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)
TV is always on said 4:02PM on 11-19-2008
I watch tv over 50 hours a week. It seems its always ON for background noise. I am not unhappy or depressed, I'm just disabled (broken back) and can't venture far. I spend way more hours on the internet than actually 'watching' tv.
You think being on the internet over 50 hrs a week is excessive? (I'd guess its closer to 80 hours a week)
I'm not doing anything but READING and RESEARCHING topics that interest me or fascinate me. Often times I'll research one thread that takes me to several different threads.
Who needs an actual BOOK or newspaper when I can find ANYTHING and EVERYTHING on the internet? I READ voraciously.
I'm up to date on national and world news, politics, history, medical and health breakthru's.
I have several support groups I started to help OTHERS which seems to be my true calling.
Being disabled I am still able to live a HAPPY and fulfilled life in front of the tv and on the internet.
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Lynne said 7:06PM on 11-21-2008
I, too am disabled and watch alot of TV. I am not unhappy, but I don' t spend my time watching soap opera's and Jerry Springer. Maybe they need to ask these depressed people what they are watching and when. I also read, surf the net and visit with friends and family daily. I guess if I didn't do anything else but watch TV, I may be a little depressed. TV can be a wonderful tool if used in a sensible way. You can either get educated by TV while being entertained or watch what I call "junk TV", so I think it depends alot on content and general frame of mind. I do not think that church has anything to do with whether TV makes you sad or not, that's just socializing which can be done in a variety of other ways and does have something to do with your mood. If you isolate yourself, either way, TV or not you will probably be depressed to some degree.
TV is always on said 12:20AM on 11-22-2008
You're absolutely right Lynn. Instead of phrasing the question about happiness and tv watching perhaps they should ask the CONTENT of what they are watching.
I mean it would be different if I were glued to the tv watching soap operas and talk shows (Ok, Dr Phil and The Doctors I watch but no morning talk shows)
If I were watching soap operas and couldn't leave my house without watching soaps or I had to TIVO the soaps to watch later.....if I were ADDICTED to soaps, then it would be a totally different thing I think.
I'm sure if I were addicted to soaps I'd be in a deep funk of a depression.
Don't get me wrong when I first became disabled I was watching soaps, All my Children, One life to live, As the World Turns and the Bold and the Beautiful.
I was deeply depressed and eventually I recognized that the soaps were contributing to it. I cold turkey'd the soaps over 8 years ago and haven't watched one since!
Now I occupy my time reading books, reading various decorating magazines I subscribe to, watch HGTV, the Food Network. I watch the History Channel, CNN's shows like Lou Dobbs, Larry King, Anderson 360.....mainly for background noise and to keep up on current events.
I consider myself a very intelligent woman that happens to be disabled or rather unable to get out and participate in the social activities I used to. (Used to volunteer for a rape crisis organization)
I have several support groups that I run from home to help others going through many of the same things I do. (adults with spina bifida occulta with major back injuries and pain...... nerve damage, tethered spinal cord ect)
I occupy my time constructively and tv is a TOOL, a learning tool. I don't watch too much mindless television but I do have a few things that I watch that are fun and mindlessly entertaining.
I have a very FULL LIFE. I might be disabled but I use my time very constructively, to learn, to cram as much information and knowledge into my head, to occupy my time and to satisfy my thirst for learning.
My tv is always on but I'm often too busy to actually sit and watch an entire show........I catch snippets of a show while I'm doing something else that interests me.
Multitasking! That's it, multitasking.
I do think its the content of what we watch not the hours we watch television that is a great indicator of happiness.
I am perfectly HAPPY with my life like it is.........not that I have a choice over changing it due to my disabilities, but I have a very good handle on my disabilities, have accepted my disabilities and enjoy my full life the best way I can.
TV is a TOOL.
k said 4:06PM on 11-19-2008
I am very miserable and allow the television to put me to sleep and wake me up day in and day out.
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Natalie said 5:31PM on 11-19-2008
And now I'm waiting for the "TV is evil!!!" campaigns to begin....
As anyone who has ever taken a lab course requiring field or lab research can tell you: THE FINDINGS OF CORRELATIONAL STUDIES DO NOT IMPLY CAUSATION!!!!! The findings of this study may well be incredibly accurate, but you can't say that watching more TV causes unhappiness, or that unhappiness causes people to watch more TV. All the findings show is that there is a relationship between one's reported level of happiness and one's reported amount of TV watched in a week. There's also, if the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster can be believed, a correlation between the average global temperature over the years and the number of known pirates (http://www.venganza.org/). Doesn't mean one causes the other.
My theory? The third factor at work here is mentioned in the article - community involvement. People who are active professionally and socially tend to report higher levels of happiness. They also will tend to have less time to be able to watch TV. At the other end of the spectrum, depression can make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning (or afternoon or evening, for that matter), much less be active and involved in social and work events. Ergo, more time for TV. TV can also kind of be novacain for the brain for depressed people - the distraction numbs the pain without any effort on their part. (Note: I'm NOT saying people with depression are lazy. I'm saying that TV is often a form of self-medication for an otherwise untreated, biologically-based mental illness.) But again, that doesn't mean that the TV causes depression or that not watching TV causes happiness. More likely, it's a symptom.
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Lynne said 7:10PM on 11-21-2008
Love your comment.
shari said 2:45PM on 11-20-2008
who can afford to do anything else for entertainment?
i read and quilt to pass time, but i do watch minimal
television. wonder if there's a correlation between
the crap on tv and how stupid people are today?
most high school seniors do not know who the
first President was. but hey...don't bother them to
learn anything...they're busy texting.
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Marie said 6:13PM on 11-20-2008
Shari,
I love your comment! How does most television stay on the air? The answer is scary....because SOMEBODY is actually watching it!!!
Mike said 3:03PM on 11-20-2008
Hmmm. This article makes me wonder. People who watch the news are alot smarter too. George W. Bush watches little TV. He gets his information from God. People who don't watch the news are stupid, penniless. Who said life was to be happy?
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FB said 3:19PM on 11-20-2008
The mind-numbing shows that pass for "quality" TV these days are enough to dumb anybody down.
WORRIED ABOUT TRAILER THEFT?? You need to:
http://www.carrythebigstick.com
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TV is always on said 3:43PM on 11-20-2008
I have to say that before my back became broken, before I became disabled, back when I was working..........I had a television but it sat there collecting dust.
I've gone YEARS without watching television and it didn't bother me. I had no interest in watching anything.
I was a workaholic so therefore I had little time to watch tv and even less interest.........for years.
Now I might want to comment about SOAP OPERAS.
Those things will depress you! I haven't seen one in over 8 years but I saw where those things were going to take me..........into depression. (maybe I was headed there anyway)
Soap operas do numb the senses, distract you, entice you, seduce you into watching them. Then, you're hooked. Then you're captive to the characters, the plots, the storylines........
A psychiatrist told a friend of mine, in the deepest depths of her depression, to QUIT watching Soap Opera's! She did, she switched to Fox News. (and wonders why the depression hasn't improved all these years later)
I watch HGTV to see all the decorating and gardening shows. I'm a real HGTV addict. It keeps me occupied as it gives me ideas to do to my own home and garden. (yes even with a broken back I refuse to sit still)
Hubby likes Food Network......it motivates me to cook gourmet dishes. (sometimes it motivates him to cook gourmet dishes)
I believe WHAT you watch on television tells a lot about your happiness.
If I watch HGTV I feel I'm basking in the glory of domestic bliss.....with a penchant for a few gourmet meals now and then.
Soap opera's are ok if that's what you're into but honestly, if I started watching them today I know I'd become depressed within a month. Soaps hold you hostage, keep you glued to the tv to where you won't leave the house until after your 'show' is over. (or you TIVO it to watch later)
I'm not saying ALL soap watchers are depressed but they need to really watch out for signs of depression, obsession, life stagnation.
Maybe it isn't the fact that you're watching tv all the time, maybe its the CONTENT of the television that you are watching that is the best indicator of Happiness??????
Yes, I think it is the content of the television viewing that indicates your true level of happiness.
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Owen said 4:01PM on 11-20-2008
I don't know if people who watch TV a lot or happy or not, but one thing I know for sure is that the people who conduct these surveys are complete assholes!
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Jay said 4:45PM on 11-20-2008
Well your statement made me laugh!
Vicky Wiley said 4:29PM on 11-20-2008
What about using the internet? People use it all the time to communicate with others. Unhappy people generally don't want anything to do with communicating with others.
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hot carl said 4:34PM on 11-20-2008
Its very simple you see. They just ned to send sublimuinal messages through the television to MAKE you feel happy. Problem solved. All hail the police state!
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ALEX said 9:53PM on 11-20-2008
You can't use a correlational study to imply causal relationships. That's just stupid. Everyone should read this with a great deal of skepticism.
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dan said 5:00PM on 11-20-2008
I can believe it, it is there unconditionally, tons of options and doesn't ask for anything in return. I probably watch at least 40 hours a week and I work a 9-5 job.
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tam said 5:11PM on 11-20-2008
It's not just TV, I'd bet the farm that unhappy people spend that much time or more on the computer. The mouse simply replaces the remote control. And all these discussion forum "friendships,"? Anyone who thinks those can take the place of real, natural, in-person friendships is delusional.
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janet said 5:38PM on 11-20-2008
I agree happy people want to get out and do things and enjoy life where as depressed people dont want to do much and sit home and lose their worries watching tv to keep their mind off their troubles. I engulf myself in the internet when I am depressed, you can be anyone you want on here, see a multitude of things, and just daydream and lose yourself and your worries. Sad but true....
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guddy said 5:56PM on 11-20-2008
Vicky Wiley, not true. Unhappy people do like to argue, have slamfests and tell people off. All of which you can do on the computer, not with the boob tube. And it probably helps some to view comments that indicate somebody, somewhere is even more miserable and combative than they.
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