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

Rysa, do you have a link to an actual official announcement of Chinese hd dvd players?
This was an internet rumour and picked up by everyone and there brother and posted as fact on blogs and sites acrossed the net.
Wallmart as well as the rumoured Chinese company both denied there was ever a deal or contract.

From what I have read, any Chinese players are not actual hd dvd players but some lessor form of HD player that will be sold only in China.

Blu-ray however does have cheap players coming from Funai and gowell that are contractual.
Funai makes some of the Denon and other brand players.
At any rate, the local Wallmarts have not had HD DVD players since last August but have had the Philips and now the 450.00 Sony player in store.

Target is only selling the Sony player in stores during the upcoming Holidays with a special Blu-ray end cap displaying mostly Disney Blu-rays.

Its interesting to note that neither Target or Costco now have an hd dvd player for sale online but both have BD players.

Its also interesting that BD disc sales are in the lead everywhere on the planet where the formats are sold.

Shadorne, content is and always will be king IMO,and all that HD audio on Blu-ray exclusives from Sony, Disney, Fox and MGM doesn't hurt either.

The Associated Press reported the Chinese HD-DVD confirmation on fall release at $199 in several newspapers last week. Its not very far away.

The Majority of Blu Ray players unfortunately dont come with the technical specifications needed to utilize many of Hi Def DVD capabilities. I am not aware that any have ethernet connectivity, needed for the interactive feature aspects. Also, as the format has itself changed, early Blu Ray player buyers are already obsolete.

The actual title sales are about even worldwide, and that total is less than 1% of total DVD sales. All HD-DVD has to do is continue to exist, and as the total volume percentage of Hi Def DVDs increases relative to standard plus Hi Def SAles, all studios will have to release in both formats or lose a lot of money, as more and more people purchase 1080P displays and want Hi Def DVDs.

AS far as the codec used by the chinese players, it certainly isnt inferior; it was codesigned with Toshiba to handle certain copyright issues frankly and will play HD-DVDs perfectly, by report.

Blu Ray and Sony are facing problems with the European Commission due to "marketing technique" issues and European studios arent supporting Blu Ray at this time for the most part.

Current Blu Ray losses are mounting although obviously Sony and Co have a lot of resources. Eventually non-sustainable and the production costs and needed memory and processing capabilities are so high on the Blu Ray Side that in the end, its just not a competitive format, only being propped up by a lot of Sony Marketing and false advertising. And a lot of dollars!!

"Its interesting to note that neither Target or Costco now have an hd dvd player for sale online but both have BD players."

You might want to double check availablity at Costco on-line.

Untill the general public cares about either of these formats the arguements are mute, as of now it doesnt look like people really care about taking on another format.
Now if there are cheap players and movie clubs gave away a player with a purchase contract...say 10 in 3 years or whatever then maybe something would fly.