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)
Michael said 11:52AM on 2-02-2009
Ha! It's not hard to crash, my first five attempts were crashes. Actually, I never did land it. After 5 times, I got bored and stopped playing.
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roach said 1:00PM on 2-02-2009
landed on the second time
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George S said 3:50PM on 2-02-2009
New Jersey should be in the background, not NYC from that angle.
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Alan said 5:47AM on 2-03-2009
I see no difference between this game and the game of throwing shoes at Bush!
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REDeye said 10:20PM on 2-02-2009
NO, I DID NOT PLAY GAMES ON LINE...BUT NOW I DO!!!
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PomDeTerre said 6:57AM on 2-03-2009
This is disgusting; an absloute outrage to the passengers and their families, as well as the brave captain and flight crew! And yet half of you, at least, probably think it's hysterically funny. OK- next game: let's recreate how the drunken car crash that killed your family, and YOU get to be the drunk driver, or how bout that relative who died of a heart attack- YOU play the doc that fails to save them, or how bout your girlfriend or daughter getting raped while YOU are tied up and can do nothing, or even how bout playing war....YOU get to have the handgrenade put in your mouth by terrorists, but before they set it off, we all get to watch you crap your pants, beg for mercy and cry like a baby? This is in such poor taste it begs for censorship. What some people won't do for a buck- they have obviously never exoerience any human affliction or suffering and can justify their right to produce this garbage regardless of people's feelings and the bounds of good taste.
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Joe said 7:35AM on 2-03-2009
Get a life
josh said 8:52AM on 2-03-2009
I think the fact that everyone was able to walk away from this incident lets people make these kinds of games. I have played this long before th story broke and i thought it was quite funny. If there had been more or any loss of life, no-one in their right mind would have ever created it, and if they did, I can justify any outrage.
Chris said 9:12AM on 2-03-2009
Ummm, no one died or was tortured when then plane crash so your analogies are incorrect. You really need to get a life.
Jason said 9:18AM on 2-03-2009
PomDeTerre I think you need to go take a number 2 quickly because something is clearly lodged. I hate these activist types that think its a huge deal that someone created a video game. Its not a big deal and people are just making it into one so they can get money out of it. O I'm so offended, hurry up and give me one million dollars to stop the hurt inside of me.....that's what it boils down to. People make me sick, you wonder why their are more and more things people can not do in our free country anymore? It's all because of nagging complaining arses like your self. Boo hoooooo, suck it up and get a tissue morons.
Web said 8:19AM on 2-03-2009
AT leat $100,000 and free flights for life. At least!
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Teri said 8:52AM on 2-03-2009
Although I agree that producing the game is in questionable taste, (and its purpose was for material gain, not sending out a noble message,) I don't think the comparisons PomDeTerre are fair. It was a terrifying experience, but the reason it is celebrated rather than somberly memorialized is because NO families were killed, as in the drunken crash you cite, NONE died of a heart attack, and most certainly no daughters or girlfriends were raped and no poor victim was tortured by terrorists. That said, I agree with PomDeTerre and question the intentions of the creators of this game. It is in poor taste, unless the profits are given to charity or to some other good cause.
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Marcie said 9:00AM on 2-03-2009
PomDeTerre: Lighten up for crying out loud. You're comparing apples and oranges, pal. NOBODY died on that flight, OR the landing. Now, take your meds and get back to bed. You obviously need some rest.
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pomdeterre said 9:14AM on 2-03-2009
First off- I'm NOT your PAL, nor would I want to be. I am comparing bad taste to bad taste, of which you obviously know nothing. The fact that no one died does not justify the attempt for someone else to profit from this incident.
I think YOU need to visit the grocery store and check out those apples and oranges....but then again, you're probably connected to someone who invented this moronic game.
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Brad said 9:21AM on 2-03-2009
Try and play it, go on. The concept is stupid beyond belief! Plus, they have copied their Aircraft after KAM AIR which is not even a U.S. Carrier. Were the people that designed this game on some kind of hard drugs?
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NATMAN said 9:52AM on 2-03-2009
My what a cry baby pomdeter is. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. From reading the blogs it appears to me you are the only one who disagrees with this game. There is no bad taste in this game. It is an acnowledgement of a great bit of skill this pilot accomplished in saving over 150 lives. You have some rather bizarre thoughts of games people should play. Maybe you should see a doctor pretty soon because you definetly have a problem. Good luck trying to live a normal life!
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jay said 10:32AM on 2-03-2009
bring on the dwi game bi@@H
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Chris said 10:40AM on 2-03-2009
Yes, I think that since everyone survived, this game is more acceptable....but I do not want to upset the survivors. I am not playing again because I made the plane sink!!
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Flying Squirrel said 10:41AM on 2-03-2009
For pete's sake what's next some banker whining about Monopoly? Or some unmarried lady sueing over "Old Maid"? Get a freakin life.
It's a game and I'd rather see someone playing that than some "kill the cops and civilians" game. THAT'S where you should be protesting don'tcha think?
Sometimes if ya don't like it....just shut up and let it pass.
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JayBird said 10:47AM on 2-03-2009
Chris, I doubt the survivors know you played. Go ahead and try agin,lol I won't tell.
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