marshalljay

been on the road over the weekend - hitting different BBs. fwiw, might as well check your local store, see what their policy is. Chances are all will get a few in before Christmas - but different policies are a hoot. Only constant is that "supposedly" none of the salespeople will get any - since if they could buy them, "None of them would ever hit the floor." :) But - for instance, at one store, they are just putting them on the floor as soon as they are unboxed - getting them out quickly so sales staff can't call friends, and get them in to buy the machines. Then the next store I hit, 100 miles away, told me that when they get them in, "They get the word out to people who want them," and then do the overnight line, and the ticket thing the next morning. "To avoid shootings." (their words, not mine.) When I asked him HOW they got the word out, he hemed, hawed, finally said that if people called in, and the PS3 was in back room, they would be told, and then could line up. Bizarre. So, check your store. And if you have friends on the sales staff, tip them well - you may get lucky.

geez - look at the bright side - I think we're getting the best of the deal. There weren't any 7 hour specials I wanted, but now that 400 dollar projector is 340; the 700 dollar Hitachi is 595 (wow) and I can buy the Core 2 Duo laptop I wanted that wasn't even in the flyer, and get a 150 bucks back. I ain't crying. Bring it on.

thanks - I was really trying to do my research on that Toshiba pj - that's an awesome price, IF it does anything :) - meaning, what is the res, what are the inputs, etc... now that the ad has been emailed to me, I might just try my BB and see what they can or will tell me. btw - our stores have both the 7 hour specials AND the 15 dollar GC for each 100 spent - last year it was only 10, so I am more fired up than I was before I saw the ad. May have to line up after all.

I guess a question to mods, or veterans - trying to get details on the laptops, and especially on the Toshiba projector; punched the skus into Best Buy homepage, and niether one came up. Likewise, couldn't even find the items by searching manually. Is this normal? And if so, does this mean they are discontinued or refurb items?

fwiw, same model number as what's in the ad. Ad says no rainchecks - price adjustment would be at your risk - I wouldn't count on it. IMHO, a super deal at BF price - otherwise, I'd check the Hitachi parts outlet/outlet store online - if they have any left, they were selling last year's model, with more features, for around a grand, delivered, no sales tax.

At least they have solved the problem of BF lines and crowds.

Hard to say - if you follow RossMANs advice, you will get one. OTOH, you may not need to - I hit my BB last BF around 7 am - picked up the 30" WS Insignia HD set for 400 bucks, plus got the instant $80 BB gift card with purchase. They had several - no big deal. (ad says minimum 3 per store for the one you want.) Gotta remember - 1 - Insignia is a make-believe brand. not in high demand. No info on web, no service if you need it, no website, nothing. Plus, a relatively poor reputation. 2 - it is a crt - big, heavy. most people are going to want the nice, sexy flat screen models. Hard telling exactly who makes the 27" set in the ad. But fwiw, once I found the service menu (after TWO monthes of searching) I managed to make my Insignia watchable. They really aren't that good - shouldn't be that big a demand. More of a WalMart type item. - I use mine in the bedroom - would drive me nuts for serious use. You should be able to show up at 6 or 7 and score one. Now, the Westinghouse LCD, THAT, you'd probably have to show up at midnight for. btw - WHERE is that instant BB gift card this year - the one that ramps up more money the more you spend? That was cool.

fwiw, Sony's are generally nicer and faster than the HPs, but that is counter-balanced by much more questionable reliability. I am the proud owner of a Sony laptop, that is virtually unrepairable, only a year after warranty expired. -video chip becomes unsoldered from motherboard, $800 repair, with a 60 day warranty on the repair. Since it'll be the same mobo and same chip - why bother. So while I loved my Sony while it was working, will never again own a Sony laptop. sigyn - I haven't seen an Intel-based laptop yet for under 800 bucks, with both a Core 2 Duo and a separate video card/chip. I'll be waiting for RossMans comparison chart, just in case (and in hopes) that I missed one.

Cool - nobody wants the big external HD - hope that remains the case, since I'm not going to hit Staples til late morning.

Justin - just remember that the cuter, smaller, lighter Toshiba uses a bulb - it will burn out. Usually at Super Bowl time. :) The Hitachi will still be running 10 years from now, with no extra expense on your part. Auto convergence, easy access to service menues makes the Hitachi CRT very versatile, and easy to setup. tinibinab - you WERE right about Toshiba quality - 10 years ago they were great, equal to Sony in many aspects. Now Sony qc has gone downhill, and Toshibas are made in China, next to Funais, Orions, and Insignias. You may as well buy a BB house brand as pickup a Toshiba, if you are only considering build quality.

I'd grab the 32" if I were you - great price, good set. 22" is way too small, 'specially when you are watching normal, SD, tv.

Don't hold your breath - usually a part of McAfee (and Norton) rebates are competitive upgrade - I have in the past lacked the needed documentation, and therefore not received the entire advertised rebate. otoh, why buy McAfee anyway? - you can download Avast for free, and it catchs more viruses than Mac or Norton ever did.

Marcster - thanks for headsup - I'm still waiting for the BF flyer for Compusa - don't want to get up at 5 to hit BB, Target was a disappointment, etc. Yes, they usually have the night before holiday sales - usually 6pm to 11, or midnite. Have done well there - they aren't as well-publicized, so at least in my area, the stores aren't as crowded. and as another fwiw, last BF the Compusa was virtually empty - a very pleasant change from the 2 block long lines inside BB. Tho, again, fwiw, I bought an HD set at BB last year - they rung me up in the tv department, completely avoided the long line. Just something else to remember.