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 3)
MindofMyOwn said 9:20PM on 9-10-2009
I logged into the lite version. And was redirected to the regular site.
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colojake3532 said 10:06PM on 9-29-2009
i wish that they would weed out the viruses
marchergirl2007 said 2:30PM on 9-11-2009
I love Facebook Lite! It reminds me of a better time when Facebook didn't try to be Myspace...
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JapanimeGrl2101 said 3:40PM on 9-11-2009
but now their tryin to be twitter!
katej said 3:41PM on 9-11-2009
Umm...actually myspace was the one that was becoming more like facebook. U got it all switched around. lol
spidkid6 said 3:16PM on 9-11-2009
it sucks, enough said.
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blumenneidiger said 6:55AM on 9-12-2009
baraye dustan va aschenayan
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abbyxanne said 4:13PM on 9-11-2009
i don't like it
i can't chat or see highlights
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kidmammoth said 6:22PM on 9-11-2009
it says in the article that they took the chat part off :(
jykathy said 4:14PM on 9-11-2009
I like the apps. why bother if you cant play around.
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Kayla said 4:19PM on 9-11-2009
It's so...stark. Ack.
Stop pretending to be Twitter, Facebook.
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Char said 4:25PM on 9-11-2009
I got a viscious virus from facebook. I will not use any of the applications, and am afraid to even log on for fear my computer at work, which when I logged on last week it turned my works virus program off. I love the site , but now I have to pay $300 to have this virus taken out and loosing a lot of information as a result. They need to make this safer, and virus free.
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rita_napierkowski said 6:06PM on 9-11-2009
You don't have to pay. Call microsoft after you do the scan at safety.live.com. They do it for free.
durdenms said 6:32PM on 9-11-2009
You're "loosing" information? Or LOSING information? **sigh**
Leo V. said 4:26PM on 9-11-2009
tried it, it bites! all my games are missing
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swish44grl said 4:43PM on 9-11-2009
I hate it!! You can"t chat to ur friends!
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whaauduing said 5:05PM on 9-11-2009
Can we say BOORRIINNGG? I checked out facebook lite, and immediately went back to my favorite stuff on regular facebook. No, I'm not a teen, or a twenty-something young adult. Heck, I'll never see 21 again, or 31, or 41, or even 51! I'm creeping up on 60 (but not for another 17 months!), and I get a kick out of all the silly apps( especially Mafia Wars, Super Poke Pets, Vampire Wars, Farmville, and Yoville), and I love launching sheep, and sending friends and family a swift kick in the ass, or a pretty heart. Participating in all those goofy little quizzes makes me laugh, and are a pleasant way to pass the time (which I have a lot of nowadays). I LIKE being part of groups where I can chat with people of similar interests. I ENJOY watching frivolous little member-made videos, getting to the next level in Mafia Wars, playing with my Super Poke Pet, and growing crops in the Farmville App. I LOVE looking at all the member-submitted photos, meeting and chatting with new people and forming friendships, and I LOVE doing silly things with my daughters and future sons-in-law, such as sending virtual hugs, or Mafia Wars gifts, and giving them a friendly, virtual poke...
I use Twitter, and it's okay. I've exchanged tweets with some famous folks on Twitter, like Harrison Ford, Bill Shatner, and Ellen DeGenneres. Which was cool. But not spectacular. Reading Governor Schwartzenegger's tweets are interesting, but could never be labled "fun". Certainly not as hillarious as browsing Sarah Palin's facebook page. That woman is a serious air-head! Thank God, she never made it into the White House! I like visiting Twitter, every now and then. But would never do it every day. There just isn't much going there, if you are not totally into texting, or yakking about the latest fashions, or Mary Jo's acne, or who Bobby is sleeping with these days. Yawn!
MySpace is fun. I like the apps, and the groups, and the games, but don't seem to spend much time there recently. YouTube is great fun for Baby-Boomers like me, who like watching videos of those old favorite TV Shows from the 50s, 60s, and so on...
But, for me facebook is where the fun is. I connect with my daughters there (they don't bother to call me, or write letters, or drop in for a visit, even tho I live just about 20 minutes away from them), I fool around with the apps, take the goofy quizzes, play the games, search for freebies (a hobby that is very addicting), browse through the photo galleries, and watch videos, chat with friends, and keep up with whats happening in my favorite groups. I'm disabled and can't work. My kids are grown, my husband pretty much takes care of the house, and himself, I've never spent more than an hour or two watching TV, my hands are deformed from arthritis, so I have to limit the time I spend scrapbooking, crafting, knitting or crocheting. I also have trouble holding a book for longer than an hour or so, my two little Chihuahuas don't like to go outside for walkies. What remains, is my computer. I play games and surf the Internet. A pleasant way to occupy my time. You can find an interesting page with every click of the mouse...
I just want to say, "Let my facebook alone! I like it just the way it is!
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Karen said 6:16PM on 9-11-2009
I totally agree with your post. I also am not a teenager...I am 66 & love the apps, etc. Not always interested in the small talk some put on here in my group. I am retired due to health reasons & spend a lot of time on Facebook. Leave me old one alone.. I hate boring & that is what the lite version is.
raily100 said 8:07PM on 9-12-2009
wow, well said
Graceeeeee said 12:47AM on 9-14-2009
Thank you Hap, Harry and David for inviting me to Facebook. Hello, and I am happy to be able to see you and talk to you. Grace
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