Retailers are opening doors for the holiday shopping season today, the day after Thanksgiving. Nielsen's annual holiday gift survey says that 44 percent of children aged 6 to 12 want an Apple tablet in the coming months, and 25 percent have placed non-iPad tablets on their wish list. The iPod touch and iPhone were on 30 percent and 27 percent of kids' lists this year.

The day you've waited 364 days is here, says Apple, and you don't have to join long queues and the heavy traffic inside malls and retailers to get your favorite Apple device.

Apple launched its annual Black Friday online sale, which offers "the season's lowest prices" until the clock strikes 12 a.m. on Nov. 26.

There Black Friday sale doesn't include the iPhone 4S or even the older models. Apple last month launched the iPhone 4S, which is available for $199 on a two-year contract with networks or $649 contract-free. The iPhone 4S retained the design of the iPhone 4 although it had a new processor (the A5 chip used in the iPad 2), has an upgraded camera, and features a state of the art virtual assistant named Siri.

Apple's desktops, laptops and music players are up for grabs in this "special one-day Apple shopping event."

But only modest discounts are provided by Apple, the world's most valuable tech company and brand. The Steve-Jobs founded company slashed by a mere $100 the prices of its MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac, which have all new quad-core processors from Intel Corp. The 9.7-inch iPad 2, which is the best-selling media tablet in the market, is getting a $41 reduction. The iPod Touch, which appears like an iPhone minus the 3G connection, is cheaper by $21.

Apple, which takes margins of 40 percent from product sales, rarely slashes prices of its key devices.

Check the slideshow for the six devices that you should press "Buy Now" at the Apple Store.

To contact author directly, e-mail c.fernandez@IBTimes.com.au

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