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 28)
missyokamoto said 2:08PM on 4-02-2008
well, if he believes that i guess it's ok, what kind of service does she have from beyond? i want to sign up so i can check up on my son and give him further directions in life! lol (not being mean in any way)
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David said 4:12PM on 7-27-2008
First and foremost having the dead reach out to you is not evil in anyway that i have ever read in any bible, though it is kinda hard to believe that this mans wife is sending him text messages, how do any of us know what the right answers are to any of these questions...one thing i am pretty sure of is that unnecesarily bashing God, the bible, and the people who believe in those things is wrong, and it may not be wrong to God if you dont believe, but im sure the people who do believe dont appreciate it. "bible humper" come on grow up...and further more just cause our "society thinks its wrong doesnt mean it is...i believe that if something is done with bad intent, or with the idea in mind to hurt other, then its wrong...but thats my personal opinion, we should all realise what we say is not law...dont be so mean people, karmas a muther
Glenda Yeager said 2:10PM on 4-02-2008
It's so sad.....people are playing around with demonic things and will eventually get hurt...as in sickness, disease or death. Communication from the dead is not a Godly act and thus, very dangerous.
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Haha said 5:40PM on 5-27-2008
Oh jesus christ.
Yes I used the guys name in vein.
Should I go to hell for it does that make me a bad person?
The idea of the dead contacting from a cell phone sounds way stupid to me but i do believe in contact with the dead. Just cause something is not 'godly' doesnt mean it cant be true.
Freakin bible humper.
robomonkey said 6:54PM on 5-27-2008
okay so you believe it is an evil act, but tell me in heaven dont you get everything you want? so what if you want to contact family that is still alive? is it evil to care about your family? On another note im guessing you think objects such as tarot cards are evil because they predict the future, but as it turns out we can predict the future using the bible, or at least find events that have happened that we could have predicted if we knew about it, so does that make the bible evil? just asking.
Cherie said 7:52PM on 6-21-2008
It is ignorance to believe in this day and age that people will go to hell for communicating with the dead. Granted there are forms of divination that would be considered un-Godly but only because they lend credit to the spirit world or to a medium rather than God himself who is in all things. You may find it hard to believe but even Christ communicated with the after-life. We aren't witch hunters anymore so do a little research and get off your holy horse. No one is perfect and condemnation exists on levels most of us do not understand. I am a believer in Christ and I have been communicating with the after-life since I was a child. Some things aren't meant for everyone because of lack of understanding and in the wrong hands can't anything be considered evil?
gothic girly said 6:17PM on 7-08-2008
well realy it isnt a bad thing but.....
if you wanna say it right is is bibble banger and dont say im wrong
im right dont say he is going to be cursed
becuse if you are still in touch it is your belife not anyone elses
my thing is back of him it is his belife
Mullanaphy! said 5:47PM on 7-08-2008
You are right, messing with demonic powers can be dangerous. You might find my accompanying comic to possible be distasteful but I wrote it as a fair warning.
http://www.finalsandwich.com/comics/3/12/
People should becareful when dealing with the unknown.
Victoria said 2:13PM on 4-02-2008
There is no way his dead wife is texting him from beyond the grave. He must truly be overcome with grief to believe these text messages are anything more than someone's idea of a sick joke. If he really believes his dead wife is texting him, then he should cancel his
service and deactivate the phone. Then, see if the text messages continue. After all if his wife is texting from Heaven or Hell, she
doesn't need an earthly service provider to do it. But an earthly person does.
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j said 8:19AM on 4-14-2008
how do U know?
While it seems unlikely (even ot me) I can promise U from
intense -personal experience- the beyond does indeed exsists
& 'certain Mediums' are in contact with those who lived on earth almost every single day we are living here!
Being spirits do work on an energy and often effect electronic
currents. It may be possible that this story is real.
Terri said 2:21PM on 4-02-2008
I have no doubt that this could be true. I'm a 54 yr. old (sane) housewife, whose parents had a similar experience with a regular house phone back in the '70's. My father received a very static-laden phone call one evening from a man asking to talk to Doris (my mom). Even though my father was trying to speak to him, the person on the other line was oblivious to my father and kept asking to talk to Doris. My father knew who it was on the other end, and the guy was Mom's brother, who had passed away a couple of months prior. When my father couldn't get Mom to the phone on time, the phone just went dead. No dial tone...nothing.
My father was so totally astounded that he just sat down on the couch with his hand over his mouth pondering what had just occurred and why.
He's 83 now, and still sticks by his story. Strange things really DO happen in this world.
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Nora said 11:10AM on 6-01-2008
wow! i beleive in afterlife and tht story was just... wow! both of them the cell phone and ure's! just omg! WOW!
Christi Ream said 12:24PM on 6-01-2008
OH my goodness - this is so familiar to me! After my beloved grandmother passed away, I was sad because although I made it to her bedside before she died, she was already unable to communicate (due to a stroke.) About a week later, my phone rang one evening, and even though there was a dial tone when I picked it up, there was terrible static, and I heard my grandmother saying hello to me. My husband was right next to me and heard the ring/static/voice from a distance as well. All of the blood rushed out of my face and I KNEW it was her, instantly. I have never had any experience at ALL like this - but she and I were close, and I talked to her all day for 2 days before she passed in the hospital, and I kept saying that I didn't know if she could hear me but I was going to talk to her in case she could.
In as strange as this all sounds, I believe that there could be some truth to the story.
sarah said 4:02PM on 6-01-2008
oh my god your story is so freaky!!!!!! I would scream if that happend to me (or even call 911)
jfhayk said 2:19PM on 4-02-2008
Wow, I guess Britain's version of the telecommunications portability act is a little broader than ours.
P.S. Cool Blondie shirt, old dude.
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Shannon said 2:22PM on 4-02-2008
TomTrifik...Are you serious? I really cannot tell if you are being sarcarstic or real. If you are kidding..HAHA. If you are serious...seek help!!
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guitgirl218 said 2:25PM on 4-02-2008
Tomtrifik let me guess...you're a repub? And much like the former governor of NJ i'm sure you have a secret side...Suck some democratic Richard you D-Head...
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Jeff said 2:26PM on 4-02-2008
Wait till he gets the bill!
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melc6970 said 8:28AM on 4-03-2008
Hey Tom take yor propoganda somewhere else.This is a pretty cool story.I really don't care to see your ranting about that witch.You need to post that junk with the appropiate story not this on!
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Hod said 2:30PM on 4-02-2008
Yea.... Right !
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