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)
mosokc said 2:14PM on 3-26-2008
Well, the world is gonna burn up anyway, so we might as well enjoy a nice, refreshing shower in the process.
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seriousaps said 2:14PM on 3-26-2008
They should have showers on greyhound bus's too.
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Bob Wong said 2:26PM on 3-26-2008
Muslims have to shower more often? Possibly the hot climate or whatever. Who cares. Most folks could not afford to do it anyway.
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John Campbell said 2:39PM on 3-26-2008
The so called 'Carbon foot print' is one sorry joke created by a bunch of pathetic globalist socialists who promote the idea that we all have to become good little socialists in order to save the world. Their fear mongering is now a laughing stock as reports are now coming out weekly, sometimes daily, exposing this hoax for what it truly is. It would be a far better service to keep track of the names behind this hoax and those who bellied up to help promote it so future generations can readily know who they are and avoid their next attempt.
As to the "Alex" poster, I wish someone would track that guy down for he seems to be posting his trash to every discussion board and forum he can find. Get rid of this jerk once and for all.
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RCR said 7:51PM on 3-26-2008
The operative question should not be "Would you shower on a plane," but "Should some people shower on a plane?" Or possibly, "Should some people shower before they board a plane?" Aren't you glad you shower regularly? Don't you wish everybody did?
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Fred Machana said 4:09PM on 3-26-2008
I think it is a great idea for the shower but it is not necessary. Carrying the extra water and steaming around in the plane can be uncomfortable to many. It would have been a good idea to have these showers at the Airport while changing planes.
The technology and its people are going too far with these. Why can one not shower at home before going to the Airport and the most can be a 10 hour flight. We work 10 hours before retaking a shower. Are we going to introduce showers at work too?
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pawntail said 4:09PM on 3-26-2008
What a sad waste of resources.... There are people in this world that go without clean water their entire lives and have no way to better their existence yet there are others that are 'extravagent' and have no idea what common sense is! Pathetic that they couldnt take that $18,000 and make the world a better place! And just for those who bash the 'carbon footprint' idea, everything we do leaves some sort of waste/pollution behind. Its a known fact, make sure to read up on scientific data before running your mouth. Oh and just to let you know, it WOULD burn more fuel to carry that much extra weight (I work at an airport!) and therefore using more fuel raises the demand which in turn keeps the price of fuel up! So those showers for the rich and selfish will contribute to you paying more to fill up your gas tank!!
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R.W. said 4:22PM on 3-26-2008
Just imagine this. You're taking a shower and are covered with lots of soap. It really feels great. All of a sudden, you hear a loud noise and alarms going off.
R.W.
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Carol said 4:45PM on 3-26-2008
Geez-- I've been on flights that were held because the plane was too heavy-- removing passengers. How much weight would that water add?
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Memphis said 4:46PM on 3-26-2008
If you have ever had to use the bathroom on a 3 hour flight, the odor is bad enough, I couldn't imagine taking a shower on a plane. Having work for an airline, I know the filth that is in those bathrooms. NO WAY!!!
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nyprowler7 said 4:46PM on 3-26-2008
John Campbell is obvioulsy a right wing whacko. Socialist this socialist that. Why don't you go out and cut down a few trees and then wax euphoric looking at them on the ground.
God created the Earth, God probably wants us to treat it well.
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Susan said 4:56PM on 3-26-2008
You're kidding me, right? People who can afford to fly like these don't fly coach like us regular folk...Their bathrooms are the size of the first class section of 747..Why not take a shower then..If I had the money and the resources to fly like this you bet after 12 hours of flying I would take a shower, do my hair and put on frest makeup..I hate flying Jet blue, Southwest for 5 hours, get off the plane feeling like a sack of potatoes.
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Chris said 4:57PM on 3-26-2008
Honestly this would be a great thing to have. I fly on those 14 to 18 hour flights (yes, they are that long), and when you come off of them, it doesn't matter if you take a shower right before you got on the plane, before its over you smell, your hair is greasy, and you need to be refreshed. If i'm paying that much for a ticket that is a nice thing to have, and i'm willing to say that the added cost for fuel weight is something that doesn't matter to those who are already paying 18,000 dollars for a ticket. "The price went up from 18 to 19 thousand, oh no i can't afford a First Class ticket anymore."
Also, those who fly on seats those expensive are usually business executives who need to look good when they arrive and go straight to a meeting or something. That's why the airlines, after giving them 5 course meals with 200 dollar a bottle wines, give free toiletries such as cologne, toothbrush, razor, etc to clean up, as well as pajamas so they are comfortable for those lie-flat beds. You get what you pay for.
Having a shower on board is a nice benefit, and it sounds like something you all are just complaining about, most likely because you will never get to use it.
BTW Fred, they already have showers at airport lounges, but maybe you don't have an hour or two to waste to find the right terminal where the lounge is, wait for one of their open showers, get clean, change clothes, and go back to your next place, be it a meeting or a connecting flight. People have stuff to do, get over it.
Bob Wang: Stop being ignorant, it just makes you look stupid. Emirates is one of the best airlines in the world it has nothing to do with being a Muslim and therefore needing to shower more. They're also the first to be introducing the technology to safely use cellphones DURING your flight. Emirates is a company that tries to best serve its customers its not race or religion so stop being ignorant.
Pawntail: If you work at an airport, than you should know that Jet-A fuel is completely different than the low-octane unleaded gas for my car, the two are different products and aren't related so stop trying to fear mongle people into your position by saying your gas is becoming more expensive because of showers on airplanes (I hope you know how ridiculous that sounds). That's like saying because rich people want some Gucci shoes, therefore your adidas are going to be more expensive because of a demand for more shoes. That's nothing but a bunch of crap.
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Gary said 5:10PM on 3-26-2008
Can you shower with a friend?
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trainerrn said 5:10PM on 3-26-2008
Good for you
Chris telling it like it is. Trust me, my job entails flying all over the world. Really and no matter how hard you try you smell once you leave that plane.
If I have to say anything Chris is so right. If it can be afforded at $18,000 per 1st class ticket and a shower can make all the difference when you are late for that big $300 million dollar meeting because you smelled bad and looked like hell off of your 12 hour flight.
Globalization is everywhere people, money is abundant in that region, just deal with the fact that $multi million dollar deals are made everyday.
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dances1horse said 5:13PM on 3-26-2008
Are the walls sound proof or does every body get to hear those who sing in the shower?
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Tom said 5:15PM on 3-26-2008
Lets burn up more fuel that we don't have. Hey Chris, who died and left you boss?
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kc said 5:16PM on 3-26-2008
Rich Peolple stink like pigs, cause they live like them, everywere they go
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gary said 5:16PM on 3-26-2008
Are the walls sound proof or does everyone get to listen in to those who sing while showering
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kc said 5:17PM on 3-26-2008
ask chris
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