Blockbuster goes Blu-ray, HD DVD=beta?,

Actually Blockbuster will carry HD-DVDs for online rentals. Walmart coming out in December with 199 players for HD-DVD from China and not selling any blu ray devices is the true KO and Blu-Ray will likely be the Beta.

Netflix will probably get more business from this actually over time, since their marketing is more straightforward and untainted by backroom palm greasing.

Also, most folks with PS3 dont watch Blu-Ray DVDs; The device itself requires the use of a bluetooth game controller, incompatible with the infrared home theater master controls. You can buy another remote for 25 dollars however.

Fundamentally the Blu ray disc is a bit of technologic problem because it requires much more processing and hard drive space to function than an HD-DVD player; thats why they really havent been able to roll out all of those purported added features on the blu ray discs. When the do, current blu ray machines will be obsolete; and amazingly, may not even play the upcoming changes in blu ray disc technology. Lots of infighting too. Just too much basis cost to deliver the product.

HD-DVD is straightforward and elivers the goods, with out all of the false Hullaboo about a "Blu Ray victory is ineveitable" and other marketing drivel. Cart came out way efore the horse. Chinese HD-DVD players will detrmine the market, the 720P displays will disappear, and HD-DVD players will be defacto Walmart type products, delivering outstanding pic and audio performance for under 200 dollars. First format with players under 200 dollars wins; most folks won't pay 500 or more for a DVD player. The value isnt perceived as being there, as Standard DVDs really are still quite nice.

I just bought the Sony S300 it upconverts DVD's nicely and plays CD's too. I hear that $400 will be the price point at Xmas.

IMHO, it is the lack of content/new realeases coming out on HD-DVD that will drive people to Blu-Ray. I already have most of the movie DVD's I want....so I wanted to ensure I get the most out of what is newly released (I do not plan to re-purchase my existing collection in HD or Blu Ray format).

A salesperson told me Blu-ray players are outselling HD-DVD 6 to 1 but this was not what deecided me.

Check this out Product Wars

Lack of content depending on what you watch. There are many movies on HD-DVD that you cant find on Blu Ray. Its about top movies.

The European studios are almost 100% HD-DVD and Asia is leaning that way too.

I like foreign films personally.

Salespeople work for places that are paid to "Place" products favorably. Blu-Ray has greased a lot of palms.

A salesperson told me Blu-ray players are outselling HD-DVD 6 to 1 but this was not what deecided me.

That is if you include Playstation 3 sales but there is no way to know if a PS3 is being purchased for Blu-ray or gaming. 150,000 stand alone HD-DVD players have been sold v 100,000 stand alone Blu-ray players.