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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason said 3:24PM on 10-03-2008
I can sum up the reasons for this with one word .... porn.
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gbg said 2:15AM on 10-07-2008
Very thoughtful, this is great information!
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jg853 said 2:09PM on 10-07-2008
IT'S BECAUSE PORN IS ON THE INTERNET AND MEN GET ADDICTED TO IT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE
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Ami said 2:42PM on 10-07-2008
That is sooo true! Men AND Women get addicted to porn on the net!
B.J said 2:19PM on 10-07-2008
interment ???? sounds like these guys have sugar in their shoes !
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Robert said 2:43PM on 10-07-2008
maybe the family men dont notice the web-poll and answer it
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debbie said 3:02PM on 10-07-2008
The statistics don't surprise me and I can bet that games aren't the only thing that men's happiness with the internet include.
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JALB155 said 3:08PM on 10-07-2008
Another time wasting activity ... men seem to have plenty of. They don't do housework, cook, shop. They sit on the computer, at the tv, at sports events. Women can run circles around them. They also complain about their women so they can turn to PORN on the computer. Forget about building real life relationships - they need a screen to relate to! Oh, and men don't bond with each other, unless naked women are involved!! Women are SUPERIOR BEINGS!!
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5 seasons said 3:16PM on 10-07-2008
OK, one question ... to men out there ... how does looking at explicit photos or videos of people you do not even know make you feel happy? You are not even having a real experience with those people! I could see that instant messaging sex talk might be exciting because at least you are interacting with a real person. But to get addicted to anonymous images ... sorry but that is really weird!
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Robert said 3:39PM on 10-07-2008
"5 seasons" To answer your question, it is for that very reason why we get addicted to internet porn. The anonymous! You have no obligation to these images, no dinner, buying jewelry or houses, no complaining. When your done thats it! Most of the time its free, quick and easy. You are the star, if only for a moment.
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Karen said 4:26PM on 10-07-2008
Women out there.......change the logon passwords often when you know your gonna be gone...or just change them period if you think your man is up to no good...that will fix em...and if they are computer ignorant they will not be able to undo it.
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KarenB said 5:01PM on 10-07-2008
And you, Robert, are a P-I-G!!!! You are, obviously a very
self-serving man. YOU appear to be be venturing on the way to a GREAT beginning on the road of a failed marriage to me!!!.I hope the woman in your life wakes up to the fact that you are being emotionally unfaithful to her with your cyberspace 'playing around'. Think about that!!!...KB ..P.S. How would you feel, if you found out the lady in your life has her own little habbit of, occasionally, checking out the men on their porn sites? There aren't as many women who succum to such deprivation. But, there are a few and your 'woman' just might be one of them!!!
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Sally in Southern Arizona said 5:18PM on 10-07-2008
The only reason the internet made my ex happy was because he could go on-line to porn sites. He told me shortly before our divorce that he had several different on-line names - one being a female.
He and his boyfriend moved to CA.
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Guy said 5:12PM on 10-07-2008
Women waste just as much time with romance novels. It's their own version of pornography.
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IsHeCheating? said 10:05PM on 10-21-2008
Check him out on www.dontdatehimgirl.com and www.womansavers.com to see if it's internet Porn or if he's taking it even further, like dating websites, or websites to meet women for sexual encounters behind your back. Just type his name in the search. You may be very surprised at what you find out! I WAS!
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It Goes Deeper Than That! said 5:46PM on 10-07-2008
I agree. Checking your man out on DONTDATEHIMGIRL.COM or WOMANSAVERS.COM can save you weeks, months, or years of deception. What may seem like a little too much time on the internet checking out "sports," "employment opportunities," or porn (gag), could be a cover for an even larger problem, like infidelity. There are too many websites to name that a person can sneak to in the hopes of finding a fling or worse. Check out the guys in Palatine, Illinois for some interesting reading.
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Don Mueller said 5:58PM on 10-07-2008
I love the Internet simply because I love the information highway -- I can find out anything I want! 45 years ago I was addicted to encyclopedias. I could look up anything I wanted. I've spent hours in libraries researching stuff. Now it's all on my computer! If I need to fix something in the house, "how to" is there. If I want to know how something works, it's there. If I want career opportunities, it's there. If I need advice on pepping up my social life, it's there. I may not know everything, but I sure know how to look it up! Now THAT makes me happy!
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Bryan said 7:26PM on 10-07-2008
The people on here who gag at the thought of sexual images are most likely secretly turned on by them. I mean, when you are single it is natural to want to "get off" and that's how men do it, with the internet. It's better than anonymous, dangerous sex with a stranger. I do think something's wrong, though, if guys are doing that (often) when they have a perfectly attractive man or woman at home to make love to.
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Raquelle said 6:17PM on 10-07-2008
I have a boyfriend who lives on his computer. It the first thing he picks up in the morning and the last thing he sets down at night. I already know he is a fan of porn but it's not just that. He spends a ridiculous amount of time on YouTube and other video site that show various clips. He checks sports sites, movie sites, and whatever else...
I go on the net to balance my check book or update my iTunes or something. I do not need to live on the net but my boyfriend wouldn't last without it. And that is so sad...
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breaking computers said 7:03PM on 10-07-2008
my man was using the web to watch porn and find one night stands on line until i found out and blocked everything but he still got in so i just rip computer apart had nothing to do except spend time he had been wasting on computer with his kids hahahha lol ps nothing on computer in ever deleted if you look really good
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