len_mullen

I think it'd be fine, but you may want to take a look at the $298 laptop rumored to be on sale at Walmart this Saturday...hubby could take that on his trip. I love $300 laptops... HP G60-519WM Notebook: Intel Celeron 900 (2.2GHz, 1MB cache, 800MHz FSB) 15.6" HD, 3072MB DDR2, 250GB(5400rpm) HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium $298 @ Walmart 11/8/09 HP G60-519WM Notebook: Intel Celeron 900 (2.2GHz, 1MB cache, 800MHz FSB) Windows 7 Home Premium 3072MB DDR2 System Memory 250GB(5400rpm) Hard Drive 802.11b/g WLAN LightScribe SuperMulti 8x DVD +-R/RW Drive w/Double Layer Support 15.6" Diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView display Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M with up to 1309MB total available memory 3 USB 2.0 Ports or one that can be had right now for $348 at walmart.com... AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor L310 4GB of DDR2 system memory 250GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive 15.6" high-definition LED backlit widescreen display ATI Radeon" HD 3200 Graphics SuperMulti double-layer DVD drive 6-cell rechargeable battery for around a 3.5 hour battery life 5.3Lbs total weight. Ports: USB 2.0 (2), VGA Video Output, Headphone Jack & Microphone Jack Genuine Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition Microsoft Works 9.0 (this is the one i'd get)

referring to the Toshiba L505-S5998 T4300 for $399.99 in the removed ad... Thanks for your kind words, but, in this case, I don't have much to offer, so let's hope some people who have owned or at least touched a L505-S5998 can help you. The price seems to represent about a 30% discount which seems good to me. I've always been a Satellite fan, but I tend to shop the less expensive laptops, so I have never owned one. Whether this is a good laptop for YOU depends on how you intend to use the laptop. You need to list the apps you plan to run on the laptop and see how this one's specs compare to the software's requirements. I think it would be a good, general purpose laptop that could run Sims 3 well, play a movie, and get you about the internet. Of course, I could find a $300 laptop that would too...I have one. Looks like it comes with 64-bit OS. Make sure your apps will run on this (google app name and 64-bit). Battery life is less than three hours, but that's the price you pay for running a better cpu, bigger disk, and more memory. I don't think you'll be disappointed, but I bet, by BF, you can find a just-as-capable laptop for < $300 without waiting in line. If you are seriously thinking about this, go touch one in a store -- just to get a feel for whether it is zippy, if the screen appeals to you, and how much you will like the keyboard and mouse.

I think you will not see any console deals on BF. Probably should be looking now. Deepdiscount had the PS3 for $250 this weekend. $250 (shipped free) is an excellent deal for a game console + blu-ray player + netflix/dlna client.

This is my favorite part of BF -- anticipating the fliers, making my list, researching products, and deciding when, where, and if I'll line up on BF. After that, scoring a ticket for a coveted gift...or maybe poring over my haul when I get home ;-) As for shopping, I prefer the time when all the gifts are bought and I'm simply shopping -- enjoying the insanity, sights, and sounds of the season. This year may be different as my oldest wants to come out for BF. When we're done, I'll take him out for breakfast.

I think you would do best to be less awful at handling your money. I suggest you create a shopping list with gifts, merrchants, and cost. Work that out in the quiet of your home. If you shop only to the list, you will not blow your budget no matter how you hold your money. With that discipline in your corner, you should look for ways to hold your money that benefit YOU rather than the banks. There are many cards that give you cash back and have no annual fee. Using one of these is a big win for you since you can 'hold' your money in an interest bearing account until the bill comes in PLUS you get the cash back. Discover Card will give you more cash back (up to 2x) if you take in in gift cards from their partners and will give you as much as 20% back if you shop via their partners launch page. If you can land a free financing balance transfer, you can earn interest on your cash for a year while paying the credit card no interest. On one episode of Two and One Half Men the men are going to Vegas. Alan puts 1/3 of his cash in his wallet, 1/3 in a money belt, and 1/3 in his boot. You could go that way, too...

I'd look hard at the Samsung HT-BD1250. Lots of nice reviews including this recent one. I don't know much about HTIB. I wasn't *really* looking for one. The HT-TZ512 came as part of a promotional package. I thought as part of a $910 bundle (I recalled $930 above, but after best buy rewards and discover cash back it was actually $909.98) that included this TV, I would take a chance. It sounds great. I think you can expect that from just about any HTIB. If you're not sure, buy both and return the cheaper one if it disappoints. Some thoughts... 1) Wireless rear satellites make setup a LOT easier. It's not easy positioning speakers for best sound in a room that is not designed for a home theater. Tall, light, free standing speakers work best with wood/smooth floors. I mounted my satellites to the walls (keep the wires off the floor if you have a dog...don't know why wires taste so good). 2) Our HTIB includes a five disk upconverting DVD player. We also (in case you're not paying attention) have a PS3. We have ~20 blu-ray movies (which I have selected for their amazing video content) and hundreds of DVDs. The upconverted DVDs look very good and get more play to date than the blu-ray disks. If you have a lot of DVDs, make sure your BD player upconverts nicely. 3) Increasingly, I am watching streamed video and have recently subscribed to netflix ($9/month plus $2 extra per month for BD). If you think streaming movies might be in your future, investigate units with netflix capability (both units you are looking at include this feature). You can get a standalone BD player with this for $100 right now (it happens to claim to upconvert nicely). 4) Integration with your tv/cable. Just because it's a pain to deal with three (or more) remotes. Samsung tv plus Samsung HTIB is decently integrated. Just something to think about. Happy shopping.

I have seen these for $600-$700 on a regular basis on bargain sites. I got one with a 1200w 5.1 htib for $930 *last* September. Panasonic and Samsung look great, Sonys look great too, but are more expensive, and Pioneer Kuros look best but are *much* more expensive. You don't need 1080p on a 50" tv unless you are going to use it as a computer screen. My experience, lots of links, and lots of reviews (mostly from last year but still valid especially for 720p) here.

Vizio is highly regarded among the value brands and you can grab this one for $208.

According to Popular Science...

The best point and shoot I have ever used is the TZ5A. Watch for deals on this camera and its siblings. In 9/08 I got one for $179. For a lot less money, the Canon a590 is also terriffic. Both of these are pocketable.

You're welcome. You will read good and bad about all brands and most models. Your use sounds like mine, and I have been happily computing on an Acer 5516 all summer and fall. I take care of it, but it seems rugged enough. The 15.6" screen is beautiful but is reflective in strong sun, and running Windows 7 with no crapware, is very snappy. I run OpenOffice on it. OO is pretty demanding so I think MS Office versions would run fine. At $240, I could afford to take a chance. So far, so good. FYI, Acer also makes Gateway and eMachines. Together these brands constitute the second most popular computers on the planet -- mostly based on laptop sales, and largely without benefit of big business contracts. I'll speculate that there will be $300 laptops BF, but I think you will find deals throughout the season. Spend a little time in the stores assessing keyboards and screens. For Vista and 7 machines, right click my computer and select properties from the popup menu to see the Windows Experience Index. Take note values that feel sluggish or snappy to you. I have found that scores >3 are good for most use, >4 are good for good for light gaming, and >5 is good for more serious gaming. Most $300 laptops are going to be in the 2-3 range.

Pecan Pie INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons white sugar 1/2 cup butter, chilled 4 tablespoons ice water 3 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup light corn syrup 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup 3/4 cup light brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 pinch salt 1/2 cup pecans, finely crushed 1 cup pecans, quartered 1 cup pecan halves DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and white sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually sprinkle the water over the dry mixture, stirring until dough comes together enough to form a ball. On a floured surface flatten dough ball with rolling pin. Roll out into a circle that is one inch larger than pie dish. Place pie shell into dish and refrigerate until pie filling is complete.Mix together eggs, light and dark corn syrups, brown sugar, butter, salt and finely crushed pecans. Spread quartered pecans over bottom of refrigerated pie crust. Pour syrup mixture over top of pecans, then arrange pecan halves on top of pie. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for one hour or until firm.Let cool for one hour before serving.

My advice was sound. It comes from my doctor. And he is qualified. I cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons and the suggestions I posted were his recommendations for someone who hasn't had the vaccine. He also noted that the practices were sound for all since there are many flu viruses and you can get one even having been vaccinated. Do what you want with it.

Also, Best Buy has a 'connected' BD player for $170 is you don't mind refurbs.

Just an update for you, Dragon. The PS3 is now selling for $250 and Netflix support is rolling out in November. Right now, I am using a trial of Playon to watch Netflix (also a trial) on my PS3 -- thanks for stirring my interest. I see why you put ondemand movies on your list of features. For $9/month you get as many DVDs as you can ship back and forth and while you're waiting for the next DVD to arrive, you can stream 12,000 'instant' movies from their library. Not sure I'll buy Playon, but Netflix looks like a keeper.

Evaluating a laptop is a lot more complex than evaluating a desktop, John. With a desktop, all you really have to decide is how much are you willing to pay for -- how much cpu, how much video card, and how much disk space. With a laptop, you are really deciding how little you can live with. The more laptop you buy, the more power you use, and the more battery you need. There are netbooks, desktop replacements, and everything in between. You can't watch a movie or edit documents easily on a netbook and a desktop replacement is no fun on a bus on in the park. So, best first step is to make a list of the things you will do with the laptop. Identify apps that will accomplish those tasks and see what they require for hardware. Think through use cases -- whether you will have power, if you need to put the computer on your lap, how good a keyboard you need, and how small a screen you can live with. I rank these as 1-2-3 (requirement-desire-other). I, for instance, need to edit and encode video on my laptop (1). I maintain my web site on the laptop and that means image editing (1). I do some document editing on my laptop and would like to use openoffice.org -- because that is what I use on my desktop (2). I'd like to be able to watch videos saved on my disk or from a DVD (2). It would be nice if I could rip/edit/burn DVDs and capture from a video source(3). Blu-ray playback would be nice (3). Right away, netbooks are not for me. BUT, nothing here requires a desktop replacement. Portability is a key consideration. Weight is a small factor here -- it's been a long time since I picked up a laptop and thought it was heavy. Portability is the appropriateness of the platform to various environments. A Desktop Replacement is not very portable because 1) you cannot easily use one without a table and power. They are too big for the lap and go through a charge too quickly. Netbooks are not very portable either if you desire an optical media drive, a full size keyboard, or a big screen. My Acer 5516 is a little light on portability because the speakers are soft and the glossy screen is tough in direct sunlight. I want to be able to take the laptop camping (lost two Dell D610s to moisture) (2). I'd like to use it to take notes at meetings (three hour battery life) (2). I'd like to be able to work on it in bed or on my couch (not too fragile since I'll probably fall asleep) (1). It'd be nice to have connectivity cell network connectivity (3). Price matters. $200 - $300 seems to be a very good price for a laptop. Assuming it meets one's needs, the investment will likely be recouped on the next upgrade (present cost of the desired laptop - future cost > $280). So far BF2K9 rumors include... Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook for $149.99 Toshiba L505-S5998 T4300 for $399.99 I'd be tempted to grab a couple of the netbooks for portable internet toys, but the satellite is too expensive for me. What do you want to do with your new laptop?

No, it's not OK if you are going to be shopping. It's not right for you to grab a laptop or tv someone else stood in line for. Even if the item is not a ticket item, you are still potentially grabbing something someone waited in line for. It shouldn't be necessary anyway. Once the store opens and those in line enter the store, you should be able to find your daughter and join her at the checkout.

She *did* ask. I guess I should have assured her that there was no risk and that she was heroic for venturing out in her condition. Let me fix my first post.

It's been cleaned up. Used to be where Chinatown and the Theater District met. I think it was mostly on Washington Street. If you were dining or drinking in Jacob Wirth's, you might see call girls out one window and a family going to a play out the other. Video history here. My youngest sister routinely did things that, to me, escaped the bounds of common sense. When I encouraged her to think about the consequences of the proposed action, she would defiantly insist that she had a right to do anything she wanted and that if she wanted to walk through the combat zone naked waving hundred dollar bills, it was her right to do so (which, of course, it wasn't). I would routinely respond that just because it was her right didn't make it a good idea.

A better example would be that your husband hadn't worked in thirteen years, you were pregnant with your seventh child in four years, and your boss would fire you if you refused to work on Black Friday. The OP was talking about shopping not feeding her kids and I was talking about reducing the risk of infection not fear of H1N1. Stacy, the original question was... My thoughts were, and are, that it would be a bad idea for a pregnant woman to stand in line close to strangers for hours on end in the cold during flu season. Never mind that these strangers have been known to trample people on occasion. I was a little flip with the OP because 1) she characterized someone carrying the virus who would go shopping on BF as a moron, and 2) she implied that other people should stay home so that standing line would be safer for her baby. I don't think that someone who shops with the sniffles is a moron. I do think that 'at risk' populations should do whatever they can to minimize risk -- especially when the risk is to a third party. My sister thinks she should be able to walk through the combat zone in Boston at three o'clock in the morning naked waving hundred dollar bills. I agree with her but don't think it would be a good idea. Same here. I think pregnant women should be able to drag their toddlers through the stores on BF, but I don't think it's a good idea. Be safe.

It's not the same. You have sustained contact with more people for a longer time. You may feel fine, but you are *very* likely to be exposed to a virus as you chat with people waiting in line. It's harsh (Encarta defines moron as an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody's intelligence), but I was playing on the words of the original post. While my intent was not to instult, I seriously question the intelligence of someone willing to put the welfare of a baby at risk to save a couple dollars. You are right that your son being in public school is a risk, but to equate the risk associated with getting an education with that of saving a few bucks is irrational. If your son comes home sick, you can take measures to avoid getting sick yourself. What measures can you take to avoid inhaling virus in line at Walmart? Look, I'm not going to pull a pregnant woman out of line and send her home. Someone asked about the risk of being in line with morons who have the virus. There will be people in line who are sick. Some won't even know. If you are at risk -- and pregnant people are -- you should reconsider. I hope you never have to regret waiting in line on BF, but, mark my words, some will. My advice to the OP and others who are at risk is to play it safe. What you do with that advice is up to you.

This forum is about Black Friday and the poster asked if there would Windows 7 computers on sale on that day. The answer is yes. The ad from a vendor who shall not be named had a Compaq Presario Dual-Core Desktop w/ 3GB RAM, 500GB HD, Windows 7 - $239.99. I don't know why mac-o-philes thread crap and pontificate...ok I do (and I've seen treatments for that on late night tv)...but do we need to dilute this important sticky with offtopic drivel?

No, Jenirvt, but BF is different in that you will be standing in close proximity to lots of strangers for long periods of time. As you move from store to store the number of strangers you are in close proximity to for long periods of time increases. As the number increases, the liklihood of you being exposed to something increases. Being pregnant doesn't mean stop living life, but you should be more careful since your behaviors will be affecting a more delicate creature. So, we eat better, see the doctor more often, lay off drugs and alcohol, curtail physical activity, and minimize exposure to disease. You can do what you, but I think you should be careful.

that's why I said "sick, elderly, or pregnant." that's why I said "it doesn't matter the crowd or the flu."

Not the way I meant it. It's just crazy for sick, elderly, or pregnant people to stand out in the cold with lots of people. I'll make it a little less harsh...it doesn't read as well, but it's Christmas, right?