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)
winema1 said 10:21AM on 8-30-2009
Who writes this crap? Is there no editing?
"...unsuspicious neighbors"
How about either "unsuspecting neighbors" or neighbors whose suspicions were apparently unaroused..."
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Al said 12:15PM on 8-30-2009
I thought I was the only one who thought the word "unsuspicious" was weird.
ackeegrl said 12:16PM on 8-30-2009
People who write this "crap" know how to use a dictionary. You should too. It is gramatically correct. Just because you don't like the choice of word used doesn't make it wrong. Frankly, your response should be " what kind of neighbors are these?" to know a creep like this is listed as a sex offender but did not keep telling the cops that there are kids hidden over there since the kids keep popping up. One even saw them in the back yard and told the girlfriend who was only visiting to call the cops.He didn't even do it himself. No wonder criminals get away with these sick crimes.
unsuspicious
adjective
not suspicious; "deceiving the unsuspecting public" [syn: unsuspecting]
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olroywalton said 1:09PM on 8-30-2009
Why are the liberals out spending our tax dollars on used cars, "clunkers" instead of building places to keep nut cases like this locked up. And furthermore why are we arguing over spelling and grammar instead of what to do with these "loonies". Just remember, "they walk among us".
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Willybill said 3:16PM on 8-30-2009
His use of religion to repel the police and neighbor complaints is astounding. Maybe he does have mysterious powers? And his power to keep the news from focusing on his ministry is likewise awesome. He may be the new Tony Alamo or Glenn Beck...maybe we should be following him after he gets a job with FOX or CNN or the GOP or DNC.
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marshall said 3:54PM on 8-30-2009
This story is inbelievable. LOL
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marshall said 4:01PM on 8-30-2009
Many crazy people think they have supernatural powers. My power is, I can look at a womans butt as she is walking away from me. She will feel my gaze, turn around and say, "What are you looking at CREEP."
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Jon said 7:07PM on 8-30-2009
we should execute anyone we deem as "creepy".
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Mike said 8:59PM on 8-30-2009
He should have still been in prison for the cimes he committed in the past. Leave it to Kalifornia's liberal criminal justice system (justice for the criminals) to lock him and his POS wife up when both should get the needle. I fail to see why a trial is even necessary given the evidence against him and his own admissions. Some liberal, doctor will say he's mentally ill and not responsible for his actions, put him in an institution and the poor people of the Peoples Republic will have to support him. This is just another indication that sexual offenders can't be rehabilitated all of the feel good, psychobabble not withstanding. Pity it dodn't happen in Texas where his next step would lead to the short drop with a sudden stop. Hang his wife righ beside him. All things considerd, it's better then they deserve.
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bubbylovecarol said 7:44AM on 8-31-2009
this younge girl was taking from her family,for what 20 years it a shame,this man or animal and his animal wife should get life in prison for everthing he did to this younge lady then had 2 kids with her now what is this girl going to tell her kids that there father is a child muslter' i know this younge girl mother and father very hapy to have her back into there life,i liv in md and i was looking sexoffener up and where i live they have 20 in my area aslo i thought sexoffend arent spose to live close to the park which we have 1 who liv close to the park which i keep my eye on him when he come out the house i always look out for the kids in my area god bless her for being alive some sexoffend kill's she was a lucky girl but i aslo know she will need doctor help to get over this,this will be something she will never forget,,,GLAD SHE IS HOME AND SAFE,
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sequin22 said 9:09AM on 8-31-2009
Some day I hope this nation finds the courage to finally do something about sex offenders. Our laws are worthless. They are probably made by closet sex offenders sitting in high places. Molesting and raping children should be punishable by execution.
It is clear that these people cannot be cured. The damages they do to society cannot be accurately tallied. The human suffering they bring and the monatary damages (lawyers, lost wages, medical bills, mental health care bills) are immeasurable.
We as a society are forced to live with these people- because we think we are too "morally or ethically superior" to execute them. In a sense, we got what we deserved- they get to prey on us and our children, and we get to sit back helplessly. We are our own worst enemy.
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sequin22 said 9:24AM on 8-31-2009
We are our own worst enemy. Our laws do not protect us or our children from sexual predators. With a twisted sense of morality, we refuse to execute these incurable people who destroy our society. We know there is no cure for them- yet we passively sit by while they harm us and our children.
The social costs for what they do are immeasurable. The human suffering they cause can never be tallied. . Monetarily, they cost individuals big bucks (victims must pay for therapy, lawyers and health care). Society must cough up countless dollars for jailing them when they are caught, defense fees, and therapy for them (which does not help them).
The legislators we elect to make laws to protect us and our children from sexual predators are for some strange reason too "ethical" to put them to death. Perhaps our leadership is infested with pedophiles and perverts?
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Ben said 4:03PM on 8-31-2009
Law enforcement authorities are already looking to social media to catch crooks, such as welfare and tax cheats. http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2007/12/people-in-authority-sometimes-abuse.html --Ben
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