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.
We've seen some bizarre Facebook stories in the past, and have warned you on how information on the site can cause people to lose their jobs, but we've never heard a story quite as sad as this. According to the BBC and the Stafford Crown Court, 41-year-old Edward Richardson of Staffordshire, England, killed his estranged 26-year-old wife, Sarah, after she changed her Facebook status to "single."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
pjchilds said 2:02PM on 1-23-2009
It's pretty clear this guy was unstable. It's too bad she didn't turn his threats over to the cops. IMHO it is perfectly okay to break up with someone over what they post on Facebook. Some people will be a lot more truthful with complete strangers on the internet than they ever could be with "someone they love".
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Samantha said 11:40AM on 1-26-2009
Sorry but I have to disagree. I feel if people can't say it to the person, it has no merit. Using the Internet to convey REAL feelings is cowardly and callous. People treat others on how they view themselves. Granted that this guy was unstable, maybe in that instance it's better not to have contact, still the fact remains that there is another HUMAN being behind that computer that has real feelings and emotions. We tend to forget that in this digital age.
dsgintexas said 5:46PM on 1-26-2009
That is so true!
Kel said 4:58PM on 1-27-2009
PJ, I took that poll to mean actually using facebook to convey the break-up message. (As in changing status to single without telling SO that you want to break-up) Yes, breaking up with someone over things they have PUT on facebook is fine and normal, I think.
MO said 2:20PM on 1-23-2009
What a shame....their are people with emotional issues everywhere whose instability will out when we least expect it and they are volatile people usually .The victims usually have done nothing wrong and still these personalities take out their anger and frustration on them.What a shame.I feel sorry for her family and friends.
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SayWhat? said 5:09PM on 1-23-2009
I've read enough of Hobbes and Locke to confidently say that this guy needs to be put down, permanently. He's a beast. He does not recognize the right of another human being to live in possession of her own life. Her life was not his to destroy, and he should forfeit his own in exchange for terror he has brought upon his society by engaging in such bestial behavior. We need to know that we are safe to go about our lives. This kind of behavior must be eradicated from society swiftly and permanently. Just MHO.
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Janeyre said 10:43PM on 1-23-2009
Your comments are so accurate. Thank you for posting...
buckeye4ever16 said 7:53AM on 1-26-2009
SayWhat....well said!
Nakaina said 12:27PM on 1-26-2009
Well said! Why should the taxpayers pay for this monster's food, water, ac, healthcare? Kill him like the animal he is. Shoot him and charge the family for the bullet. If you can't use criminals for something worthwhile then take them out with the garbage. In the US taxpayers have paid out too much for inmates. I say kill them and be done with it! There wouldn't be any repeat arrests for assault and rape, gang drive-bys. They would just be used for fertilizer! In my opinion being a gang member should allow a cop to shoot you in the street and execute you. I don't care what the excuse is.
Wolfster said 11:31PM on 1-23-2009
How dare they imply it was her fault? She didn't drive him to this. His own selfishness and narcissism drove him to it. Now he'll have a series of boyfriends HE won't be able to get away from. Hope they tear his sorry bunghole up good.
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Me said 9:15AM on 1-26-2009
This was such a seriously sad situation, but something about your use of the word "bunghole" made me chuckle a bit.
He has Anger Management problems said 12:29PM on 1-26-2009
I agree with you .........
This man needs to be in prison for life .
He's extremely a killer . he needs to
grow up . He had problems before he
ever married her . For something that
little , he must have anger management
problem .
Wendell said 11:42PM on 1-23-2009
More evidence of the unraveling of our culture. Murder is a much greater wrong than infidelity, and that certainly goes for changing your facebook status.
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alan said 8:57AM on 1-24-2009
God, people are simply stupid. Had he not killed her, he would be free and living his life, but instead, he is not free and is in prison for the rest of his life. Where in the "H-E-L-L" did that get him. Some people need to grow a brain stem, because it is quite obvious they lack one.
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Mike said 9:59AM on 1-26-2009
OMG he used a knife? We should round up all the knives and ban them!
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Dave said 6:46AM on 1-26-2009
They should give this guy the Chair for being stupid. He took her life so they should take his
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Ted said 11:54AM on 1-26-2009
They don't have a death penalty in England, it was abolished some years ago after a tragic case where a mentally deficient man was convicted of murders and executed and it turned out his landlord did it. The landlord actually gave evidence at the poor man's trial that was crucial to his conviction!
jaguignon said 5:12PM on 1-26-2009
"Yeah old sparky needs to be warmed up once in a while with such idiots as this man."
Wendy said 7:07AM on 1-26-2009
I just love how they say she drove him to this. he's not a human being with a mind of his own, with hands and legs to drive himself over there or walk to where she was and do this was he? this man is being held accountable for what he did, that I agree with. but to say that it was her that caused it is wrong.
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Rose said 7:12AM on 1-26-2009
well this guy a real jerk. they were seperated. what happen is man are like that they leave there wife and then they when to know all they do. he did wrong she gone and he in jail it hell for him now. she also was wrong facebook and my space are places that people tell lie to meet and fool around but its dangerous. she should have not done that. she had to know her husband was a jerk and would get mad. but she probably did it to bug him and she did. stupid. beware all there are sicko out there. hope she didnt have kids
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