell phone fire -- a much larger and rather more intentional type.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jaymen said 1:02PM on 3-10-2008
I hope she goes to jail... we all a man who did the same thing would be called an abusive monster and he'd be sent to jail for a while
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Tiburnation said 2:43PM on 3-10-2008
Jaymen-She can't be considered with domestic violence. She did not touch him. She only destroyed shared property (assuming the story above is correct in stating they both own the store and all content within the store).
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bawno23 said 4:00PM on 3-10-2008
Tiburnation - I believe what Jaymen was saying, is if we set fire to a woman's shoes worth that much, we would be considered monsters. It is a metaphor for the same thing, not for physically beating someone. THAT is sickening.
But this is the double standards we are used to since high school when a boy is an *ssh*le and a girl is smart for dumping the other. Go figure!
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Harry Assman said 3:14PM on 3-10-2008
This one is to good to let Go !
Mr WANGs wife Mrs WANG is mad Because Mr WANG is putting his WANG in another slant ! ROFFLOL !!!!!
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Bob said 3:20PM on 3-10-2008
The entirety of the $42,000 should be deducted from her share of the divorce settlement.
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raaliyah01 said 3:30PM on 3-10-2008
ahh.. I wonder if she's ever heard of sweet Lisa Lopes (no disrespect, I love her and TLC)... She shoulda burned down the damn house! lol (and just kidding, too...)
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madisonskie said 3:37PM on 3-10-2008
Until you have been in her shoes, stop judging. A spouse leaving can be devastating and emotionally crippling. He should be happy she didn't set him on fire.
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Aiden said 3:43PM on 3-10-2008
no offense but he deserved it does any body else remeber the lines til death do us part
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mike smith said 3:58PM on 3-10-2008
TO Harry Assman--
I don't know what your problem is, but calling asians "SLANTS" is not very nice and shows off your lack of intelligence. It's not okay to do that. You have a lot to learn about people, sir.
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Harry Assman said 4:48PM on 3-10-2008
To Mike Smerf
But I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night !Maybe I didnt gt enough sleep ! ROFFLOL !!!!
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chzyrider said 4:53PM on 3-10-2008
What about the environmental issues of burnming those cellphones? That is alot of heavymetals and chemicals in issue there.
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Gary said 4:55PM on 3-10-2008
at least she did not Bobbitt him
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Christina said 5:03PM on 3-10-2008
So why even own a stupid cell phone?
Thay are so over rated and there is way to many little brats that have one,not even old enough to have a drivers license!
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nate said 6:38PM on 3-10-2008
o yes she can go to jail for domestic violence for what she did i put a whole in the wall and went to jail for domestic violence
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i_fill_u7 said 9:43AM on 3-13-2008
One comment was right it should be taken from her half of the assets
And till death do us part means that your married till death, on that note you don't have to live with that crazy woman that is able to do you or your job and or friends harm.
I'm sorry to hear about this story but she was in the wrong and should suffer for her actions, any one that thinks its right to harm another should never feel sorry for being harmed, and yes taking money away from her husband is harm, taking away his job is harm, and burning down there house is harm.
That woman should fry!!!!!!
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betzlut5 said 6:19PM on 3-10-2008
GOOD 4 HER!!!!! IF HE WAS HOME WHERE HE SHOULD BE....THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED....HE GOT WHAT HE DESERVED,LMAO...!
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anna said 6:31PM on 3-10-2008
Mrs Wang should of Wacked off Mr. Wang's wanger.
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chris said 8:00PM on 3-10-2008
I am surprised she didn't burn the Rexus too!
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Jim said 7:14PM on 3-10-2008
This is what is called, a 'Tele-Wanger' which she could have 'disconnected' quite easily.
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Annie Banannie said 7:30PM on 3-10-2008
In China marriage is very sacred! Now this woman is considered a used product! It doesnt work the same way for a man! He can go out and marry someone else no problem. He shamed her! As for her burning up the cell phones, obviously she attacked him where it hurts.. his pocket book! For her, he attacked her emotionally and you know what they say about a woman "Hell hath no fury like the scorn of a woman" ...And, hell hath no fury like a bride who realizes that integrity has been breeched!!!
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