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 1)
styles1107 said 12:19PM on 5-17-2008
This is a paid advertisement brought to you by the soulless monkeys at grand theft auto:
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Carolyn Bond said 6:49PM on 5-17-2008
Thank you Styles, such advertisement is annoying.
butch said 7:40PM on 5-17-2008
what a crock.....my buddies 4yr. old son started punching me in the face while i was watching tv.....i said what the hell is going on??? my buddy said no big thing my son gets it from watching wrestling every sat. morning with me....i can give you 5 more exmaples of what video games to to kids.
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Kevin said 2:28PM on 5-30-2008
thats not an example of video games in the first place.....get your facts straight. Kids are impressionable anyways in the first place so I could point out how your mom can cause violence in children. Power rangers had to be banned from schools because kids who showed up with the shirts or outfits always ended up punching other kids. If an adult shows a kid a choke hold, you can expect he is going to use it on a friend of his. If parent think that violent video games cause violence within their kids, then guess what, they need to make changes within their daily lives, not the industries. For one, cut sugar out of their diet, then monitor what they watch on television, and last DONT EXPOSE YOUR KIDS TO VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES. If you are so afraid of video games giving them violent mannerisms, then don't let them play them...
Grace said 4:17PM on 5-20-2008
What a crock! Obviously this couple doesn't read the newspapers. A man down here in Florida killed his neighbor over a PS3! And videogames do cause aggression in children.....then again it's easy to make facts say whatever you want....
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phillip said 7:59PM on 5-17-2008
It took yall this long..duh.
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nmmalone said 8:13PM on 5-17-2008
I think that kids that play the violent video games and are seen exhibiting violence have some angry/violent aspect to their personality. That's why they like the violent video games, it enhances their violent perceptions of life.
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Truthis said 10:45PM on 5-17-2008
What I find amazing is that games that show extremely violent behavior and put children in the "driver's seat" of a career criminal are perfectly legal and mostly accepted by Americans. Yet the same parents wouldn't dream of letting their children see an R rated movie in which there was sexual relations between normal adults implied. Showing a bare breast is reason for parental outrage, but cutting a breast off with a chainsaw is acceptable fun. What kind of sick society is America? ... and I single out America, because in some other parts of the world, violence is outlawed and sex is on broadcast television.
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Julian said 11:18PM on 5-17-2008
Actually, "Truthis", M-rated games are not supposed to be played by children. That's why they are rated "mature", and say "ages 17+" on the box.
If a child IS playing something inappropriate, we can therefore assume that their parent/guardian either did not deem fit to look at what they were buying, or thought that it was appropriate for their child. In either case, the blame for any negative effects (assuming there are any) lies with the parents.
Think about it: If an infant blinds itself with a steak knife, does not the blame lie with the negligent person who left the knife where it might become a 'toy'? Or is it the knife company which shouldn't make their products so sharp?
I agree, however, that censoring nudity more harshly than gore is perverse.
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Seth A said 2:31AM on 5-18-2008
I wouldn't say that completely. LIke I played GTA 4 for like 5 hours and then went out to eat and I saw a cop car on the street and part of me wanted to hit it and speed away. Lol Same with Pedestrians. I mean, it gives you the thought, but pair common sense. Either way, it does give a distorted sense of reality at times. And now days with HD and such things look so real. Either way, I wouldn't say it CAUSES anything, but it obviously puts the image in the mind. But yeah, any parent who gets their kid this game is a horrible parent, its rated M for a reason, after 17 you are able to know what is reality and what is a game and have common sense not to hit as many people as you can when driving. Much younger that sense gets a bit distorted.
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terrimcgoo said 10:11AM on 5-18-2008
I have a question for people who do not believe violent video games affect the thinking or behavior of people. What do you suppose is causing kids to be more violent these days and not have a problem toting a gun into a school or mall and shooting down a bunch of people? What is desensitizing them to such violence or giving them the ideas of what to do? I realize part of the deterioration of our society is related to breakdown of the family but what is sparking this violence? I believe seeing and doing these things in games does distort thinking but I am curious about people who do not believe this...why do they suppose these things are happening more often? Any thoughts?
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sweetchuckd said 2:09PM on 5-18-2008
I read an article about a boy who went on a driving rampage and claimed he was inspired by Grand Theft Auto. I found the story on http://detentionslip.org. (Try looking on page 2)
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todd edward kiester said 5:06PM on 5-18-2008
so, if games cause violence, then obviously before them there was no violence, right? oh, wait, there has been death, dismemberment, genocide, and general random violence as long as we have been we, and there is no end in sight. assign blame where it belongs. we are born violent animals, (don't believe it, watch 3-4 year olds playing when no adult are playing referee.)and learn to control our tendencies. that is why minors aren't supposed to be playing them. you have to learn to control yourself before you can let go. the responsibility and blame lies with the parents. i don't have kids, and i am not willing to sacrifice my freedoms to assuage you of your guilt.
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Sebastion said 6:06PM on 5-18-2008
What this "couple" needs to do is start raising their own children, introduce them to these violent games then...evaluate, study and then "write"...
I really like how they go an interview "those" who have no idea of "life"....
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Bill Triebel said 4:17AM on 5-19-2008
terrimcgoo-I think a lot of it,besides the games,are drugs that,even though they have been linked to violent or suicidal behavior,are still being prescribed to more and more kids.Remember Columbine and the other school shooting?It was downplayed and covered up,but they were both taking a form of prozac.And the meds for their favorite made-up disease,ADD,don't help there.Did you know that Adderol(for ADD)is nothing more than methamphetimine in tablet form?It's no wonder they get confused.Medicating our children with dangerous drugs just so big pharma can make more billions.
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