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 11)
rollin said 8:46PM on 12-10-2008
These young twits (a genderless term that applies to one who acts the part) are supposed to be so computer savvy........
Don't they realize this stuff will come back to haunt them at college and/or job application time? We've already seen news spots at how sophisticated colleges and employers are at doing computer searches of aspiring students/employees, and this trend will only grow as individuals pursue degenerative behavior, and technology facilitates such searching.
Kids are kinda sick anyway, they ought to keep their genitals to themselves.
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Paula said 9:11AM on 12-11-2008
No, they seem to think the WWW is all their own private playground. But I agree, I thought they were supposed to be the computer savvy ones. Oh well. That'll rule out a job in politics in their future, that's for sure! ;-)
EYES said 9:23AM on 12-11-2008
Oppinions and genitals are quite similar, dontcha think!
marehd said 8:01PM on 12-11-2008
I agree, but add this caveat:'Monkey see, monkey do.' Adults are powerful role models, and these days way too many share explicit details about their genital activities so overtly-teens pick up on that.We seem to be a genital-oriented society!
Anne said 11:20AM on 12-11-2008
They should also realize, as should anyone receiving these pictures, that these are pictures of UNDERAGE teenagers and there could be criminal ramifications for forwarding and posting these pictures online.
remartantiques said 7:58PM on 12-11-2008
Yes, we all have both, and yes, the problem originates with the parents. It's the grownup in American media, hollywood, education, and industry that has sex as a such a selling tool or such an obsession. I wonder that women put up with it, some even revel in it, and I'm almost ashamed to be a man since we seem to require it. So it becomes a question of how much, and today in America too much is never enough. I understand we seem prudish to Europeans, but if so, so be it.......I think man began wearing clothes for more than just protection from the elements.
nikki said 6:17AM on 12-11-2008
hey.. the disney stars are doing it and get away with everything... i of course would NEVER take nude pictures because i have self respect. i know computers and anyone who is anyone can take your pictures and post them on the internet for EVERYONE to see. don't want you pics getting out, don't friggen post them! end of story. this is coming from a teenager who hasn't and will never post pictures like that. :)
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Bill said 8:59AM on 12-11-2008
Nikki, never say never like you did, it may come back to bite ya. It doesn't sound convincing, even to you.
not nikki said 11:34AM on 12-11-2008
it's cause your fat nikki thats why no one wants to see you nude
beth said 2:28PM on 12-11-2008
good for you! In this case, self respect means being able to look yourself in the mirror and say, I am a beautiful, smart individual with a brain that rejects the notion that my body is the only thing of value to anyone else. The problem with girls this day and age is they belive their only value is a mans sexual release. The problem with young men these days is they expect to recieve said favors without working for them. To get respect from others, you have to give it to yourself first.
Brian said 2:44PM on 12-12-2008
Self respect? What do they say is the number one thing that can save a marriage? More sex or making it interesting. Obviously, the fact that you're 30+ or do not like how you look has masked the fact that we all did stupid things when we were young. I am 25, I've sent pictures recently to my girlfriend and she has sent them to me. It is playful flirting and we have great conversations. How do I lose self respect in one or two photos over 3 years of a relationship? The self respect is lost in those that post them to spite their ex's. I deleted my pictures of her when we started having problems to avoid being on of those people. Self respect is not used properly by your thoughts.
nikki said 4:44PM on 12-12-2008
Brian - Excuse me, I am seventeen years old so if I don't want to post pictures of myself with nothing on, it's perfectly fine. I don't date boys who are only in the relationship for sex because I promised myself, as do other teenagers, by wearing a purity ring and also with the thought in their head, I will stay a virgin until after marriage. If you want to take pics, I don't care, it's your body. Every person has a different definition for self respect.
madeleine said 1:20PM on 12-13-2008
nikki, i like you a lot. you can stand up for yourself and you seem like you could easily be a strong independent woman. i admire your self respect, and i feel i have much of that as well. i am a 15 year old girl and i would never be in a relationship where sex is asked or demanded of me. i have a purity ring also. i would never NEVER (oooops, i said never, sorry bill, but i meant it) post or even take pictures of myself nude or partially nude. thats not right. and "not nikki" you dont know how fat or skinny nikki is. plus, im basically average sized and i dont want anyone to see my boobs or butt or vagina or anything. thats messed up. that kinda stuff is for prostitutes, sluts, and sex-addicts. sorry, but im none of the above.
nikki said 4:29PM on 12-13-2008
thank you madeleine! finally there is someone out there that agrees with me and respects their own body! and what you said is correct. i see myself as average sized also but i don't flaunt it because there are sex addicts, sluts, etc. who do it. i am proud to say, i am not one of those people. thank you. :)
Dan Daily said 6:32AM on 12-11-2008
I don't think it's anything more then young folks today are losing their parent generated hang ups about the human body and being naked in general. After all, Mom and Dad have made fortunes selling them bikinis that cover less and less up and cost more and more money. Being naked to them is just a natural progression. Good for them, it's unhealthy to deny that which we actually are.
And to all you religious people who have been brain washed in the country:
Thomas 37: The disciples asked Jesus, "When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?" Jesus responded, "When you become like little children and disrobe without being ashamed, and you take your clothes and put them under your feet and trample them, you shall see the Kingdom of God, and you will not be afraid."
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Johnny said 6:44AM on 12-11-2008
What book of the Bible did that come out of???????????? I have never seen the book of :Thomas in 37 years of following Yeshua. Oh I get it, it is one of those "Unauthorized" gospels. You know, the ones that contradict the entire morality of God. Oh Danny boy, God clothed man because of sin and man still sins. Keep your clothes on kids and don't listen to this wolf.
DaBear said 6:46AM on 12-11-2008
I don't know what Bible PERversion you use, but WAAAAY back in Genesis (The first book in any Bible I've opened...) Adam and Eve covered themselves, because they were NAKED... God himself made clothing for them. Most intelligent scholars of the Bible would employ the law of first mention, and reject the "book" of Thomas as false.
Cherokee said 8:35AM on 12-11-2008
First the libs re-write history to suit their agenda. Now they're re-writing the Bible. Is anyone really THAT surprised ?
maxlxii said 9:18AM on 12-11-2008
Just a point of clearification. The book of Thomas is a nostic writing and not included in the bible. Maybe this is one of the reasons.
Bill D said 9:41AM on 12-11-2008
That is not in my Bible.KJV.