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.
With each subsequent release of the 'Grand Theft Auto' (GTA) series there is always a stir of controversy, with various concerned groups trying to ban the games. The recently released 'GTA IV' is no different, and the latest group to take issue with the game is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The group takes issue with the driving aspects of the game -- specifically, the parts of driving that take place after main character Nico has had something to drink. 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pssummit said 10:17AM on 5-02-2008
MADD is one of the most evil organizations in this country. They use false concern about drunk driving as a front for their real mission....to ban the sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages. In other words, they want to bring back that huge 1930's disaster called Prohibition. Just what this country needs...another war on drugs (but this time alcohol). Just say NO to MADD!
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Jer said 10:54AM on 5-02-2008
If MADD mothers spent more time paying attention to their kids and teaching them what they should and shouldnt be doing instead of worrying about video game content they'd be better off. Censoring the world is not the answer to anything. The world is just going to beat you at that game. The world has changed its no longer the 1800's and it will never be that way again. I'm not saying MADDs cause isnt a noble cause, drunk drivers do need taken off the streets. But stick to your basics. People who choose to get behind the wheel drunk cause drunk driving incidents....not video games. If our child picks up behavior from a video game, then you as a parent failed that child because YOU didn't teach him/her any better.
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knokt209 said 5:27PM on 5-02-2008
I COMPLETELY agree with Jer!! Parents these days expect society to raise their kids for them. Why not be a parent & NOT buy the game for your kid, or let them know that video games are fake & what real consequences would be. Let's face it, if they shelter their kids like that, the real world will destroy them......
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Jaclyn said 12:33AM on 5-03-2008
Why does Rockstar need to make a game that involves "shooting people, stealing cars, running down police officers, soliciting prostitutes" and drunk driving? I don't care how old the target audience is; Nobody needs to be associating those activities with "fun".
I don't think it's acceptable for companies to be putting trash on the market "hoping" that only responsible, mentally-stable adults will indulge. (Although, I seriously doubt these companies are "hoping" for anything of the sort, since that would mean fewer sales.)
And if someone, or an organization, questions video game or movie content, why do people immediately scream "Eek! Censorship!"?
Don't confuse censorship with discretion.
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strykehero said 12:36PM on 5-05-2008
Are you kidding me?
People associate this game as fun because, well, it is fun. But if you look at the reviews, and delve deeper into what the game actually is, there is a STORY behind everything. Rockstar wouldn't just make a game about random killings and prostitute swooning with a lack of story behind all of it...the blasted thing wouldn't sell.
Not to mention the other idiotic comment about the mentally-stable adults. I'm 18 going on 19. A future game designer. I work, go to school, chill with friends, and game when I can. I enjoy this game for what it is: a GAME. I'm not about to go and start blasting every man, woman, and child just because the game is seemingly putting subliminal messages in my mind (I do believe that's what your getting at, or you wouldn't have said anything that stupid). Not trying to put myself on a pedestal, but alot of people who game are the same way. We see the game as delving deeper than the killings and take it for what it is.
And censorship is censorship. Screw discretion. Talk to Hillary or Jack Thompson. They want censorship and all games banned so that way you can sit at home knitting a sweater in front of a fire, listening to freakin' Yanni at 8 in the evening, and not worry about making asinine comments such as this. You obviously don't game, thus the lack of knowledge here.
john said 10:11PM on 5-10-2008
ok i am a playstation gamer advisor and all of you companies trying to get your name up in lights STOP! it is old and stupid most of you doing it have nothing to do with the game well hmm take madd for example they are in on it cause of the drink well how about focusing on the real drunk drivers and the ones who do after playing the game do it as a cop out so they can say the game made them do it! people grow the hell up! what would you do without video games oh wait that is right blame the movies or better yet blame the music all you people who blame the game you seriously need to not only grow up but get a life cause when you resort to doing this you are just as bad as these annoying tabloids who make crap up! i will tell you this i own the whole series of gta have i shot someone no have i went out drinking and driving drunk no have i did most of the stuff through out the series no and you know why because it is all about common sense! and really if anyone is to blame it is the parents of these teens buying the game for them they are the ones needing reemed out! you know what i really am steemed so i am gonna stop before i say something i should not!
GRAND THEFT AUTO IS NOT THE ENEMY,COMMON SENSELESS TEENS ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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truth_hurts said 2:33AM on 2-23-2009
Fiction: MADD being upset b/c a video game shows a character having a drink and then driving.
Fact: MADD is in financial crisis and knew this would get the organization news coverage
Fiction: Madd members practice what they preach
Fact: A study 2 years ago showed that 2% of the organizations MEMBERS have had DUI's. 30% of those convictions were while the members were AFFLIATED with MADD (Not "before they learned a lesson")
Fact: Another study done at the same time showed that 72% of MADD members either themself or a family member was involved in a DUI crash. 27% OF THOSE CRASHES ENDED IN A FATALITY.
Makes you wonder doesn't it? Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black.
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manish said 5:13AM on 3-27-2009
when i play game screens continously unstable....
its give pain on ma head...
is it a part of game or what..plz help me plz ....
i want to play dis game
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