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 3)
Jupiter said 3:41PM on 3-31-2008
Whilst I'd love to be just that extra 1.5" taller, to be the same height as both my sisters, I would be reluctant to add it onto my head. My head is big enough already. I'd rather have height added to my spine, just above my waist, because that's where I'm shorter, and it would even out my proportions.
Still, I don't imagine that'll happen any time soon, inserting disks into the spine. I'm sure the spinal cord is a bit flexible, but there is so much that can go wrong. Still, if a way is found to do it fairly safely, in a way that we won't suffer unduly when we get older, I bet a lot of people would go for that.
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gman35 said 8:43PM on 3-31-2008
try adding it to the soles of the feet and it would do more good
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Amber said 8:48PM on 3-31-2008
Tom Cruise needss this sugery!!!!!!!!!!!!
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lalallala said 2:12PM on 4-23-2008
kool! only I wish i could be 2 inches SHORTer and skinnier wouldnt hurt :)
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Jennifer said 8:48PM on 3-31-2008
You know, if they were to lose the coneheads and add a stringy red wig to the goons pictured above, you'd have Prisilla Presley.
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Bear said 8:59PM on 3-31-2008
Are you kidding me??
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kaye said 8:56PM on 3-31-2008
Are you kidding me??
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S said 9:15PM on 3-31-2008
What are those big pointy things on their heads?........oh, I know, there Pamela Lees' old implants
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YAHH! said 9:32PM on 3-31-2008
WHAT THE HELLTH ARE THOSE PAMELA'S OLD IMPLANTS
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Jo said 9:50PM on 3-31-2008
Thanks any way, but I prefer the heels.
$8000 to artifically lengthen the skull .... His is obviously numb.
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Cymphony said 9:55PM on 3-31-2008
Those people look stupid;like aliens.
no thanks!
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DR TIM said 9:59PM on 3-31-2008
This guy should be thrown out of the medical profession...I do know, he would make a lot more money if he could add on two inches elsewhere.
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mylesdaniel456 said 10:00PM on 3-31-2008
Why would someone want to put silicone implants in their heads??
wouldnt it just mess with their brain or cause other problems with your head?
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Sarah Aly said 8:04PM on 7-15-2008
it adds both height and ugliness!
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live2sing said 10:06PM on 3-31-2008
Do people actually use these???!!!
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Annette said 10:09PM on 3-31-2008
what the hell!
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wtf said 6:51PM on 4-28-2008
geez, why mess wit da head? just do what dem koreans (honorary country of plastic surgery-r-us) do: break the legs and add steel rods = instantly taller. same-day/mother-daughter surgery specials abound, too!
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wolfman said 10:26PM on 3-31-2008
Where is Dan Hemroid?
The Wolfman
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md_oconnell said 10:27PM on 3-31-2008
I heard of the knee surgery, which is really suppose to work. I wonder how much that would set one back? I'm sure VERY pricy.
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JERRY said 10:31PM on 3-31-2008
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!
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