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)
Kel said 3:09PM on 4-16-2009
Facebook isn't so bad. It gives entertainment when you are bord in the evenings, it helps you stay in touch with friends you wouldn't know a darn thing about if Facebook didn't exist and it allows friends to keep up with you so you don't have to send out that long Christmas letter every year with every detail of you life through out that year. There is also no need for highschool reunions anymore, which I personally think is great. It allows you to share your beliefs and show support for things you care about. It's great AOL get over it!
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extreme j said 3:54PM on 4-16-2009
Well here it is... if you hate face book and don't like face book then don't use face book simple as that! right, sheesh... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
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JA said 4:03PM on 4-16-2009
This is probably one of the most bias, opinionated, self-centered article that flow out from a reputable website. You won't even see this kind of crap on MSN or Yahoo. Please fire the originator...
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dat1kid said 4:29PM on 4-16-2009
facebook is just a watered down version of myspace....just kill time while your bored
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Sheree Rensel said 6:29PM on 4-16-2009
This is so funny because this article came out now. I just wrote a blog post about all this FACEBOOK stuff. I know. I am an esoteric kind of person. I am not average at all. However, I needed to express my opinions about this. Here it is:
http://shereerensel.blogspot.com/2009/04/art-blog-facebook-freakout.html
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Sheree Rensel said 6:40PM on 4-16-2009
Yep! That is it in a nutshell. Bye Bye! I have better things to do and think about now. Time is short. Important life issues are far more important than this. Ciao.
Yvonne said 6:42PM on 4-16-2009
I think they are all just what you want them to be. If you want privacy, don't sign up, set your privacy settings accordingly
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karen said 6:27PM on 4-16-2009
I am just loving it, ihave been intouch with people i used to know. I think it is way cool
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Samuel said 6:49PM on 4-17-2009
Just take it from someone who studies Sexual Predators. NEVER ever use your Real name. Never use Photo Albums, Never. It is a lot of Game. To catch a Predator with Chris Hasen on Night lie is just what I am talking about. Write me and I will teel you stories that will take you off of Face book.
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dee said 6:06PM on 5-23-2009
i was under the immpression that nobody can look at you unless you invite them to be friends? Is that not true.Thanks for taking the time
gatorsigns4 said 1:15AM on 11-21-2009
Hi Sam, did you take your meds before writing this post? You sound like a complete idiot.... Wolves prey on rabbits, however, I have yet to see all the lil' bunnies hiding out in thier holes.... Honestly, people like you make me want to puke.. I am the father of six (6) daughters ranging in age from 8 to 23--and everyone of them is on facebook.
Instead of fearing facebook and "life", let's find and execute any and all "sex preds", and turn thier bodies into food for the people in Africa....
sue said 8:14PM on 4-16-2009
Just like R rated movies. Don't like 'em, don't watch 'em. It's a preferance. To each his own, and to the one who wrote the article, it's your opinion, and just like as******, we all have one!
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Samuel said 7:03PM on 4-17-2009
To Dee and interested people:
MySpace and Facebook employees? How many thousand work for these companies? U-Tube is another one. All relationship sites have Sexual Predators somewhere in the work force. After working with Hanson or this subject, I find it revolting as I have caught Medical Doctors, and Cancer Patients, Sunday school Teachers and Rabbi,s, NASA Employee,s that work on the space shuttle. The list of Sexual Perverts goes on.
Dee, you are indeed right. You have to invite someone to be your Friend. But the system is crooked. They trick you and tell you they are the Facebook Police! Hardly! You have Bi-Sexuals THAT INPERSONATE CHILDREN. Just please get off of these sites.
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Dannersamuel said 9:39PM on 5-23-2009
Well Dee I got an E-mail saying that you thought Facebook had you have you approve Friends. I wish I could contact a lot of you people. Just be very very prudent and wise. Myself and .GOV catch about 15 a day. Keep your children off of these sites. If you must have a child on there for Grandmother ,Please and I meann Please watch what is going on. I am going to do a 1000 word Blog on Skype as soon as I get permission. Get ready for more Cyber shock.
Sam Danner
tstar_infinity said 7:17AM on 4-18-2009
take it or leave it,facebook has done a lot in connecting us back to lost old friends and relatives, i believe facebook has come to stay,you only signup and not become addict,a word is enough for the wise.
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letit57 said 11:26AM on 4-19-2009
If you don't like face book go to [plaxo] much better than face book.
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lonnie said 11:32AM on 4-19-2009
I've Heard alot about face book,and did alot of checking
around,and i went with Plaxo.Alot better than Face Book i think.
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Amanda said 10:32AM on 4-22-2009
I don't feel pressure to accept friend requests from crappy people. Here is my response: "You weren't that cool to me in the past and I am not interested in catching up with you" and then I block them. Easy!
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tammy said 9:38AM on 5-04-2009
if you are stupid enough to friend everyone sending a request than you deserve what you get. grow a pair and just ignore them. you can always block them, and that is the end of it! my aunt was on talking about her wonderful son in law ( who she NEVER once had a good word before) and i deleted her from my friend list and blocked her in a heart beat. if she asks when i see her, i have no problem telling her why. i don't need two faced people in my life.
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tifu2007 said 4:47PM on 5-04-2009
Facebook is a joke! When people prefer to associate from behind the computer monitor, I think that is a problem. Most who use that sight seem to give themselves points for the "number" of friends they have accumulated, when in reality they have no real face to face people friends or social skills to interact with real humans. Just another degradation to our society, morals, and interactions.
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