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 1)
Wally said 1:57PM on 3-09-2009
Kind of weird but i get it. How do you get over your fear of people who murder millions of your people? You kill them in video games!
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MARK said 2:06PM on 3-09-2009
STUPID , STUPID. MOST OF MY PARENTS' RELATIVES WERE KILLED BY THE NAZIS. MY DAD WAS AN ORPHAN BY AGE 13 WHEN HIS MOM AND BROTHER WERE GASSED . THEN HE SPENT 4 YEARS AS A SLAVE IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP . AM I BORING YOU YET ? THE ONLY THING THIS GAME WOULD GIVE ME IS A BLISTER ON MY FINGER. IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON MY ANGER OR HOMICIDAL FEELINGS .
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LiqwidZero said 2:16PM on 3-09-2009
Just a little tip:
Caps Lock is NOT cruise control for awesome.
Also, if you're able to use your imagination, a video game can be so very real and immersive. Don't believe me? Try playing Condemned in the dark. It'll freak you out.
maty said 4:16PM on 3-09-2009
Homicidal feelings?
You need to go see a therapist. Restitution wont come about by doing exactly to them what made you so angry. It sinks you to their level and makes you no better than they are.
You can't do anything about what happened any more than I can other than spread the message and make sure it never happens again. Your feelings are misguided, stop being so bitter amd angry, the rest of the world has moved on and has learned, you should too.
And don't try and be clever back; I've been to Nuremberg, Prague, Warsaw, Berlin and to Auschwitz. I've seen the piles of shoes and hair and its no less choking to me than anyone else; but I don't leave wanting to come out and kill something. Defies the point if you do.
blong said 2:49PM on 3-09-2009
If it helps him GREAT, don't be passin judgement.
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Angiebaby said 4:52PM on 3-09-2009
Micah Kelber is not old enough to have experienced the Holocaust firsthand. He was taught the "victimness" in which he claims to wallow by fellow Jews, about 25 or so YEARS after the Holocaust ended. I guess I'm mistaken about what a Rabbi is. I thought a Rabbi was a Jewish man who was to instruct and lead his synagogue members, friends and relatives in the ways of God, by both the Torah, and observance of their oral laws. Never once did I suspect they encourage Jews to indulge in the "virtual" brutality of smiting others unto death and enjoying the bloody victory.
I mean, is this mind set unacceptable by any group towards Nazis, but wholly appropriate for Jews towards others? A video game which allows people, Nazis and non-Nazis alike, to kill Jews would be called Anti-Semitic, hateful and would not be tolerated for an instant. But a video game which allows Jews to brutally kill Nazis is therapeutic, empowering and encouraged by Jewish Rabbis? I don't think so.
Gory, death-ravaging video games are detrimental to the healthy psyche of anyone who plays them. There is no special enlightenment, or therapeutic reward, from pretending murder and death will ease your worries. If Micah Kelber cannot use his mind in a positive way to conquer his demons and night terrors, he sure as hell shouldn't be living out his fantasies by playing the gruesome role of avenging angel. Now that is scary.
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obabystar said 6:16PM on 3-09-2009
Hmmm.. And that other game helped me get over my fear of zombies too. duh
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Me said 8:57PM on 3-09-2009
if it helps him who is anyone to judge? AND MARK ... WOW! Prayers for your father but the Nazi's are gone (minus the wannabe idiots) Check the world news there are plenty of current atrocities for you to constructively use that anger...
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Angiebaby said 5:59PM on 3-10-2009
I've given this a little more thought, but along the lines of wayward sons who still need more guidance. And I hope Micah Kelber's mother reads about this and gets a hold of her son. It sounds like his mama needs to snatch a knot in his young ass. And no, he isn't too big for that.
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