They told me that the version that is on the discovery channel now is not the same one that they have for sale. They (bestbuy) said the one on the discovery channel will come out later. Any one who has seen the bbc version does it have the same content that is on tv?I also called another best buy they said the same thing.They told me they recieved a memo that there are two different version. Sorry if this is a repost any one know what they are talking about?I want to get it but I want to make sure that I get the correct one. Any help?

Of course it's not the same, you don't have to watch the commercials in between. Oh yeah, they also have animal sex in the HD DVD version that was edited on TV.

I believe the Discovery Channel version also had a different narrator. The content, for the most part, should be the same with a few possible changes (likely short additions).

Same footage different narrators

Sigourney Weaver - Discovery Channel (US)
David Attenborough - BBC (UK)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Earth_(TV_series)


It 550 odd minutes long, so think whos voice is going be more tolerable.

There in Canada the CBC aired the original BBC version.

Cardinal Rule No. 1: Never, ever, never rely on info taken from a BBB.

Cardinal Rule No. 1: Never, ever, never rely on info taken from a BBB.
I learned this once I started reading this forum. Some of those guys are clueless! They should require them to read this forum 1 day out of each week :D

Ok cool sounds like it might be the same thing.

Ok cool sounds like it might be the same thing.

It is, I've watched it on Discovery HD and have it on HD-DVD. Like others have said, other than a different narrator and some more footage on the HD-DVD/Bluray release, its the same series.

You will find on this Wilkepidia link all the information regarding the Discovery braodcast version and the one they are selling now.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Earth_%28TV_series%29

I learned this once I started reading this forum. Some of those guys are clueless! They should require them to read this forum 1 day out of each week :D

Key word being some, I know EXACTLY what I am talking about.... :D

Doesn't the HD DVD also include like 90 extra minutes of footage.

It's $100 at Best Buy, so screw that.

It's $100 at Best Buy, so screw that.

my Best Buy priced matched the Target.com price of $66.99....

~Jason

Yesterday evening was the last straw for me. I went into Bestbuy to basically just hang out, like I do sometimes. There were 2 bluray setups (Samsung & Sony) front & center in the audio video area. I asked about HDDVD and the attendant took me to some back isle where a lone A2 sat plugged into a mediocre Westinghouse display.

I asked, "So howcome you guys don't have this Toshiba displayed out front?". He said Sony & Samsung paid to have their stuff out there, and that Toshiba didn't. "Fair enough" I said. We stood there and looked at the display for a few seconds and then I noted, "Why does it look so bad? Is this TV any good?". He replied (and this was the kicker)...

"Well HDDVD only goes up to 540P, while the Blurays you were just looking at are 1080P...about twice the resolution".

I fought back a giggle. I asked what he meant, and he pointed at the little display card that read "...up to 1080i resolution". He proceeded to explain how 1080i was "every other line" which he felt meant only 540 lines of resolution. I didn't know how to respond...I didn't know where to begin. I begin by saying, "Are you familiar with the idea of frame rates" ? He said he was.

It was at that point he interrupted me and said he had to go take care of another customer. I left the store feeling pretty pissed. It may not seem like a big deal, but the fact is that MOST people out there are getting info from jerks like that. Unless HDDVD puts ITSELF front and center with advertising and constant PR, it may be doomed due to ignorance.

So if anyone knows the tall curly headed dude that works at the A/V section at the Bestbuy in Columbus GA (Manchester expressway), tell him to go educate himself.

Yesterday evening was the last straw for me. I went into Bestbuy to basically just hang out, like I do sometimes. There were 2 bluray setups (Samsung & Sony) front & center in the audio video area. I asked about HDDVD and the attendant took me to some back isle where a lone A2 sat plugged into a mediocre Westinghouse display.

I asked, "So howcome you guys don't have this Toshiba displayed out front?". He said Sony & Samsung paid to have their stuff out there, and that Toshiba didn't. "Fair enough" I said. We stood there and looked at the display for a few seconds and then I noted, "Why does it look so bad? Is this TV any good?". He replied (and this was the kicker)...

"Well HDDVD only goes up to 540P, while the Blurays you were just looking at are 1080P...about twice the resolution".

I fought back a giggle. I asked what he meant, and he pointed at the little display card that read "...up to 1080i resolution". He proceeded to explain how 1080i was "every other line" which he felt meant only 540 lines of resolution. I didn't know how to respond...I didn't know where to begin. I begin by saying, "Are you familiar with the idea of frame rates" ? He said he was.

It was at that point he interrupted me and said he had to go take care of another customer. I left the store feeling pretty pissed. It may not seem like a big deal, but the fact is that MOST people out there are getting info from jerks like that. Unless HDDVD puts ITSELF front and center with advertising and constant PR, it may be doomed due to ignorance.

So if anyone knows the tall curly headed dude that works at the A/V section at the Bestbuy in Columbus GA (Manchester expressway), tell him to go educate himself.

I got one.

I was at BB last night looking for the Spidie 3 BD disc and saw the new BD display with the divider line that panned the screen showing the difference between DVD and BD (Very cool btw)..... and I asked a salesmen where the HD-DVD display was, and the dude laughed at me... :confused: ... he literally laughed at me.

He then proceeded to tell me that BD was the only format worth buying. I just rolled by eyes and walked off. Would have bought a movie on HD if it weren't for their ridiculous prices...

I'll admit I lean to the Blu crowd slightly more than the Red crowd. It's just a fact that I like buying new releases more than replacing all the catalogs I already own on DVD.. but stuff like that even pissed me off.... :mad:

I learned this once I started reading this forum. Some of those guys are clueless! They should require them to read this forum 1 day out of each week :D
I don't mind idiots, I'm frequently surrounded by them. What I don't like are idiots who think they know things that they clearly don't.

I got one.

I was at BB last night looking for the Spidie 3 BD disc and saw the new BD display with the divider line that panned the screen showing the difference between DVD and BD (Very cool btw)..... and I asked a salesmen where the HD-DVD display was, and the dude laughed at me... :confused: ... he literally laughed at me.
I have a tendancy to make a scene when things like this happen so it's a good thing that wasn't me.

I'm kind of scary looking with my tattoos and stuff which is probably why it doesn't.

I wish they had a choice of both narrators on the HD DVD. I prefer the Sigourney Weaver narration.

Yesterday evening was the last straw for me. I went into Bestbuy to basically just hang out, like I do sometimes. There were 2 bluray setups (Samsung & Sony) front & center in the audio video area. I asked about HDDVD and the attendant took me to some back isle where a lone A2 sat plugged into a mediocre Westinghouse display.

I asked, "So howcome you guys don't have this Toshiba displayed out front?". He said Sony & Samsung paid to have their stuff out there, and that Toshiba didn't. "Fair enough" I said. We stood there and looked at the display for a few seconds and then I noted, "Why does it look so bad? Is this TV any good?". He replied (and this was the kicker)...

"Well HDDVD only goes up to 540P, while the Blurays you were just looking at are 1080P...about twice the resolution".

I fought back a giggle. I asked what he meant, and he pointed at the little display card that read "...up to 1080i resolution". He proceeded to explain how 1080i was "every other line" which he felt meant only 540 lines of resolution. I didn't know how to respond...I didn't know where to begin. I begin by saying, "Are you familiar with the idea of frame rates" ? He said he was.

It was at that point he interrupted me and said he had to go take care of another customer. I left the store feeling pretty pissed. It may not seem like a big deal, but the fact is that MOST people out there are getting info from jerks like that. Unless HDDVD puts ITSELF front and center with advertising and constant PR, it may be doomed due to ignorance.

So if anyone knows the tall curly headed dude that works at the A/V section at the Bestbuy in Columbus GA (Manchester expressway), tell him to go educate himself.

Oh man. I would have waited until he was done with the customer and educate him. After I was done I would have said "Ahhhhhhhhh Burn" and walk out.

I would have just said "Do they tell you to spread this misinformation or do you just make it up to sound like you know what you're talking about?"

I once had a BB employee tell me that Blu-Ray was better because it used a Blue laser :rolleyes:

No I'm not joking

Luckily those of us with basic reading skills know that a blue laser is used with both. I'd do a better job of being a fair and balanced BB employee and I am clearly an HD DVD supporter.

I have a tendancy to make a scene when things like this happen so it's a good thing that wasn't me.

Ya because something like that is worth making scene.

Pretty immature if you ask me, but you didn't though I'm going to give my opinion anyway.

If you have a store employee giving you misinformation, CORRECT THEM! Do not let that stuff continue, because they spread it around to people who don't know better. Maybe the employee truly doesn't know he is giving false info.

If you have a store employee giving you misinformation, CORRECT THEM! Do not let that stuff continue, because they spread it around to people who don't know better. Maybe the employee truly doesn't know he is giving false info.
They certainly don't misinform people on purpose.

This is what happens when you hire children at your high-tech electronics store. What are they gonna do, hire people that actually know what they're talking about? Then they'd actually have to pay more than minimum wage.

It's just the way it is. Thank God this forum exists so we can educate each other.

Ya because something like that is worth making scene.

Pretty immature if you ask me, but you didn't though I'm going to give my opinion anyway.
He would have been making a scene by laughing at me. I just would have reciprocated.

They certainly don't misinform people on purpose.

This is what happens when you hire children at your high-tech electronics store. What are they gonna do, hire people that actually know what they're talking about? Then they'd actually have to pay more than minimum wage.

It's just the way it is. Thank God this forum exists so we can educate each other.


Amen Fett....AMEN! :D

They certainly don't misinform people on purpose.

This is what happens when you hire children at your high-tech electronics store. What are they gonna do, hire people that actually know what they're talking about? Then they'd actually have to pay more than minimum wage.

It's just the way it is. Thank God this forum exists so we can educate each other.

Ok..I am going to take a different position. If you are over 18 and I ask you a question and you have any doubt in your mind with respect to the answer...or you are not 100% confident...and then you proceed to give me an answer as if you do know...without any sort of caveat...then you have just "misinformed people on purpose".

I don't even let my 13 year old get away with this approach. Let alone an adult who is getting paid to provide correct information. Everyone wants to act like they know everything instead of saying "I don't know, let me get some help". That is deliberately misinforming.

Why can't those people do what I did when I was 16 making minimum wage working in Sears hardware after school and weekends? If there was a bandsaw or drill that I had no clue about, I picked up the doggone manual before or when my shift started and read the doggone thing. Then I asked the more senior guys questions. Either you take pride in your work or you do not. It's not rocket science.

Quit misinforming.

Ok..I am going to take a different position. If you are over 18 and I ask you a question and you have any doubt in your mind with respect to the answer...or you are not 100% confident...and then you proceed to give me an answer as if you do know...without any sort of caveat...then you have just "misinformed people on purpose".

I don't even let my 13 year old get away with this approach. Let alone an adult who is getting paid to provide correct information. Everyone wants to act like they know everything instead of saying "I don't know, let me get some help". That is deliberately misinforming.

Why can't those people do what I did when I was 16 making minimum wage working in Sears hardware after school and weekends? If there was a bandsaw or drill that I had no clue about, I picked up the doggone manual before or when my shift started and read the doggone thing. Then I asked the more senior guys questions. Either you take pride in your work or you do not. It's not rocket science.

Quit misinforming.
Ok, well you have a point there. I agree that a lot of it is probably kids just not giving a crap and offering half-baked (literally) ideas as fact.

I have actually taken some time to educate them on occassion, but usually I don't bother.

Ok, well you have a point there. I agree that a lot of it is probably kids just not giving a crap and offering half-baked (literally) ideas as fact.

I have actually taken some time to educate them on occassion, but usually I don't bother.

I have done the same and to the credit of a few of the young BB associates, some of them actually have stood and talked with me for over 30 minutes wanting to learn more about what I knew that they did not. And I will take the time if they care.

Of course it's not the same, you don't have to watch the commercials in between. Oh yeah, they also have animal sex in the HD DVD version that was edited on TV.
:eek:

I agree that a lot of it is probably kids just not giving a crap and offering half-baked (literally) ideas as fact.


Sounds like the Blu-ray forums to me.

If you have a store employee giving you misinformation, CORRECT THEM! Do not let that stuff continue, because they spread it around to people who don't know better. Maybe the employee truly doesn't know he is giving false info.
Education is futile! Prepare to be assimilated by ignorance!

Seriously, I've been in a similar situation with a BB drone and trying to set him on the right path was a frustrating experience. A couple of years ago when the new series 2 DirecTivos were about to be introduced I spoke with a salesperson and asked him when they'd be getting them in. He said they were coming out soon and then said they were going to be called Ultimate TVs. I tried to explain that they were two different types of DVRs and he insisted I was wrong. I further explained that UTVs were developed by Microsoft and DirecTivos were different beasts altogether. He didn't seem to care that I was a moderator in a Tivo forum at the time, although I'm sure he didn't have a clue what that meant. Sometimes I think they hire these people based on their level of stupidity and arrogance. :rolleyes:

I rarely talk to BB salespeople anymore except to have them point me to a particular product. I've been tempted to walk into the Magnolia Home Theater to see what kind of morons they have selling home theater gear. No doubt they've got people there that will tell you the Bose Lifestyle system is the best there is.

Confirming no HD-DVD setup in my local Best Buy. There was a lone Toshiba piled in with all the other SD players though. There were 2 BR displays setup in this particular store.

I actually tried to correct a BB employee one time and he proceeded to explain to me that what he was talking about was accurate, that's why he was working there. I turned around and left :)

I usually listen to the sales pitch they give to some poor soul and wait for the associate to walk away, and then let the customer in on the real info. More often than not, when I take the time to do this, they buy what I explain to them, would be a better fit for their needs. I usually do this with computer products. I've been in IT for over 8 years ( the majority of my workable life ), but I've never worn a blue shirt before, so I probably don't know what I'm talkin about ;)

I once had a BB employee tell me that Blu-Ray was better because it used a Blue laser :rolleyes:

No I'm not joking

Luckily those of us with basic reading skills know that a blue laser is used with both. I'd do a better job of being a fair and balanced BB employee and I am clearly an HD DVD supporter.

i once had a BB employee tell me blu-ray was better because it had a red laser :D

I have a tendancy to make a scene when things like this happen so it's a good thing that wasn't me.

I'm kind of scary looking with my tattoos and stuff which is probably why it doesn't.
If we've ever crossed swords in a thread, Fett, just want to let you know that I apologize! ;)

With my HD-A1 out for repairs I went to BB last night to pick up an A2 (which will eventually go in the bedroom). I asked the guy in the TV dept (who was very busy chatting with his female co-worker) if they had any Toshiba HD-A2s in stock to which I got a clueless look. I said "HD DVD"? He said, "no we don't have any". I asked if they had an A20s instead. "No, we have some Pioneers but we don't have what you're looking for, but you can check in the DVD section".

Sure enough, they had both the A2 and A20 sitting on the shelf. I picked one up and proceeded to walk back to him to show him what the heck an HD DVD player looked like so in case anyone else asked for one he'd have a clue.

Cardinal Rule No. 1: Never, ever, never rely on info taken from a BBB.

What's the third B for? Bozo? Boob? Bonehead? Blu-boy?

Yeah, my imagination is starting to get the best of me here. :rolleyes:

Bradley

So the BB employee was right! Shame on the OP he didn't know that there is a difference between the UK and US version :D

I wish they had a choice of both narrators on the HD DVD. I prefer the Sigourney Weaver narration.

The narrator for just about all of these BBC docos has always been David Attenborough. He is an integral part of the experience as far as I'm concerned. A wonderful man, gentle soul, and a voice thats smooth as velvet. I am so glad we're not forced to listen to Weaver. In fact if we were, I wouldn't have bought it.

What's the third B for? Bozo? Boob? Bonehead? Blu-boy?

Yeah, my imagination is starting to get the best of me here. :rolleyes:

Bradley


Bastard, though I think I like the sound of Bozo or Bonehead much better :D !

I must chime in as a Best Buy/Magnolia employee as well. There are some of us who read this forum (in fact, as a supervisor I recommend to all my employees they spend some time here). Now, there are some of my guys who really do need some help but I try and spend a little time every day coaching all of them. We even have a binder filled with articles from AVSforum and Audioholics that I require them to read.

In fact, I'm sure most of them are sick of me drilling them on the differences between the A2, A20 and XA2. Best of luck with our guys out there. Some of them don't have a clue and some are great.

BTW, been enjoying Planet Earth on HD DVD for several days now. Been working my poor A2 pretty hard.

Yesterday evening was the last straw for me. I went into Bestbuy to basically just hang out, like I do sometimes. There were 2 bluray setups (Samsung & Sony) front & center in the audio video area. I asked about HDDVD and the attendant took me to some back isle where a lone A2 sat plugged into a mediocre Westinghouse display.....


...So if anyone knows the tall curly headed dude that works at the A/V section at the Bestbuy in Columbus GA (Manchester expressway), tell him to go educate himself.


I just want to know why someone would "hang out" at a Best Buy? :confused: :p :D

I just want to know why someone would "hang out" at a Best Buy? :confused: :p :D

That's a great question. All the time I get customers who are "just looking", "hanging out", "killing time", "waiting for someone" (who meets up at Best Buy?), "already have a TV", "on their lunch break", etc. Don't get me wrong, people have every right to "hang out" in our store. I just find some of the responses odd.

As long as you're not rude about it by all means feel free to peruse our selection, hang out, kill time or wait for someone :)

I just want to know why someone would "hang out" at a Best Buy? :confused: :p :D

Who hangs out at Best Buy? People who don't have their own 100"+ screens at home :D I'm sure many of us remember the first time we saw the huge back-wall screen for the first time.

I also stop in on occasion to look at thier 60" plasmas and smile to myself about how much cheaper/better my projector setup is :)

The plain and simple fact is if you want HD DVD to be front and center and to be the focus of all the short bus employees' love, then Toshiba needs to fork out the money to be the focus and be front row. As long as the BDA lines Best Buy's pockets with gold, I doubt seriously HD DVD will get any kind of penetration at Best Buy.

But you know, I was thinking about it and I wonder if putting HD DVD players "in the DVD section" might not get them bought purely by accident. I mean, it says "DVD," it's an excellent upscaling DVD player, it's pretty low in price now for a Best Buy-oriented high end dvd player, and it's in the mix with DVD players.

I don't know. Seems to me that's sneaking it into consideration of people who might not normally consider a high def disc player. By the time they realize they're looking at one of those "new-fangled disc players," they're already thinking about how they might swing it.

Just a thought. If Toshiba wants more than that, they have to pay for endcaps and special treatment. It's the business model.

As for the employees, they get paid so little I'm not surprised, especially in the many non-Magnolia stores. I can forgive high school and college students working to make some extra money (and that's it) from not suddenly growing an intense interest in every device under their watch (projection TV's, LCD tv's, plasma tv's, receivers, cables, HD DVD players, Blu-ray players, speakers, etc.) because they're only doing the job to make it to later in life when they can do their job they want to do.

Expecting them to research just for a job that is a midway point is silly. They're just not paid enough to do it seriously and it's not feasible for Best Buy to hire only people who are interested in the things we are...

Because there just aren't enough kids young enough to be paid slave labor wages that do the things we do to populate that department across the country. Nor is there enough money in Best Buy entire to educate them all thoroughly. A few managers here and there probably step in and do their best, but come on... it's not even realistic. That's like expecting a McDonalds employee to know what part of the cow their hamburgers come from or why their lettuce is always a shade of green that seems hardly green.

If you want knowledgable service, come to AVSforum, research, and then go to the store. If you don't do that, then expect to get misinformed. It has been that way for years. It is not a secret conspiracy against Toshiba.

Then they shouldn't be playing the "I know everything, so buy what I say" card then. I totally understand your sentiment, but there are people out there willing to spend whatever they can to get what they want, and for the most part, these BB associates mislead them. Granted, if you have all that money and aren't doing the research, then that is your problem.

It is slave labor, pretty much, but anything retail esentially is just that. These people choose to work at BB ( I'm guessing the majority of them do ) because they like the technology? Else they'd be working at some other store selling blankets or something.

Not our fault they get paid what they do, but when I walk into a "high end" A/V store, I would like to get some knowledge with that TV I just spent $4500 on. Not required, just a request.

The supervisor guy here has a valid point as well. Some of them know what they are talking about and some of them don't. I applaud his effort to educate them, especially with the data from these boards :)

My $.02

I don't know about the rest of you, but the Best Buys in my area are run by college kids. It's not that they purposely go out and misinform the customers, it's that they simply listen to their BB seniors, the employees that have been their longer than 3 months.

These are the guys they look up to and assume they know what they are talking about. The information, whether fact or opinion, then gets passed onto even newer employees and the customers.

Not all BB employees are like that, however. There are a few BB employees that frequent forums like AVS.

I think we could all probably go on and on about poor experiences with clerks at CC and BB. It drives me crazy. Unfortunately this "education" problem certainly isn't limited to electronic retailers. It has become the status quo in America in almost all retail chains regardless of what they are selling. This is the sad fact in 2007. We just experience it more at these stores because we frequent them more. I am not trying to excuse such uninformed ignorance, but with the pathetic wages these poor souls get, there just isn't much incentive to become educated. The clerks I've talked to at length could care less what they know or don't know. Sad.

I don't know about the rest of you, but the Best Buys in my area are run by college kids. It's not that they purposely go out and misinform the customers, it's that they simply listen to their BB seniors, the employees that have been their longer than 3 months.

These are the guys they look up to and assume they know what they are talking about. The information, whether fact or opinion, then gets passed onto even newer employees and the customers.

Not all BB employees are like that, however. There are a few BB employees that frequent forums like AVS.

It was the same way 25 years ago at electronics stores except people wer on comission. 90% of them still had no idea what they were talking about. It's been consistently like that since I've been buying electronics. One more reason I try to avoid B&M stores for electronic purchases.

It was the same way 25 years ago at electronics stores except people wer on comission. 90% of them still had no idea what they were talking about. It's been consistently like that since I've been buying electronics. One more reason I try to avoid B&M stores for electronic purchases.

Of course 25 years ago that left you with magazine ordering to get your electronics (no Internet) ;)

I just want to know why someone would "hang out" at a Best Buy? :confused: :p :D

Have you never walked into a store without really planning to buy anything? Is that so abnormal?

I also stop in on occasion to look at thier 60" plasmas and smile to myself about how much cheaper/better my projector setup is :)

How great does your projector set up look with all the lights on? Projectors are good for dedicated theater rooms but are not good in most other applications. You're basically saying projectors are what smart people buy and plasmas are for suckers.

The ultimate is to have both.

For those looking for an HD DVD endcap/Demo check out a local CC in the next few weeks. We will have an endcap front and center with the A20.

The A20 did pretty well for my store over the past weekend selling 13 players with our toshiba tv pkgs.

Back on topic though Planet earth was amazing on Discovery HD, and I can't wait for my HD DVD version to come in.

Anyone had a chance to test the XBOX add on with the elite and HDMI vs component/vga on a standard player?

Have you never walked into a store without really planning to buy anything? Is that so abnormal?

i think it's common even. i know tons of guys who like to go and browse around stores like that (not clothing stores!).

Have you never walked into a store without really planning to buy anything? Is that so abnormal?

I do it all the time. I kill time at Best Buy occasionally. I mean, it's not the store that is all that bad, it's just most of the employees and most of the prices.

I guess it's not bad to walk around until a BB employee opens their mouth and says something stupid like, HD DVD discs are only 1080i while BD is 1080P. And then you correct them and show them the info on the disc and they look at you like you're stupid. That's why I usually like to avoid those stores. If they wouldn't bother me I would be fine. My worst experiences with electronics purchases are from B&M stores. Nothing has changed in almost 30 years. they are still just as ignorant about the products they sell, only now most aren't on commission.

I got one.

I was at BB last night looking for the Spidie 3 BD disc and saw the new BD display with the divider line that panned the screen showing the difference between DVD and BD (Very cool btw)..... and I asked a salesmen where the HD-DVD display was, and the dude laughed at me... :confused: ... he literally laughed at me.

He then proceeded to tell me that BD was the only format worth buying. I just rolled by eyes and walked off. Would have bought a movie on HD if it weren't for their ridiculous prices...

I'll admit I lean to the Blu crowd slightly more than the Red crowd. It's just a fact that I like buying new releases more than replacing all the catalogs I already own on DVD.. but stuff like that even pissed me off.... :mad:

You guys need to be a bit more vindicative when dealing with jerks like that. Last time I had a guy at BB acting like that to me (a week ago), I didn't waste my time with him, I took his name, went straight to ask for the store manager, and told him exactly how his employee rolled his eyes at me and acted like I was the filthiest customer in the store. All I can say is this : that employee had to excuse himself profusely for his attitude, and I haven't seen him there last 2 times I went there. You just don't treat people that want to give your store money that way, you just don't.

Best Buy is the land of idiots and fruitcakes. The teens are future pole dancers and the guys are thug wannabes.

They could never afford the equipment they sell. The Magnolia crowd are just a step away from pushing used cars at Nic's car lot. It is a weekly laugh fest. The Magnolia fools try to push useless power conditioners and $275 HDMI cables. The teen-pole dancers have no clue what they are selling.

Circuit City is just as bad. Last week I listened as a CC salesman told an elderly couple that all of the networks are going to be 1080p this year. I rudely intruded and told him he was lying. He stammered and said no that was what he was told. I then asked him what resolution ABC/FOX/ESPN used. He became red faced and stuttered...he had no clue.

I always view B&M employees as car salesmen. Let them do their thing, its not you being suckered. Those getting suckered should not be out there dropping big money on things they don't understand anyways....

This is an HD DVD software thread. Stick to the topic, please. There are other forums for Best Buy Bashing.

The narrator for just about all of these BBC docos has always been David Attenborough. He is an integral part of the experience as far as I'm concerned. A wonderful man, gentle soul, and a voice thats smooth as velvet. I am so glad we're not forced to listen to Weaver. In fact if we were, I wouldn't have bought it.

I have to agree. I really enjoy Attenborough's narration.

You'd think that if you were about to drop $4,000 on something you'd have an idea on what you were buying instead of relying on the "drones".

Confirming no HD-DVD setup in my local Best Buy. There was a lone Toshiba piled in with all the other SD players though. There were 2 BR displays setup in this particular store.

At our local Best Buy there is one Blu Ray setup with all the signage and a small LCD screen showing the difference between HD and SD and one Blu Ray setup on a nice Samsung 50" DLP (rainbows!). If you look for HD DVD all you find is one A2 sitting on a shelf next to the upconverting DVD players, not plugged in to anything.

But the premier system (Pio 50" plasma, 2 Berkline chairs, Klipsch 5.1 system, Yamaha receiver, Monster Powercenter, etc.) sitting in the middle of the TV section has an A1 running on it all the time. J6P wouldn't know what it was though unless he asked, no signage anywhere (best looking picture in the place!). :(

I always enjoy reading folks’ stories regarding Best Buy, consumers, and the ensuing confusion over HD-DVD, Blu-ray, and standard DVD. So here’s my story...

I was at Best Buy last night and I thought I would take a look to see what their current prices were on Blu-ray players. A lady was also in that section looking at one of the upconverting DVD players. A BB employee approached and asked if either of us needed any help.

“Yeah,” the woman said. She pointed to a particular upconverting player. “I have this DVD player and I need to know if this will play in it.” She pulled out the Planet Earth HD-DVD set.

The employee replied, “I’m not sure.”

“Oh God,” I thought. I decided to chime in. “It won’t play it. What you have is an upconverting DVD player”

Both the woman and employee looked at me briefly, and then the woman turned back to the BB employee. “But my player has HDMI,” she reasoned.

I decided at this point that neither of them were really interested in my help, so I kept my distance. I did hear her ask, however, which player she needed to play the Planet Earth HD-DVD. The BB employee walked the woman to the end of aisle and pointed to a selection of players there, which contained nothing but an assortment of Blu-ray players (with the one exception of the LG dual-format player, so he may have been poining at that one). My Best Buy actually has a fairly nice endcap showcasing the HD-A2, but amazingy, at no point did he take her there.

A little later I heard her explaining that she could not return the HD-DVD since it had been 30 days since it was purchased. I actually sympathized with her a bit, as I understand that some folks just aren’t as tech savvy others.

I finally saw her leaving the store looking rather pissed, so I presume that they never offered to let her return or exchange the set.

In a rarity for me (tee hee), a slightly more on topic post -- there are, apparently, real differences between the AQ and VQ of the BBC v. Discovery Channel versions of Planet Earth -- highdefdigest favored the BBC version. Worth noting.

good story, Its to bad that she didn't want your help, obviously she felt more confident in the BB guy, which I'm never surprised about. I don't understand why people don't research something they intend to buy. Its as simple as looking on the net so you don't go in there dumb and reliant on anyone who works at these stores. Buying an HD upconverter is misleading, hell I'm sure it happens all the time.

I actually ordered the one off of DiscoveryChannel.com for many reasons. Firstly I loved the music cues and the famous intro music used in the US edition. I also enjoyed Weaver's naration. To hear the intro music go here http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html?dcitc=w99-502-ah-1007 and click View Trailer down below.

good story, Its to bad that she didn't want your help, obviously she felt more confident in the BB guy, which I'm never surprised about. I don't understand why people don't research something they intend to buy. Its as simple as looking on the net so you don't go in there dumb and reliant on anyone who works at these stores. Buying an HD upconverter is misleading, hell I'm sure it happens all the time.

Several weeks ago I actually had a CC employee thank me for explaining the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray.

BB is like a self service ampm gas station....you dont go up to the guy working and ask him what type of gas is best for your car do you??

Cardinal Rule No. 1: Never, ever, never rely on info taken from a BBB.

I don't own this set, so I may be wrong on the following:

Since there was a BBC version with one narrator and a US Discovery Channel version as well, it's quite possible that this "BBB" was right. I'll have to defer to someone who actually owns the set, though.

The amount of "pile on" that occurs here in respect to Best Buy pales only in comparison to Bose bashing. It's like it's what's in style, and the kids all do it to fit in :)

I would go with the BBC version, as the narrater is alot better. I also heard there is not any scenes cut out!

I have done the same and to the credit of a few of the young BB associates, some of them actually have stood and talked with me for over 30 minutes wanting to learn more about what I knew that they did not. And I will take the time if they care.

My experience has been the opposite really. Most of the idiots I have talked to from BB truly are doing it on purpose. They will push BR all their worth and spread lies regarding HD DVD, even though they know better. It's been a waste of time to try educating them when they buy every line the BDA is feeding them. And it works. Most clueless people will buy based on marketing, look at the iPod...

Most (none I have encountered actually) BB employees are not as informed as AVS members. It's a little unfair to rag on them so hard though. I have actually met some nice guys that work at BB. The sales people at every store I have ever been to are misinformed and will give you incorrect information, even high-end shops. It's not just BB.

Same footage different narrators

Sigourney Weaver - Discovery Channel (US)
David Attenborough - BBC (UK)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Earth_(TV_series)


It 550 odd minutes long, so think whos voice is going be more tolerable.

There in Canada the CBC aired the original BBC version.

The BBC video quality is slightly better though, at least from a few reviews I have read. Yeah, Sigourney Weaver would be fun to roll around with for a few hours but I'll take image quality over her voice every time, especially with a title like Planet Earth. Now, if she narrates with no shirt and is on-screen...then..... yeah.... thats the one I buy. :D

;)

I had an another perfectly horrible experience with BB again this weekend. This time with a store manager... His solution to avoid matching the Fry's weekend sales offers was to tell me his name and scratch 1-800 Best Buy on a piece of paper. Rediculous especially when it turns out that they had the same offer in their store the next day.

The only reason I keep giving them a shot is they are two stop lights from my home. It is astonishing how bad they are.. really astonishing. They are definitely a stop and rob.. there inventory is poor, they don't mark the shelves with their offers, their associates for the most part are illiterate and they just don't give a damn.

Further why would anyone buy a box set at full MSRP from Worst Buy!

Key word being some, I know EXACTLY what I am talking about.... :D

yea me too......:cool:

The BBC video quality is slightly better though, at least from a few reviews I have read. Yeah, Sigourney Weaver would be fun to roll around with for a few hours but I'll take image quality over her voice every time, especially with a title like Planet Earth.I've got nothing against Sigourney Weaver... as an alien-blasting b**ch, I'd have her on my side any day... but as a narrator for "Planet Earth?!" :eek:

I hate going to best buy and seeing about 20 something employees standing around and talking to each other while only 2 are working. It's more annoying when you are waiting on line and 6 of the cashiers are socializing while one woman is training a new employee on the one checkout line only.

I have to agree. I really enjoy Attenborough's narration.

I've gone through the set twice now. I don't get tired of hearing his voice.

I wish they had a choice of both narrators on the HD DVD.

Definitely.

I think I recall there was a difference in PQ the british one was better cuz it was on AVC and the US version was done with MPEG 2, or that I think. Look it up at high def digest I'm sure it's there.

ON TOPIC:

The episodes on the BBC version are 10 minutes longer each. So there is allot more footage to be seen. This is due to the BBC not having commercials. Discovery cut things out for that purpose. Plus, I think Attenborough's narration is allot more animated and entertaining than Sygorny Weavers rather dry and dull narration.

The down side to the high def version, both Blu and HD, is the video docs are mysteriously missing. I say mysterious because they are on the BBC standard DVD. But, if you can live without the docs in exchange for incredible high def images, it's worth the purchase and I would say better than the Discovery version.

Keep in mind, the BBC version is the one that won all the awards, not the Discovery version.

seriously, you guys act like you never had a sh*t job before. i worked at cc for a while back in high school, and although we actually had a lot of really knowledgable young salespeople (i'd say about 60% knew exactly what was up with hdtv), it was DESPITE the efforts of the company to "educate" us. our superiors were always way bigger idiots than even the least knowledgable cash register monkey on our staff, and it was only because of our willingness to straight-up ignore what our bosses were trying to tell us to tell customers that we were able to be helpful and informed (many of us read this forum at the time).

i can tell you that the sophistication of the c.e. industry's products today are far beyond the average person's ability to understand without actively attempting to learn as much as possible over a long period of time, and minimum wage drones aren't about to go ahead and do that. a lot of what these employees spout is their company's corporate dogma, tiny little soundbites - often wholly inaccurate (believe me, i sat through a lot of "training sessions") - that they're told to tell the customer.

it's not just the employees. believe me when i say this: unless there's some sort of outlier present by chance, NOBODY IN THE CHAIN FROM COMPANY TO CUSOMTER knows what they're talking about at stores like bb/cc. it's not some kind of active deception or wanton laziness, it's economics. it takes a lot of knowledge and understanding to educate a customer. knowledge makes an employee valuable. valuable employees cost more to acquire, train and retain. bb/cc can sell their big boxes without that, so they hire the guy who just got fired from 7-11 instead. do you honestly believe you can reasonably expect these people to know what they're talking about? it's some high-school kid who's making chump change to stand around and explain in oversimplified terms something unbelievably complex to people who know even less than they do. it's not exactly a clean conduit of information.

i realize that it's frustrating when they try to insist that something clearly wrong is correct, but i think we often forge just HOW MUCH STUFF WE ACTUALLY KNOW about these technologies compared to the average person. if you got paid $7.15 an hour to work for a bunch of idiots trying to explain organ transplants to someone, would you be able to explain the nuances of it if your only source of information being a 45 minute seminar of corporate sound bytes delivered by some jackass? no.

so is it really necessary to be so harsh on these kids for not possessing the knowledge that you do? i mean, either your expectations are way, way too high or you just need to learn to roll your eyes and tell them you don't need any help. how small a man do you have to be to go hunt down the kid's manager (news flash: he isn't going to do anything to fix the problem) and turn him in, or throw an indignant little fit to try to educate him on something he'll never understand? do you really have so little going on that this needs to be a point of conflict for you?

also, in the spirit of on-topic posts: i've gotten the feeling that the attenborough/bbc version is by-and-large the preferred version. i'd like to pick up one or the other, i'm just not sure which is considered generally canonical. do we have any fans of the sigourney weaver/discovery version?