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.
Ok it's official -- Facebook is no longer a safe place for information of any kind. You can't post your relationship status, pictures of the kick-ass party you were at, where you're hoping to get a new job, and now not even your birthday is safe!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dwr50 said 5:04PM on 7-17-2008
Really... how many people put truthful info on Facebook. lol
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joe said 1:09PM on 7-18-2008
well if you really wanted to get someone's b-day just add them as a buddy on myspace and about a week before there b-day it will show you on ur home page. take the age in the factor and you have the full birthdate.. big whoop u know when i was born. my ssn and full address and dl number is a diffrent story....
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Jiggy said 3:26PM on 7-18-2008
Anyone who puts their lives on the internet deserve whatever happens to them, ie Face book, My Space, You -tube ! DUMB,DUMB,DUMB !
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Lana said 5:47PM on 7-18-2008
Jiggy, seems you're the dumb one for not realizing the benefits to Myspace and Facebook...you can't even spell them right. Both are GREAT for networking for business (I got a great internship after being discovered on Myspace) and a weekly radio gig from being discovered as a budding DJ on the same place. Both are also great for easily keeping in touch with old friends and family members (who's going to take the time to make 20 calls a day?). Those that make bad names for the two places are on the extreme side and do probably deserve what they get. Anything and everything in life is dangerous, if you don't know what you are doing. And...don't judge things before getting to know them first.
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mikey said 5:55PM on 7-18-2008
Jiggy, EXACTLY.
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todd said 5:58PM on 7-18-2008
ya, no one actually puts real information on facebook
and you cant do anything with a name and birthday
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Lina said 6:21PM on 7-20-2008
Someone knows my birthday???!!! oh no! They might send a present! puh-leez
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Kay said 8:46PM on 7-20-2008
Lana if you have time to get online and go to My Space, Facebook and Youtube, you have time to call your family and friends on a phone.
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rou said 3:05PM on 7-30-2008
jiggy and mikey, your are both complete morons! maybe YOU are dumb!, sometimes it's nice to keep in touch with your long distance relatives, especially ones in IRAQ!.. yes you know the ones that are there for you! jackasses!
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spalewsky said 11:56PM on 7-18-2008
People, where you get the real problems is when you put your social security number-think about it!!!!! Anyone who does this is asking for trouble-big time!!!!
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Kay said 12:58AM on 7-19-2008
If you have time to log on to your MySpace, YouTube or Facebook, you have time to call your family and closest friends. No excuses please! Computers just keep people from facing reality and problems with themselves, their family and friends. Instead of burying their head in a book or the sand, they push it in front of a computer monitor.
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