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 7)
J.R. said 2:12PM on 8-28-2008
What is this world coming to? How can the FAA and FCC allow this kind of "junk" to be exposed to children and others in public. Who wants to be sitting on an airplane with some scumbag pervert next to you watching porn. This is ridiculous.
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Bruce said 10:20PM on 8-28-2008
Hey, knock it off, I resemble that remark!
Steve said 10:54AM on 8-29-2008
why are you looking at what they are doing to start with???
Tracie said 4:09PM on 8-29-2008
I heartily agree that responsibility for squelching the 'use' of porn should be shouldered by the airlines, the FCC, the FAA and, yes, even our government which has not upheld morality as they should for those in power, if perverted people are given the go-ahead to indulge their 'passions' onboard a public flight. But the primary responsibility is ours, the flying public, well-aside from perverted practices. Is this another assinine "politically correct" answer to keep paying passengers while adding to an already too-prevalent problem? Hey Folks, remember how it used to be? A voice from the past rings so true: There really IS a Right way and a Wrong way, a Good way and a Bad way. Deal with it! And this newest 'okay' on the slippery slope to hell-on-earth is most definitely on the Wrong side! That's one of the reasons why our nation - and the world at large - is on the heinous downward bent that it's been on in not fighting for what's Right - and hardly the way to start fighting back, thereby replacing the Horror with the Helpful and Healthy. Get over it! There IS a Right way and that's to bring back a respect, deference and support for people who demand to live in an atmosphere of goodness and clean living as opposed this which doesn't even warrant another mention.
Mr. New Vision said 2:24PM on 8-28-2008
I THINK ITS NASTY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH PORNOGRAPHIC FILMS ABOARD A FLIGHT. NOT THAT I AM ADVOCATING PORNOGRAPHY BUT IF IT IS GOING TO BE WATCHED IT SHOULD BE A PRIVATE ACTIVITY WITH ONE'S SPOUSE OR SELF. ENDULGING IN SUCH AN ACTIVITY ON A PUBLIC FLIGHT IS OBSCENE AND VULGAR.
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Tachs said 1:27AM on 8-29-2008
It's called capslock. You should turn it off.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT said 3:14PM on 8-28-2008
I think this is great. I now can fire off knukle children in the comfort of my flight to where, US AIRways, are true visionaries
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Tim said 6:30PM on 8-28-2008
Hey, I like porn, but it's not something that should be exposed to children and it shouldn't be exposed to other adults without their knowledge and consent. If no one else is sitting where they can see the porn on your laptop, there shouldn't be a problem, but let's be real -- when's teh last time any of us have been on a plane that is almost empty. It is very, very rare taht you can be on a flight that is empty enough that you do not run a significat risk of exposing porn to others. I don't like censorship, but under these circumstances, it probably would be a good idea to block porn on the planes.
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Ethan619 said 8:15PM on 8-28-2008
Sorry, but it should be an individual's rights to watch whatever they want. Personally, I would hope that nobody would watch porn, but it's their right if they want to. As far as kids being subjected to what someon else is watching, again sorry. I don't think that I should have to have the back of my seat kicked by a kid. I don't that I should have to pay $800 for a trip for work and then have to sit by a screaming kid. I'll take porn ANY day of the week...offensive or not.
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Beth M said 1:10PM on 8-29-2008
Ya but what about the rights of us who don't want to have to see or hear it??? Why should a few pervs have more rights over us? There is a time and place for everything!! And a public flight is not the place for indecency! Dang....mother's can't even nurse their babies in public!! But this is ok? I suppose smokers should be allowed to smoke? After all...it is their right isn't it?? So your argument makes NO sense!!
Danis said 7:13AM on 8-29-2008
Ethan, you are a prick!
Marc said 9:10AM on 8-29-2008
You have the psyche of a self centered 14 year old boy with raging hormones! It's self centered people like you who have no moral values that are so consumed with your own comfort that drag everyone else down. You say that it is better to allow porn than endure the noise and "discomfort" of a child. If you had any kind of character, you would be able to discern the difference between the future (children) and moral decadence (porn). One makes the world a better place if they are taught correctly, while the other eventually dwindles to nothing. Only people who are unfulfilled sexually support porn - who else would? You sound like a sexually unfufilled person who has never had kids and is so preoccupied with your own "issues" that your vision is limited to that which is right in front of your face. Please, get educated and grow up.
sevenXR said 4:26PM on 8-29-2008
I agree with Ethan619. This isn't about the base morality of porn, but rather a person's right to view what he pleases, where he pleases. As long as the porn watcher is using headphones, any other passenger has no right to be viewing what is on his screen. The passengers who complained should be prosecuted for an invasion of privacy.
Daniel said 8:43PM on 8-28-2008
And everyone says the world is getting better. I don't think so. Just wait until some one is watching this trash(Porn) and your child might be sitting next to him and gets to see the porn. Will you care then?
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RobThomas13 said 8:43PM on 8-28-2008
OMG. are you people serious. its the internet. this is a big step for business people who travel alot. if you block porn sites other sites get caught in the crossfire and then the stewardesses have to deal with why someone can't get onto a site. like the article said people have been bringing portable dvd players on for years and watching any dvds they want. if you start to complain about any porn being viewed then you can get those wackos complaining about religious stuff or something they don't believe in. if you have a problem ask a stewardess or ask the person. listen, chances are you will never come across this problem on a plain so stop complaining about it.
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Daniel said 9:02PM on 8-28-2008
Anyone has the right to watch anything they want and are allowed to do anything until it has been proscribed by law. indulging one's self in porn is one's private business which shouldn't be interfered with. a problem only arises once someone else, next to the viewer is offended. porn should be permitted unless the next to the viewer has serious objections. but then again, they could also avert their eyes and not be affected as headphones are necessary for audio. as long as it is not imposed upon whomever on the plane, there shouldn't be a concern. you aren't forced to subject yourself to the "evils" of porn, it is your decision. if you don't want to, don't hear or see, but that does not mean someone else can't view what it is they want...
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Bob said 9:03PM on 8-28-2008
You are as out of touch with your airline terminology as John McCain is with the problems in America. The correct term is no longer stewardess! It has not been for over 30 years.The correct phrase/word would be Flight Attendant. I would suggest this article was written by an over 60 year old male who still calls the female gender "chicks and babes."
Are there not more important issues concerning the general public other than the possibility that some idiot would watch porn onboard an airliner?
Idiots
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Danis said 7:13AM on 8-29-2008
Bob - you also are an idiot!
assistsd said 9:04PM on 8-28-2008
I disapprove of viewing porn in public, but we do live in America, and if a person wants to watch something inappropriate to others, it is their right. But I see no outcry with excessive violence, vulgar language, and borderline porn being seen in the same areas.
If you ban one - ban them all!
Then you'll hear the free speech knuckleheads crying foul!
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assistsd said 9:07PM on 8-28-2008
Hey - I like your thinking!
You want a parent to move that screaming kid away from you - fire up some donkey porn and WATCH 'EM RUN!
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