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 9)
Gregory Dittmer said 2:30PM on 7-23-2008
With all of the switches, gages and instruments on a commercial jet, how can ONE switch possibly start TWO engines on FULL throttle?! Besides, anyone that flies knows it takes at LEAST five seconds to rev up the engines on the runway before the plane even starts to move... and this is on a plane that has been started and warmed up with ALL the REQUIRED switches being thrown. Even small, single engine, private planes require more than the throw of ONE switch to start the plane "into full-fledged take-off mode" if the plane has been properly parked!
Something in this story sounds a bit fishy.
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Ed said 6:55PM on 7-24-2008
It's odd, because the FAA shows no accident report being filed.
The story is a Hoax.
Ralph said 8:08PM on 7-24-2008
I agree, as a A & P Mechanic (US) and CAA (UK) Aircraft Engineer, this article is BS it takes at least three switches to start an engine (each one) and "Mechanics" DO NOT CLEAN AIRCRAFT!!!!!!
Gitti said 1:33PM on 8-07-2008
If the aircraft was properly locked down and all of the power was only for the interior use there is no way that you can have takeoff power unless some bozo who left the throttles in that position. soooo that means the ground crew and pilot is at fault not the cleaning crew.
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rayw said 3:19AM on 7-24-2008
Okay, the reporting was ATROCIOUS. They make it sound like some mechanic was scrubbing the cockpit floor then accidentally hit a button with her broom.
The 706 was suppose to be getting a COMPRESSOR WASH (http://www.amtonline.com/print/Aircraft-Maintenance-Technology/Compressor-Washes/1$4435). She's not a "cleaner".
According to one of the eyewitnesses: "Somehow the left engine throttle was at max power, Igniter breakers were not pulled, and
the hydraulics were not on and brakes were bled down, and finally the
torque links were not connected." "started the engine of a CRJ-701ER N706EV - which ran up to 'a high power setting' causing the jet to jump its chocks." http://discussions.flightaware.com/viewtopic.php?p=57136&sid=74fa72101c8d57441b15c82afa8b35ed
GO READ THE THREAD. This is inane.
wink101x said 2:50PM on 7-23-2008
since when do mechanics also clean the aircraft
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justavillen said 3:33AM on 7-24-2008
humm since when do aircraft mechanics clean airplanes? Most of you assume that she was inside the aircraft cleaning. Well if people went to the sorce of the story, Baton Rouge's WAFB-TV (the link is in the aol story) you might have read she was going to clean the jet engine roter blades. And in order to work on the power plant (most commonly known as the Jet engine) she would have to be a airplane mechanic. And the story also said she was a young mechanic, so I am wondering where her supervisor was durring all of this?
Oh and befor you bash me for spelling and grammer I know I am very bad at it.
Ed said 3:21PM on 7-23-2008
Are you SUPPOSED to push this button, to "slowly" turn the bladrs?
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Tom said 3:25PM on 7-23-2008
Something isn't ringing true with this story.
A single button?
100,000,000 in damages? yea sure.
I think the airline wants to get the most out of their insurance company with claims like this.
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SHORTY said 11:37PM on 7-23-2008
IF THEY COULD ONLY HAVE MOVED THE BUSES THAT QUICKLY
FOR KATRINA.
YOU GOT IT. HOW OLD WAS THE PLANE AND
HOW OLD WERE THE OTHER TWO. THE AIRLINES HAVE A
WONDERFUL ACCOUNTING DEAL WITH THE IRS. THEY PROJECT
THE NUMBER OF HOURS THE PLANE WILL FLY. ESTIMATE
THE FUTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTENACE. THEY THEN DEPRECIATE
ALL FUTURE COST IN TODAYS DOLLARS. DOES THE TERM DEPRECIATION RECAPTURE ON SECTION 1245 PROPERTY RING
ANY BELLS.
EVER SEE THE WORDS DEFERDED FEDERAL INCOME TAX.
THEY CALL IT A TIMING DIFFERENCE. CARRIED AS AN ASSET
ON THE BALANCE SHEET. DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE.
IS IT REALLY A CURRENT ASSET THAT AFFECTS THE QUICK RATIO?
IF YOUR GOING TO BUY AIRLINE STOCK MAKE SURE IT'S SOUTH WEST.
wtilton67 said 3:53PM on 7-24-2008
There won't be any firing because now they can get the insurance on 3 planes and have some operating capital. It will be considered purely and accidental claim and cannot be excluded under the policy, unless the exclusion says something about this.
Galley said 3:36PM on 7-23-2008
I'm gonna have to call "shenanigans" on this one. I don't believe it was entirely her fault. I still don't see how it is even possible. It was probably due to a number of things, such as poor training, faulty safety overrides, poor maintenance procedures, etc.
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ldallamura said 2:15PM on 7-24-2008
I agree. You shouldn't be able to start an aircraft with the push of just one button. There's no way this woman should be held responsible. Things like this are the result of many factors. The article is written solely for the cheap shock factor, and twits like mike jump right into it. Obviously few of the facts are presented in the article. This is not news, it's infotainment, meant for the weak minded.
andymorel20 said 4:06PM on 7-23-2008
If you can accidentally hit a switch while cleaning a plane, and its a switch that's important enough to cause that much damage...the switch probably shouldn't be there in the first place.
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charmed said 8:18PM on 7-23-2008
How much you all want to beat "mike" is abusive to his wife, if he even has one. What an A**hole!!
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Jeff said 8:14PM on 7-23-2008
Another empty kitchen...................
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Will said 8:12PM on 7-23-2008
Mike can't even spell "equal," much less fully grasp its meaning. As a pilot, I have deep reservations that an unskilled worker could accidently start a jet turbine and start it taxiing by simply "pushing the wrong button." If that's the case, some idiot, like Mike, perhaps, did not properly secure the aircraft.
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John Casy said 8:21PM on 7-23-2008
Just another dumb broad doing her thing... Should not let broads work or be near airliners...
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BN said 8:38PM on 7-23-2008
John maybe you and Mike should get together...I know many women who worked as mechanics in the Air Force. Men with your attitudes should be outfitted with wings and let you flap your arms to get somewhere instead of flying on a plane.
griloco said 8:28PM on 7-23-2008
fired? she's no doubt a supervisor now
after decommissioning three loss units
while collecting 100 mil for the airline.
not to mention furloughing 14 workers
who will, because they were out of their work
area, receive nothing.
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