^I'm not rlly sure that they would refer them to a PS3 over a standalone

I doubt BestBuy will be pushing PS3 as the prefered Blue Ray hardware.

I would expect their margins to be much higher on standalone Blue Ray players than on PS3...

@pooper scooper

The HDTV department is different because that is where most of the stores revenue comes. If you talk to them, most of them know what they are talking about and some have become videophiles and audiophiles and are kind of nerdy about it. Home entertainment is there best cash cow (because they push the home install stuff) so they need better informed employees and they pay them more in that department.

^ they dont install players. im talking about people who already have tvs and now purchasing a player

Yeah, many Norwegian stores are selling off their HD-DVD players dirt cheap to clear out stock before the inevitable death of the format.
I'm glad it was quickly decided, could've sucked big time being tied down with two formats.

I just hope that this change means higher uptake for the HD format :D

My experience has always been the complete opposite. Whenever I've had questions about HDTVs, they could rarely answer my questions correctly. Their level of knowledge might be one level above the average individual. Anyone who spends more then 30 minutes doing research on the internet will be more knowledgeable then them. 

i feel bad for toshiba

@Ali
There is very little margin in Blu Ray players, BB wants you to have one so they can sell you the cable ( 80-90 percent margin) and by BD diskcs (20 percent margin or so, compared to next to nothing on DVDs...this is information from when i worked there)

Another boost to bluray. Hopefully Toshiba will throw in the towel soon. Though I suspect they will try to drag it out as long as possible.