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 5)
Ajax said 6:01PM on 8-05-2008
And if they did change the photo, sincerely, who cares ? I mean, they do what they want to do, don't you think ?
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coocoo said 12:35AM on 8-06-2008
Doesn't even look like she's smiling IMO
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dan said 6:49AM on 8-06-2008
I have three children. I remember when my daughter was born, she smiled like that constantly since the moment after the C section. There is no absolutesw, and Parent Mag should know this. Every baby is different just like each and every one of us.
Now, I am sure the mag cleaned up extra fold and wrinkles of the skin as well as cleaning up any edges as this is pretty standard for any cover.
I think that people have way too much time on their hands to poke at celebrities all the time. They should get involved with real issues like the growing gas prices and economixc downfall that has only made the rich richer yet is creating havoc worldwide. That is the consequence to electing a moron for president twice. Wasn't once enough?!!!
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Jo said 6:59AM on 8-06-2008
My child smiled within the first few weeks after he was born. We also thought babies didn't smile until they were a bit older, but we have the photo to prove it. (and I have no clue how to photoshop)
Elaine said 9:47AM on 8-06-2008
My son is 8 days old and smiles all the time. That magazine is WRONG! And as for the photographer being 'patient'? I'm sure he had a lot of film and kept clicking away and just picked the one that was the best.
annabelle1979 said 6:30AM on 8-06-2008
People are dying in Iraq. Can we care about something important, please?
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Star said 12:34AM on 8-07-2008
Then stop reading this and do something about the War!
Felcisgirl said 6:39AM on 8-06-2008
My son was smiling at less than 6 weeks, mind you a baby doesn't need "external stimulation" to smile, they just need some good gas!
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brenna937 said 6:44AM on 8-06-2008
First of all they are not cute.
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TerriJ said 9:00AM on 8-06-2008
I was thinking the same thing. I love babies and think that they are all precious and sweet, but cute is about the last thing I thought of when I saw this picture. I'm sure they'll be adorable when they get older.
Uh huh ... said 12:34PM on 8-06-2008
How rude ...
Kimberly said 6:54AM on 8-06-2008
Please give me a break...Why does everyone target B&A for everything they do. I don't other people giving $15 mil to charity. Leave them alone and stop the bashing. The "External stimulation" comment, that's about the stupidest comment I have heard. My baby "smiled" all the time after he was born, it's called gas...give them a break.
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Mom2Kids said 7:51PM on 8-06-2008
My granddaughter smiled at me just like this when she was about 12 hours old. I was talking to her, and she smiled exactly like this. Maybe it's gas. But, her mom saw it, too. I said, "I didn't know babies could smile this early," and she nodded. So, photoshop wasn't there, folks and I am not imagining it.
Don't worry about the mag cover. If they really got $14 M for this picture, no wonder the baby is smiling. I think that's a bit much personally, but I am not in the decision loop for People Mag and I honestly think it's not worth pondering any longer. Got my two kids to think about right now.
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Jo said 1:27PM on 8-11-2008
I don't agree with the fact that they took 15 million for the photos. This couple is supposed to be extremely wealthy and very generous to the less fortunate. It seems to me like exploiting there children for money would not fall into there charitable lifestyle.
robert said 7:07AM on 8-06-2008
Annabelle,
People are dying everywhere.When Sadam was killing hundreds of thousands, what were you doing then? When PotPol killed millions, where were your comments.
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comeon said 7:09AM on 8-06-2008
Are you serious? Have you (the writer) not anything more important to pick apart? I've got 5 kids and they all smiled, whether it was gas or whatever. Who gives a rats ass?! As far as the $ they were paid, apparently it was given to charity, so why keep bringing it up?! They did the right thing. Not too many other people are donating that kind of money to charity. Good for them! It cracks me up that all those fans of "Friends" can't seem to move on, get over the fact that Jen and Brad got divorced, and they've both moved on. Jeez.....get a life, guys!
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Looch said 7:28AM on 8-06-2008
Most newborns smile. it was always said that it was gas.
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kate said 7:30AM on 8-06-2008
Babies from birth...newborns...smile all the time....especially in their sleep. It is a reflex and it is one of the most heartwarming and funny things you'll ever see! Goes right to your soul and always elicits big "aahhs and oohhs" from whoever is in sight of it. They will start to smile in response to your voice as early as 3 weeks of age....then it will take another 2-3 months before they laugh out loud/coo/squeal (not just smile) at what Parent magazine calls "external stimulation". The author of this "Switched" article really didn't bother to check her facts and I am assuming just really wanted to perpuate the rumors of photoshopping even though she is "so over the constant analysis" of it.
Branding the celebrity couple as liars from her inept and deficient article is not only laughable but takes on a whole new meaning of how low can you go?? Did she think a misleading article would bring about the "interesting debate" she was hoping for....I think a far more interesting debate would be just how unscrupulous the "media" has become.....I for one am so over THEM! By the way Dan...Parent magazine does know of which they write....it's just that what was quoted from them was one dimensional and didn't apply to this particular circumstance...they are not the ones accusing anyone of anything.
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codtamit said 7:40AM on 8-06-2008
Wouldn't you smile too if someone paid you $14 million for a photo?
Shiloh has hair extensions.
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Ray said 7:51AM on 8-06-2008
maybe it's not even a smile. We are perceiving it as a smile.
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