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 2)
Ben said 1:25PM on 11-14-2008
Wow, these 2 make Star Wars Kid look cool.
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Whit said 2:30PM on 11-14-2008
LOSERS!!!!
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stan hunt said 3:29PM on 11-14-2008
These people need some help,they are detached from reality and so much more life is a game no sincererity
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Karen said 4:27PM on 11-14-2008
Just when I thought I'd heard it all!
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bobby said 8:54PM on 11-14-2008
it is a not real people can lose the love one they love over dumb stuff like that
linda said 8:57PM on 11-14-2008
THEY REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Nancy said 9:03PM on 11-14-2008
Both are extremely immature people who have no clue what real life and commitment is. All they want is their fantasies fulfilled, then they move on to another. They need to face the real world; only then will they start to grow up!
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ron said 9:22PM on 11-14-2008
That Jessica Simpson link is on almost every forum I've seen no matter what the topic.Surely there must be some way to block it!
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Michael said 7:51PM on 11-15-2008
Sorry Ron Brad just happens to be a loser that is virtually everywhere posting for nude pics. He has as big a loser life as the two in this article!
Miranda said 10:15PM on 11-14-2008
I play that game but I have a life. Its fun to play but come on! Those two have no life. I do get tired of Second Life getting known as being a place for prevs and sex maniacs! I own a clothes store in there I dont go around sleeping with guys and all that crap.
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Jo Ann said 1:16AM on 11-15-2008
Is this for real? I've never even heard of this before reading this on here, and I have to admit, I do have a little time on my hands, but come on! Step into the real world and go meet someone the old fashioned way, like outside your house..Incredible. This seems so pathetic for two young people to be going through.
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mike said 11:53PM on 11-14-2008
people are taking this online life to the extreme, getting divorced over it? me thinks that the marriage was over already, what kind of person male or female needs a online sex life to actually be happy gees its getting tough in the real world
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Steven said 4:32AM on 11-15-2008
This had me laughing so hard. R O F L
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Lisa said 5:58AM on 11-15-2008
~laughing~ Oh goodness. I went in there (second life) long ago...I never made it past the first little park. Maybe that's a good thing. : )
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Lisa said 6:04AM on 11-15-2008
Also, the way i found out about it was...the site was in the NY newspaper. A man was being sued because his avitar broke into a virtual apartment and stole things and they saw them in his virtual apartment. They callled the police!!!!!! LMFAO! Apparently, this is serious crap. Because the IRS got into the mix because of all of the many millions of dollars being exchanged on the site by shopping and building in the vitual world (real $). I couldn't even afford an apartment in there....haha. Maybe the American woman couldn't either so she had sex with his avitar so she could shack up with him. LOL
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Kellie R said 4:40PM on 11-15-2008
Okkaaayyy so - California says loving gay couples who live in the real world don't have the right to be married, but these two losers can? What a crock!
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Angiebaby said 5:06PM on 11-15-2008
Why didn't she just load him up with virtual life insurance and throw a toaster in his virtual bathtub? Ahh haa ha. Actually, this is a sad reflection on two ridiculous people. Apparently the woman caught the guy pretending to have sex with someone on the computer, but they worked it out and got married. Then she caught him pretending to cuddle with virtual woman, but this isn't what ended the marriage. He had fallen in love with another woman who was pretending .... Oh, damn. Never mind.
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connie said 7:36AM on 2-12-2009
I couldnt have said it better myself.That was funny. Sometimes i gotaa wonder if some of this crap is evevn true LOL
sam said 9:30AM on 11-17-2008
In a day where the computer reality is all too real for some people and people to people contact becomes less each day it is understandable how this woman felt threatened by her husband's virtual affair. Actual physical contact is not necessary to constitute an affair, withholding companionship and affection to direct it to another, whether flesh and blood or virtual is neglectingn the relationship.
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jeevesjaner said 6:41PM on 11-15-2008
I was joking with my friend about how some geeks never leave their houses, but this crosses a line.
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