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 3)
lcleejr said 3:13PM on 12-16-2008
he might be as old as spartacus but he is one of our great actors of all time. what an inspiration to many of our older seniors.
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muddyh2o said 3:18PM on 12-16-2008
an inspiration to do what? to not die?
Diana said 4:59PM on 12-16-2008
We seniors are inspired to still climb the mountain, continue to be cognizant of the world about us and share the goal of making it better for you who follow afterward. Kirk Douglas is that inspiration. We need more inspirers and fewer young naive detractors.
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muddyh2o said 6:36PM on 12-16-2008
why do you need someone to inspire you? can't you just do it yourself?
when you were young did you need someone to follow as well.
you've got a few years left in you.
try being a leader rather than a follower.
Hot Box said 6:28PM on 12-16-2008
Don't be such a dumbass.
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Betty McCarthy said 9:43PM on 12-16-2008
'Cmon! muddyH2O !! Wake Up! Kirk never did die! He had a stroke a while back and had some limited speaking for a while.
But he is still the professional he always was and is going on to more interesting things than his age hardly permits! Blogging is almost inconceivable to a man his age! Heck! Computers are!
Good for him! I'm proud of him!!
My husband is 75 and is still not able to blog; although he did take typing, late in life! I commend people those ages, to do any of the computer things! It wasn't even a house hold word when I was young; let alone my husband and Kirk Douglas!! Good for them, going on with new things!
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pk said 6:44PM on 12-17-2008
KIRK DOUGLAS IS NOT DEAD! Never was! He had several bad strokes, and his My Space blogs on slavery prove he has severe brain damage.
If it were not for slavery, most black Americans would not exist, as their ancestors would have been killed by the enemy during tribal warfare.
Slavery is an evil thing, but did make famous people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Malcom X able to be born and live in the US.
I guess that was not a good example, but think about it.
Why should my family help pay reperations for people that held slaves? We did not arrive here in the US until 1917. Unfaior to both sides.
Homie, you are alive, GET OVER IT!
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Melissa said 8:30AM on 12-17-2008
Muddy is just trying to stir up trouble and you are giving it to them. They are called trolls and ignoring them is the best policy. I know it's unforunate that people can have such negativity to say these things but just remember, YOU are above/better than whoever this troll is and leave it at that.
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spicoli 1 said 11:48AM on 12-17-2008
cmon! and i bet your gonna tell me robert vaughn and gene hackman are alive too? haha you ladies have a warped mined, go mud!
Gail said 8:30AM on 12-17-2008
He wants the federal government to apologize for slavery? As a woman will it be okay for me to ask all men of the world for an apology for treating women poorly in the past? Of course not!
How far back should we go? I don't apologize for anyone else, how can I? I can only apologize for my own actions....
I think he means well but aren't we, in many ways, overdoing it on apologies to descendants of slaves now? I mean, we bend over backwards to be so "correct" that it is all un-natural.
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Glendacoy said 10:36AM on 12-17-2008
Thank you!
Annie Lawrence said 11:22AM on 12-17-2008
Amen Gail!!
Women have been and continue to be in many parts of the world, and even in certain cultural/"religious" groups in this country, second class citizens!!
Black men were given the vote after the Civil War. Black and white women had to wait another 50 years for that!
Until relatively recently women had to give up their children if they wanted a divorce and then there was a stigma to being a divorcee!
Well into the 20th century women were expected to be virgins when they married, while men were expected to "sow their wild oats!" Women had defer to their husbands on everything (the marriage vows used to include the word OBEY), ignore his philandering, give up their names (married women are STILL referred to as Mrs His Name), maintain the home, and raise the kids without help.
Certainly things are better now because women insisted on changes, but will WE ever get an apology? I'm not holding my breath!!!
cynthia abdullah said 10:54AM on 12-17-2008
You are so right, lets move forward, slavery is over and done, effects of it will last forever (racism, hatred) we can not change people' s hearts,
no race can bear the burden of their ancestors forever. Looking at the new president has shown that every human being should be thankful that we are trying to move forward.
Fox said 11:19AM on 12-17-2008
First, he didn't say you (personally) should apologize for slavery. He's speaking of the (government). They've apologized for everything else and sympathize with every other attrocity committed by dictatorships or other countries . If you want or don't need or want an apology for the mistreatment of woman or anything else, that's your right. However wrong it also was, not being able to wear pants, vote, smoke, or work, doesn't compare to slavery. Women received their ability to do these things way before black people were allowed to. And, Mr. Douglas has a right to have his views. Just because you don't agree with them doesn't matter. It amazes me how it's all right to sympathize with the plight of every culture on the face of this earth. Yet, there is no sympathy or empathy for what took place in the U.S. This isn't about black people NEEDING an apology personally. This is about a government; a country that prides itself on being a Christian nation, acknowledging it's racist past.
Regardless, of whether or not Africans sold their own into slavery. That didn't mean it should have been justified to take advantage of it. It was the descendents that suffered years after slavery supposedly ended. It's not about whether you personally did anything to those descendents. If someone in my family ever killed another. I would feel compelled to apologize to their family, even if it wasn't I that did it. I would do it because of the pain that it brought to a family, that I could never imagine the repercussions down the road. This is a moral issue. This isn't about being politically correct. If you want this issue to die. Then bury it. You can't do that by not acknowledging the dead body of slavery, then asking why people are concerned and can't get past the stench of it!
Al Gould said 9:32AM on 12-18-2008
On behalf of all the world's Y-chromosomed: Sorry'bout that.
Rita said 9:15AM on 12-17-2008
I just found this Blog and I am laughing as I read some of these comments. Only thing I can say is Mr. Douglas bravo to you that you are STILL keeping active and working that marvelous mind of yours. To the younger generation, just wait until you get alot older and THEN we will see what your comments will be. It slays me that alot of younger people have no respect and lot of them speak out when they have no idea of what they are saying. Alot of younger people just want to be heard, but THEY should listen to what they are saying. God Bless to you Kirk, keep yourself going, can't wait to read your next addition.
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sally said 12:23PM on 12-17-2008
Amen to that! A long life will hopefully give these thoughtless people some perspective and some appreciation which they certainly are missing now.
Irene Mazur said 9:17AM on 12-17-2008
The willingness to learn something new can keep one's mind fresh and young and it may be one of the reasons why Kirk Douglas has reached such a milestone age.
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Linda said 9:39AM on 12-17-2008
I am old enough to remember Kirk Douglas as the very handsome screen idol he once was. At 92, or course there have been some changes. The relationship he has maintained with his son Michael Douglas, is a good indication that he is a pretty good guy. The recent deaths of Paul Newman, and Van Johnson reminds me that there are few of these men left. Their generation was a pretty cool time, no matter what was going on in the world. When you think of all they saw during their lifetimes, it is pretty amazing. I am glad that he is blogging, since a lot of people his age are far too confused to even tackle a computer. You go Kirk!
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charles jud said 11:11AM on 12-17-2008
While I dont agree with your politics. I am a fan of your movies.
This is the AMERICAN WAY.
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