len_mullen

I agree. I just bought two HP Pavillions. They were refurbs from Frys. I added a 19" lcd, a 400w power supply, a 8600gt video card, and 2.1 speakers to the 2g, x2 4000+, 320g, dvd+/-rw, vista premium system for a $550 (shipped) system that achieves an overall Vista Experience of 4.8 (5.2 gaming). I shopped the Dells heavily before settling on the HPs. I like the Pavillions better -- cases are nicer (to look at or work on), include firewire and media slots, and nothing is proprietary. Price is much better too. Dell teases you with low ball prices but kills you with upgrades -- before and after the sale. I'm sure there will be inexpensive PCs on BF, but you need to be careful not to get a cheap machine. I'm hearing a lot of remorse from people who bought laptops and desktops with Vista that were bargains. Too little memory and poor graphics (integrated) are the problem and can be an expensive problem to fix. I strongly recommend that people spend a little time in the stores before BF using the machines. I did this. I have to tell you that there are not a lot of inexpensive PCs worth owning. A Vista Experience Index <4 is not fun and most of the cheap PCs are in the low 3's due to low memory and/or integrated graphics. You can fix both problems if your PC comes with a PCIe slot, but this will cost you plenty -- at least a hundred bucks -- and you'll have to worry about matching memory and maybe upgrading your power supply. Good luck!

Could be, but a 19" lcd at that price would be attractive for a lot of people. If it has a dead pixel -- and it is even noticeable -- bring it back for another or a refund within 14 days. In general, LCDs are much improved and low end is pretty good. For gamers or movie watchers, contrast and brightness matter. I have a lot of LCDs, and I cannot say that DVI matters. I look for it as a feature and indicator of quality, but it's not a show stopper.

This week, Staples has a 7" Pandigital 7" frame for $50 after instant savings and easy rebate. Last BF, these were ~$60 (figuring in Kohls Cash). Have been very happy with mine and picked up another.

For me, it would depend on the monitor. The ones I bought today are fast, have dvi, are bright, and have high contrast. I would not get a lesser monitor to save $40.

I was just in Staples buying two $140 19" LCDs -- which, without rebates and given the specs, strikes me as a very good deal. One of the associates and I were talking about BF and he told me he heard there would be a <$100 19" LCD. I'll probably get one. Take if for what it's worth -- a rumor from an employee -- but there's not much else to talk about right now.

I'm against the ticket idea. The first people in line can get one of each ticket and go away and decide what they want. Merchandise reserved for their tickets is unavailable for others -- and could go unsold. This *may* be part of the reason for tickets -- get people in the store without selling merchandise at BF prices When all run at the merchandise, more people have a shot at the deals. Maybe, the answer is to have tickets handed out for each item inside the store?

My rebates are mostly Staples EasyRebates these days, but there was a time when I frequented a lot of stores that had rebates and, for the most part, I had great success. Two stores -- Best Buy and OfficeMax -- failed to fulfill. In both cases, I ended up getting a rebate check and a consolation check. Best Buy was a BB gift card with purchase of a Western Digital drive. WD said BB would not send them gift cards to fulfill the rebates and BB said it was a WD promotion. In the end, I got a check ffom WD and a gift card from BB. OfficeMax was the worst. I have to thank BF for getting that one. I threatened to stand outside one of their stores handing out fliers on BF if the problem was not resolved before. The check arrived two days before and a colsolation check soon followed. I have not used a rebate from either store since. One large ATI rebate went unfulfilled about the time AMD bought the company. I fully expected to get stiffed on that as ATI had been difficult to work with. To my delight, AMD fulfillment was very helpful. I think, in all, I have missed out on two or three of the thousands of rebates I have submitted over the years. One of those was my fault. The important thing is to scan/copy everything and follow up as soon as the promise date passes. Be sure to get the name and number of each person you talk to and make a record of the conversation including promises, the date, and the time. That said, I can get nearly everything I want at Staples and their rebates are easy and reliable, so I tend to avoid rebating elsewhere.

Well, last year was the first time I had to wait in line at Staples. It was long, but I got everything I wanted. I'll only go out this year if there is something I really want. I have a feeling 'door busters' will be had before and after BF this year and that many will be available online. Here's to hoping!

I'm not sure this is unethical. If you stand in line and earn the tickets, who is to say you are not entitled to sell them. If I was first in line and someone offered me a lot of money to take my place, would that be unethical? It is, however, inconsiderate of those behind you. Whether you sell the ticket or give it away, you are taking something you don't want and depriving someone -- who did wait in line -- of the ticket. *You* may feel better if you give the ticket away, but the guy who was unable to get a tickle me elmo for his kid won't. When I go our on BF, I have a list and do not buy anything not on the list. I don't throw things in my cart while I think about them, and I don't collect tickets to sell or give away. Be a good sport and take only what you will buy.

Watching prices rise on food and fuel, and seeing stores adjust their sales outlook lower, I wonder what the impact on BF will be. Intuitively, I expect this news to pressure prices and that's good for consumers who can afford to take advantage. If retailers panic, we could enjoy a good holiday shopping season. At the same time, I see a downside. First, people who have never turned out for BF may jump in this year to stretch their budgets. Second, I am concerned that retailers may underestimate demand, stock less, and drive prices higher. What do you think? I divide my shopping season into three phases. I've already started shopping for must have items without much concern for price. If I run into a deal on one of these, I'll pricematch or return/rebuy. Next month, I'll begin shopping for commodity gifts. As the holiday nears, and after it passes, I'll make purchases of opportunity -- stuff that is just too cheap to leave on the shelves. Last year, the POOs were slim pickings as the retailers did a great job of anticipating demand. I wonder what this year will bring...

I guess you'd have to be the first person who waited in line and left empty handed only to see someone who did not wait as long get a ticket by chance. Maybe this person stood in line all night because their pocketbook could not otherwise pay for a laptop for their kid? I wouldn't take merchandise or a ticket for an item (let alone two) that I did not intend to buy. That's just me. This is *very* different. I leave coupons on the shelf next to the merchandise when this happens -- so everyone looking for the product gets a shot. The thing is, your coupon discounted a purchase where that ticket enabled a purchase. No one was denied that merchandise because you clipped the coupon. The whole BF experience is about people waiting in line for great prices on limited quantities of merchandise. When people hold places in line or otherwise 'cheat,' they make people feel bad. If enough bad will is generated, BF will stop being fun. I'm not suggesting this person was bad or ill mannered -- just inconsiderate. I posted my note hoping that people would agree with me and leave merchandise they did not want for others who had stood in line almost as long.

I went into Kohls looking for two items. I got them, checked out, went to Staples, then returned to Kohls for shopping. I was in and out 20 minutes the first time and found nothing worth the wait the second time. Get the one or two things that will make your BF a success and get out.

They did this at Kohls too. I would have expected the workers to have maps, but they were scrambling as well. I did not find this fun. It just wasted my time.

Unless you are the first guy who did not get a ticket because these people who didn't want a laptop took it. Kind of like letting some cut in line *behind* you. Bah humbug to this kid and his mom (I did not want the laptop, btw). Staples was my second stop this morning. I showed up at Kohls at 4:30, walked in, got three digital frames, and a guitar hero, and was out in twenty minutes. From there, my sister and I went to Staples. Generally, you can walk into my Staples *after* it opens and get what you want. This year, the line was 200 long 15 minutes before the store opened. Just the same, I got everything I wanted -- 19" lcd, 200g disk, 2g SD, 1g SD, Playo DVDs, 1g thumb drive, and the web cam. My sister got most of that and the 400g external drive. I think the Mag TVs brought people into my little Staples...I almost bought one on impulse. Two observations: 1) the workers at both stores were outstanding -- helpful and courteos, and 2) there were no limits on nonrebate items. I wondered why some ebayer didn't grab all those 7" digital frames at Kohls or maybe the Mag LCDs at Staples (one guy had two). All in all, a very satisfying BF for me.

OK. I haven't seen a TV Now except on walmart.com. FWIW, I have never used the software that comes with it. The DRM is oppressive I just use this thing as a PVR -- plug it in, record some tv, and take it with you.

do you get the $10 gift cards for each $50 spent for online purchases?

You're welcome. Remember that Kohls gives you a ten dollar gift card for every fifty you spend, so knock $10 off that price. If you happen to have a Kohls credit card, you probably have a 15% off card in your mailbox as well.

Google is your friend. Search for linens things bf 2006 and click the cached link belw matches This is what they have: Digital Picture/Video Frame, 5.6” (64MB) $69.99 Here are the rest... Best Buy Westinghouse 7" Digital Picture Frame $79.99 Circuit City SmartParts 5.6" Digital Picture Frame $49.99 CompUSA Mustek 7" Digital Photo Frame $59.99 CVS Pharmacy Polaroid Digital Picture Frame (with CVS Card) $79.99 JCPenney 7-inch Digital Photo Frame $88.88 Kohl's 7\" Digital Picture Frame $89.99 Radio Shack Optimus 7" Digital Photo Frame $79.99 Staples 5.6" Digital Photo Frame $69.98 Target Trutech 7-inch LCD Digital Photo Frame $68.00 I like the Kohls and Radio Shack frames. Have fun!

FYI: TV Now == Vugo. This has been panned by many, but I have one and I like it. It can take a 2g sd, so there's plenty of room. You can switch between built in and SD, too, so put some music on the built in and movies on the sd. The image quality is not great, but my little guy does not seem to mind. It's easy to use and great fun. Last year, I 'stole' one for $60. It still works fine -- and it was not used gently. I may pick up a couple more at $25.

I love the high easy rebates -- easy way to 'launder' my discover rewards -- pay $27.98 ($25 dr + 2.98) and I end up with the DVDs and $2 that I wouldn't have had if I took cash.

the ad scan says early bird specials are from 6:00am to 10:00am.