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)
Hudson Pridham said 9:35PM on 7-26-2008
Toronto is getting a bunch also but they will cost a dollar to use. Hopefully the small cost to use them will keep them free of "pimps" and "prostitution".
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LINDA said 8:26PM on 7-27-2008
DONT LIKE YOUR NEGATIVE ATTITUDE. IN EUROPE THOSE TOILETS WORK VERY WELL. AND HAS FOR YEARS.
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Susan said 12:07PM on 7-27-2008
Darn people ruin it for everyone. If you have ever been in a big city and need to use the bathroom it can be miserable. Children, elderly, diabetics and pregnant women really need to go immediately often. Why do these people have to do such things? What a shame.
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Escalonz said 12:25AM on 7-28-2008
Well, there's alway adult diapers.
David427 said 1:19PM on 7-27-2008
Auto cleaning toilets have been around in Europe for about 18 years. Seem to work fine there. How can a 24/7 public auto sanitizing toilet be a bad idea. You know, they do need to be policed like any other piece of public property in a big city.
Boston, NYC and LA have had these types of toilets for several years. Boston, the city I live in has had them since 2001. Do you apple fanboys ever fact check anything? Google is your friend.
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Carolyn Bond said 3:45PM on 7-27-2008
It is always the filthy, addeled brain people, who make it hard for the decent ones.No self respecting person would want to use, something that a drug addict, prostitute, pimp would use. Ugh, Stinky story about stinky people.
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rose young-stewart said 6:00PM on 7-27-2008
After i read your comment on the story about pimps, prostitutes etc using these public toilets you said who'd want to use one after these type people used them ... yuk... etc etc... i might ask you a question how do you know who has last used the public toilet you used? please don't say you NEVER use a public toilet.
Levarfan said 9:43PM on 7-27-2008
These toilets work great in places like Europe because they are just big enough for one person to just go in and do their business, and the lock times out quickly. In the US, laws require the toilets to be large enough for a person with a large wheelchair and an attendant and the lock must last long enough for someone whose disabilities require them to take an hour or more to go to the toilet. This unfortunately results in spacious locked rooms that are big enough for group sex or drug parties, and that's what they are used for.
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Carolyn Bond said 10:09PM on 7-27-2008
Hey Rose, it is a free world. You wrote your stinking comment and I wrote mine. I don't need you to approve my comments. Get a life... It is only a article. No I don't use public toilets, that answer your dumb question?
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Escalonz said 12:02AM on 8-01-2008
This is serious. Pimps are equal opportunty employers and contribute to the local economy by good old American ingenuity and entrepenureship.
They should be compensated with little play houses where quickies can be performed in dignified privacy.
This would nulify the removal of these very necessary facilities and people could continue to enjoy life without endangering ruptured kidneys or unspeakable accidents of the most dispicable kind.............
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