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• The Zune doesn't play HD video, it only stores it. Any videos you play on your Zune will be in standard definition. To play any HD content, you will need to connect through a fairly pricey AV pod. In reply to: "Gaming with Zune HD: Can it take on PSP, iPhone, DS?"

  December 9, 2009

  0 replies

• Those sales were only in the first few weeks, and most of those came from previous Zune owners who were upgrading. It did almost nothing to sway those who were already planning on buying an iPod Touch. Since the first few launch weeks, when supplies were quite tight, the Zune HD's sales have stalled. My store has only sold 3 in the last week, 16GB and 32GB combined. In just the past weekend, we have sold over 70 iPod touches, including 8, 32, and 64 GB models.
  
  The Zune will do little to enhance Microsoft's market share if they can't reach beyond those who have already bought one. The fact that they can't money on it yet, doesn't help either. In reply to: "Gaming with Zune HD: Can it take on PSP, iPhone, DS?"

  December 9, 2009

  0 replies

• Well, considering the site was never profitable, and never would have been, Apple will likely make significant changes to it. I wouldn't be surprised if they shut it down entirely, and just acquired it for some of it's technology and "payment systems." In reply to: "Apple confirms acquisition of music site Lala"

  December 6, 2009

  1 reply

• Best Buy actually has a new policy regarding returns, and basically, the premise is to give the customer the benefit of the doubt. They found that the largest percentage of customers who never shopped at Best Buy again, had their final interactions at Customer Service. They also found that most involved Returns or Service problems.
  
  But unfortunately, whether or not a store actually follows these guidelines can very greatly. I know several customers come to our store after a nearby Best Buy, won't mention which one, has refused a return or price match. In one case, we ended up taking a $8,000 Home Theater return because this store would not price match newegg, which was less than a $200 difference for the entire order. Our store offered to do the price match, but the customer had already placed the order online. This same storelater tried to refuse a return, because the customer had purchased the TV at our store and they didn't want to get hit it. They were going to force the customer to drive 35 minutes to our store to exchange it. Our manager had to call and scream at their Customer Service supervisor before they would do the return.
  
  Also, the alleged Former Best Buy employee is lying. Refusing to honor the return/exchange period, or plausible deniability is not company policy. That may have been something they did at his location, assuming he even worked at one, but it's not how it is done company wide. Like any retailer, including Walmart, Sears, KMart, Amazon, etc, how these rules are applied largely depends on who you talk to. And Best Buy extended warranties do cover damage caused by Power Surges, so that part is also a bold faced lie.
  
  My store has also had managers who tried to bend the rules for returns and price matches, but they never lasted long. All of them were eventually fired from Best Buy period. So if you have these issues at a Best Buy store, the best thing to do is call the 800 number while you're still there. They are required to offer you to use their phone to do so, if you want to. If they really are refusing to honor the return or price match policies, the Corporate offices will force them do so. Plus, when you call in from a store, you generally have a much shorter wait time, then calling from home. Just a few tips. In reply to: "Best Buy's little Black Friday the 13th"

  December 6, 2009

  0 replies

• That is a complete lie. I bought and returned a computer directly to an Apple store, after I found the computer had been damaged in the box. They took it back and gave me a new one with new problems. In reply to: "Best Buy's little Black Friday the 13th"

  December 6, 2009

  0 replies

• The enforcement of return policies can very greatly from store to store. I had Walmart try to refuse to return a sound system on me, after I tried to do a price match on it. They said at first they couldn't price match, because they didn't consider Kmart a local competitor, even though it was less than a mile down the road. Then they said they couldn't return it, because it was against their policy to return electronics, even if not open. They didn't finally do anything until I started calling their 1-800 number. I think that was the last time I bought any electronics at Walmart. In reply to: "Best Buy's little Black Friday the 13th"

  December 6, 2009

  0 replies

• Actually, GM and Ford still make more vehicles in the US than any of the Japanese competitors. Also, nearly 70% of every GM and Ford vehicle sold in the US use parts made in the US. That falls to less than 50% for most Japanese companies. And don't forget, just because some Toyota Camrys are built int he US, doesn't mean they all are. Just like GM and Ford, the Japanese import cars to this country too, from Asia and Canada primarily. It's a global economy, so get use to it.
  
  And just because the finished product happens to be assembled in the US, doesn't mean that it's supplying more jobs. When you have a transmission, batteries, steel, and drive train from China, a body kit and electrics from Japan, does that mean it's really an american car? In reply to: "Chevy Volt to cruise into California next year"

  December 2, 2009

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• My Best Buy had a line outside until after 8 am, so it may just depend on the market. In reply to: "Black Friday at Best Buy: What's the big deal?"

  November 27, 2009

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• Actually, Call of Duty actually did pretty well on Wii, as most shooter games do. Though I do agree that some of their other titles are really aiming at a demographic the Wii doesn't have. In reply to: "EA chief: The Wii is 'weaker than anticipated'"

  November 11, 2009

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• I work at at one of the big box retailers that has been mentioned, and we have one set up for DEMOs. I may not agree with all of his criticisms, but several of them are quite valid. Then phone is thick and bulky, and weighs noticeably more than other similar smart phones. The keyboard is quite bad, not the worst, but still very bad. And yes, it does often feel like one giant button. Motorola should have done better with it.
  
  Though I've noticed that certain web dependent apps, like Google Maps, vary greatly in speed depending on the quality of your service. I've also noticed the same thing on the Palm Pre. So this may account for the different user accounts there.
  
  As for the glitchy applications and other problems, that may be due to the individual phone and not problems across the Droid line. The phones are quite poorly packaged. In fact, the boxes weren't even sealed and simply slide open. I noticed that several of the phones we received had obviously been opened and played with. So something like that could have contributed to some of the issues. Motorola and Verizon should have realized that this could be an issue, and put more thought into it.
  
  The GUI isn't too bad, but I also prefer the Aeris. It may lack the keyboard and droid 2.0, and it may not be as fast, but the phone is more user friendly, lighter and just slicker looking. In reply to: "Slow start for the Motorola Droid?"

  November 6, 2009

  0 replies