Why I went HD DVD? AND how it changed my life... Literally.

[Super_ME]

I had a great conversation with my father DAYS before HD DVD was released in April 2006.

He was listening to the radio on his way home from work and called me. Knowing that I was the proud owner of over 800 DVD's he asked me which side I was going to choose? He was well aware that HD DVD was to hit the market first (before blu-ray, which would come at SOME point in the future) and wanted to know if I was going to pick it up.

My answer: "No way. I own too many DVD's to start over now, There really is no way that I would do that."

See I had been following the HDM war since before it had a name. I am a longtime reader of AVS and a DVD reviewer to boot, I simply didn't understand what all the HYPE was about?

I love my media and I have a pretty firm grasp of where it was headed and when the debates began to rage in 2005 about two separate formats I wanted NO part of it...

After I returned home from my business trip, I made another trip of sorts to my local Best Buy. There it was in front of me. Playing the early DEMO disk we all loved to hate in April 2006, was HD DVD the beloved TANK: HD-A1.

It was GLORIOUS!!! I was smitten right away. There was NO WAY I could leave the store at that point without it. As I searched around for an employee to ask where to pick one up. I began to tell him about the "war" that was going to unfold in the next year.

First it started with one employee, then two, then three and shortly thereafter about ten employees where gathered listening. Low-and-behold one of those employees was the General Manager of the store. Explaining to them the current (of as far as we knew, current) differences between the formats and what it all would mean, or wouldn't mean.

As I was making my purchase he came up to me and asked me what my career was and how much money I made... He certainly wasn't shy. I told him I was a banker and he told me I was in the wrong field (he was certainly sure of himself). He offered me an interview.

I accepted and have worked at Best Buy since mid-2006. I have been an avid HD DVD fanatic since and I have recently purchased a Blu-ray player (I had the means so why not?)

I look back and believe that my first instinct was the right one. HD DVD is by far my favorite format in this war and I am loving every minute of it... So you see HD DVD didn't simply give me a new reason to watch my favorite movies again.

How many people can actually say that HD DVD gave them a new career path? Or an entirely new life? I am thankful everyday for HD DVD in that way. Without it I would still be miserable sitting in a bank somewhere... Perhaps that is why I have such a connection with it.

... What will we do when the war is over??? Truely? Where will we go to bitch about anything and everything?? I have been up to this for 2 years now, where do we go from here?

... Perhaps I will watch a movie.

Cheers... Happy New Year!! 2008 The year the war took a turn.

[CaptainCanuck]

Wow........

[Super_ME]

Wow.. what, I know it sounds crazy but it is sorta my "love story" to how I got to where I am today.

[CaptainCanuck]

Originally Posted by Super_ME

Wow.. Bad? Wow.. Good? Or simply... Wow

is that a World Of Warcraft reference?

No,it's just an amazing story thats all.

[REDMAN]

<~ Format Neutral

But....

HD-DVD is my preference and has always been my first choice. I liked the price, user friendlyness and the steadfast reliable *fixed* standard.

HD-DVD has changed my outlook and my cinema experiences.

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by CaptainCanuck

No,it's just an amazing story thats all.

Thank you so much. I appreciate your kind words!

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by REDMAN

<~ Format Neutral

But....

HD-DVD is my preference and has always been my first choice. I liked the price, user friendlyness and the steadfast reliable *fixed* standard.

HD-DVD has changed my outlook and my cinema experiences.

As I am now neutral as well, I agree it is my first preference and my hope to succeed... Or my story may hold less merit and meaning.. It won't have that "WOW" factor.

I will have to add a chapter that states:

"I got a job because of a failed format."

That doesn't have that "love story" ring to it

Star Crossed Lovers perhaps

[HD 335]

Great story, sometimes I wonder if I should be making a career change. What's your position at BB?

[limelight_df]

We all know you only took the job for the employee discounts.

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by HD 335

Great story, sometimes I wonder if I should be making a career change. What's your position at BB?

Customer Assistant Supervisor. On the cusp of management.


And yes, I realized (as a banker) most of my income went to Best Buy so why not work there!

[SuperMattyP]

CA Sup? You should work in HT and get woo'd like the rest of us.

just fyi, (no reflection of you) but the whole CA thing is a joke. Our CA's can't do anything and help in no way. There is big discussion in D70 about getting rid of that whole position. It hasn't done ANYTHING but taken warm bodies off the sales floor.

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by SuperMattyP

CA Sup? You should work in HT and get woo'd like the rest of us.

just fyi, (no reflection of you) but the whole CA thing is a joke. Our CA's can't do anything and help in no way. There is big discussion in D70 about getting rid of that whole position. It hasn't done ANYTHING but taken warm bodies off the sales floor.

Check out the Watercooler at work you will see that it is a really positive position across the company (As a whole)

Besides I took it because I have done BBFB (made it into the top 8th of the company with that one) ran the most successful DT in the Territory (88) and decided to move toward CEM with the close-nit roll of CAS... It is not the best but if you have a good team it is pretty sweet... again check out the watercooler and see what people are saying company wide.

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by GetMeABeer

Very nice story, but I'm kind of puzzled over how you would leave a career in the financial industry to make more money working at Best Buy? Is it not about the money? You obviously seem like a studied guy on the topic of technology and it makes sense to me that you love your job. Are you the guy who works for the love of the job? The one who wears a smile to work everyday and is a better person for it?

I have recently seen the light of HD DVD myself; now my large collection of DVD’s seem bland and tired.

You nailed it. I love what I do, and I am very astute when it comes the electronics... I will run my own store one day and as a manager at Best Buy it is equal to the six figures that one would make as an EXTREMELY successful banker... I like to think I am much more successful driving sales of products that I love.

CHEERS

[Scrotorr]

You sound suspiciously like the main character in 40 Year Old Virgin. Do you ride a bicycle?

Seriously, it's great that you love what you do. I recently left a company I long admired because I hated the job, now I work for a tiny company and love what I do and love working every day. It's a good feeling.

[Super_ME]

Originally Posted by Scrotorr

You sound suspiciously like the main character in 40 Year Old Virgin. Do you ride a bicycle?

Seriously, it's great that you love what you do. I recently left a company I long admired because I hated the job, now I work for a tiny company and love what I do and love working every day. It's a good feeling.

I do enjoy what I do, and I am far from Andy.