Marcster

No. Traffic updates will provide your GPS with traffic info like this http://www.traffic.com/Philadelphia-Traffic/Philadelphia-Traffic-Reports.html in real time so that the GPS can help guide you around traffic jams (in larger cities that have coverage). Map updates are just that, the ability to download the latest maps through your computer to the GPS to update it for new roads, renaming of old ones, new housing developments and also new POI (points of interest). POI updates are also very important for new businesses that crop up, change names, go out of business, etc. Ideally you want both free map updates and free traffic, but map updates are potentially more important. Traffic is really only handy in larger cities and or travel to larger cities (vacations, business trips, etc.)

Not only does the 540TM have a larger screen, it also comes with free map updates. When you consider that map updates are around $70 when purchased for a unit like Target's 345, the 540TM can be a unit you keep for the long haul vs. replacing in two years because the maps are dated and it's cheaper to just buy a new unit...

As I predicted in years past, GPS units (without lifetime maps) have become disposable, like throwaway razors. Count in the fact that screens are getting larger, receivers are getting faster and more accurate, and new features are being added on units and you'd almost be crazy (or extremely environmentally conscious) to buy a map update.

Here is an article about Acer's Android InstantOn: http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/acers-latest-aspire-one-netbook-uses-android-as-an-instant-on-os-2010085/ Seems like a pretty cool feature...

It will be much cheaper to get broadband and a wifi router at Grandma's than it will be to get your DD a cell-phone-based card. For instance, a data plan from AT&T will be $35/month for 200MB or $60/month for 5GB. Your DD could blow through either of those in just a few visits to Grandma if she is streaming music or YouTube. These wireless plans are really meant for business people on the go who need to have Internet access everywhere they go.

My wife loves Hallmark Channel this time of year -- all Chistmas movies.

As long as the customers show up a the new times, I have a feeling you are correct. If anything, the times will continue to trend earlier -- perhaps all of the stores will end up having Thursday sales too (like Kmart, etc.)

It'll be Cyber Monday too, so she could stay home and cash in on the (typically non-existent) Cyber Monday deals.

Hannspree makes good no-frills monitors, I don't know the specifics for this particular monitor, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. www.newegg.com sells Hanspree monitors, feel free to check them for reviews.

I would agree with that, though after lunchtime on BF either of those stores are no busier than a typical Saturday.

Thanks Brad, you are the man!

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileypad/Male/N1YouareTheManHL5.gif

The Office Depot ad is the first one that I've seen with anything that I want (well, I'm just not willing to camp out at Best Buy). Who knows what Staples and OfficeMax will have for me. Last year my only real store visit was to, get this, Pep Boys!

+1 on all counts....

You can, but most have a single crummy speaker (not stereo) really meant for system sounds and things like that. Unless you plan on adding external speakers or headphones...

Some definite deals in this circular... At least some company still believes in Black Friday!

It's 12 days away at this point... But I don't recall ever seeing Alienware on sale for BF.

Being that my closest CVS is.... 3 blocks away.... I'll be sure to be there for the free-after-extra-bucks stuff.

My wife has me put Elf in the DVD player at least every other month...

One of my web site design clients sells clothing that she has made locally to fit American Dolls: http://www.nonasnicethings.com/category.php?category_id=21 That's just a small sampling of the clothes she has... I don't know how that pricing is against American Doll's prices.

I used to drag my wife out to stand in line for an hour at Staples, get some stuff and then scoot over to OfficeMax or Office Depot. I did that for years... There were always plenty of loss-leaders to get you in the door and plenty of cheap electronics and office supplies that were free after rebate. And blow-out prices on hard drives. Apparently, those deals from the office stores are long gone. -------- Last year, I bought some stuff on Newegg and Amazon online. And the only store I went to on Black Friday was.... get ready for it.... this is going to blow you away.... PEP BOYS! They had a do-it-yourself oil change deal for $4.99 after rebate (5 quarts of Castrol plus a filter) and some blowout deals on wiper blades (after rebate) and free washer fluid if you bought the blades. I drove out at 7 am, by myself, got my stuff, checked out and went home to pick up my wife and we then hit the clothing outlet mall (Philadelphia Premium Outlets). I was in Pep Boys for 10 minutes max...

Anytime!

Get 15 issues of Woman's Day for $3.94 at http://www.bestdealmagazines.com/title.asp?title=WOMANS+DAY using discount code MPS16.

For folks who don't know, the reusable "GottaDeal" shopping bags that Brad ordered last year are probably best I've ever come across, they even have a flat reinforced bottom -- you can really load them up with groceries!

For the front, how about "Elite Shopping Crew"? And for the back, glad to see that my slogan lives on! I guess I'm not a Marketing Director for nuthin'!