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 3)
twilkins007 said 9:01PM on 7-01-2008
Typical pig bullcrap. These appointed arseholes think they have free reign to inpose their personal pet peeves on the public. If his wife had given him a bj the night before, this probably would have never happened. Liberal judges run amok. This is something that is out of control; there needs to be something put into our system of checks and balances about rogue judges,
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chrismid said 1:53PM on 7-02-2008
twilkins...you are an idiot.
You sound like you may have been one of the two jerks who didn't turn their cell phone to vibrate when they entered the courtroom and got caught.
The fines should have been double what they were.
You go, judge!!
John Coquillard said 6:13AM on 7-02-2008
WOW! what a tough judge....you get- em judge..hope you act that fast on killers and rapists..go get-em buddy..
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Debbie said 9:39AM on 7-02-2008
Anyone with brains would know that you have to shut a cellphone off in court. can we say....ignorant?
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john said 9:33AM on 7-02-2008
The sad thing is a large percentage of people would sit there and have a conversation after it rang if they could get away with it. Unless someones in labor, the hospital or an accident there is little reason to have a conversation in a closed public place. We as a country are becoming increasingly ill mannered.
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Neuticles said 9:59AM on 7-02-2008
judges are half nuts to begin with.
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louis said 11:31AM on 7-02-2008
Good for the Judge!
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Alex Vanbell said 10:00AM on 7-02-2008
Now if you were only allowed to hit someone on the Head with a Rubber Mallet in the Movies or Church that would be AWSOME. Bust Their Head WIDE open rite where they sit. AMEN. and pass the POP CORN.
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m e said 10:02AM on 7-02-2008
DUH!!! The men are in court, that says it all right there. People in court have already run afoul of the law, just add this bit of ignorance to their already long list of issues! Too bad, so sad!
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Rathke, Esq said 10:21AM on 7-02-2008
Law school professors hated it; therefore, judges will hate it. The last thing you want to do is upset the judge. http://www.gotwarrant.com
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Joe said 10:34AM on 7-02-2008
Maybe these to guys should appeal to another court but remember to turn off there phones this time.
lillawyernica said 10:18AM on 7-02-2008
The judges in my district's courts typically confiscate the cell phones and donate them to the local domestic violence shelter. Of course this is after they berate the geniuses who either fail to understand what "Please turn off your cell phones" means or just lack respect for the court.
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justinkyle913 said 10:42AM on 7-02-2008
what if it would have been some old lady that forgot she even had a cell phone, u think he woulda fined her or threw her n jail? The retards should have turned the phones off, but someone should give the judge a chill pill.
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... said 10:48AM on 7-02-2008
thats kind of lame... but what ever works i guess.
the conversation must have sounded like
$200 the ringtone only cost $1.50!!!
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MD said 10:55AM on 7-02-2008
GOOD FOR THE JUDGE
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Wordsmith said 11:01AM on 7-02-2008
The judge is out of order, we are human and tend to be late, or preoccupied at times, If that was an Attorney, or a family member like say his wife or mother there would have been no fine.
Abuse of power
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Eddie said 11:04AM on 7-02-2008
Who does this Judge think he is? They think they are god too many times. It's about time these corrupt judges were taken off the bench. I mean jail time for not breaking any laws, just a little cel phone ring? Last time I checked that was not against any laws.
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Bad said 11:35AM on 7-02-2008
Hopefully he sentences the real crimnals to harsh penalties aswell. May not be against the law but just common sense and curtisy...DUH !
Steve Pettit said 12:45PM on 7-02-2008
Unfortunately Americans tend to be selfish, and rude, I am glad to see a judge come down hard on them. Maybe this will teach them,to be considerate of others.
LEO said 3:31PM on 7-02-2008
Actually, for you ignorant people who stated that jail for phones ringing is not a crime. You need to do a little research on what "contempt of court" is. In my circuit there are signs posted everywhere about not having cell phones in the courtroom. People just dont want to go back down 3 flights of stairs to put them in their cars. Then, before the judge even starts with the docket, he makes announcements that if a cellphone goes off he will fine the person 500$ and confiscate their phone. This is pretty much the practice of every judge I have ever come across in central Florida. So, 200$ is nothing....