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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wako said 6:47PM on 1-30-2009
anyone know the details of the cloning? Are the telomeres extended, etc? there is a lot of problems with cloning that was talked about before research was banned in the US.
i hope it did get sorted out though because then that dog would have a short miserable painful life.
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KAIKAI said 7:42PM on 1-31-2009
i sure hope so
the lil guys to cute to live a
short miserable painful life
Master Shake said 12:37PM on 2-01-2009
Cloning does not produce a "short and miserable life" ... sheesh.
Deborah Conboy said 4:29AM on 2-02-2009
Alright, I never respond to these, but this time I just had to.
Is it the Humane Society or Human Society................?
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Brian said 4:19AM on 1-31-2009
@wako - Hopefully, now that we have an administration that isn't afraid of condoms, the US will get back on track with this genetic research.
As for your question, are you asking if these dogs were engineered to live longer?
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wako said 3:02AM on 2-01-2009
maybe you should try to do some research before you make political jokes. if you couldnt understand my concerns, you obviously do NOT understand why the past administration did what it did
fourdogslaughing said 7:48AM on 1-31-2009
cute little guy isn't he??
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KAIKAI said 7:41PM on 1-31-2009
thats the same thing i said =]]
FOURDOGSLAUGHING said 1:32PM on 2-01-2009
GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!
fourdogslaughing said 7:49AM on 1-31-2009
would love to have my four dogs cloned !love my dogs!
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WILL said 1:14PM on 1-31-2009
$155,000 COULD HAVE FED A LOT OF HUMANS
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KAIKAI said 7:41PM on 1-31-2009
really you think so
then bureaucracy kicks in
Kelsey said 8:29PM on 2-05-2009
They could have spent that money to help animal organizations, or feed the homeless, or something. They could have done so many great things with that money.
I completely agree with the Humane Society. There are thousands, millions, of animals out there, waiting to be adopted. Why should you spend $155,000 when you could spend $100 [or less] to adopt a dog?
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Greg said 12:34AM on 2-02-2009
That's great! They are helping move the economy along by investing in a business that isn't a bank :)
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Monty Rivers said 7:36PM on 1-31-2009
The HSUS is the last voice in the world I care to hear from on ANY subject. Like PETA, they generally take positions and make statements that are simply designed to generate press coverage.
As for the observation that $155,000 could fed a lot of humans, go earn the same amount of money yourself and feed those humans. It wasn't your money and obviously it was their money to spend as they wished. Obama just tossed about $155,000,000 on a party for himelf, what say you about that?
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shulawt said 8:41AM on 2-01-2009
The people who had this done are Jews from Boca Raton. I lived there for nearly 6 years. Yeah, yeah the puppy is cute and science has come along way from the times of Louis Pasteur but think about the blue collared workers these people denied money, benifits and respect to so the could spend that kinda money on a dog! Between the dog and their synagogue, theyve screwed...or Jewed alot of hard working people to reach this. I hope the dog lives to be 100 and they flatline tomorrow
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Not Surprised! said 10:50AM on 2-02-2009
The "breed" from Boca are just different, especially the Jewish end of the city! They're a tough bunch! Talk about eccentric nuts!
This is the same man whose daughter was arrested for impersonating a police officer and is now tucked away in a private facility in Massachusetts. He does everything to extremes! Adopted 8 kids, just to "have a bunch of kids around", none of which have the brains they were born with - maybe they were all cloned as well. 10 dogs, 10 cats, sheep and birds all in the house - are you kidding me?!?!? It's a wealth fest of nonsense.
Angiebaby said 9:29AM on 2-01-2009
I do not have wealth hatred. The money was theirs to spend as they saw fit. The article points out the cloned pup's owner is a generous donor to the Humane Society. Funny how people look over that to complain about this couple, and others, not spending THEIR money the way WE think they should.
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