Let the hive mind of Engadget get that for you.
"I've found myself using my PC for a lot of conversations lately, and I'm also considering recording a podcast to share with anyone who will listen. There are tons of USB headset / microphones out there, and I'm hoping someone has some solid recommendations based on experience. I'll consider both headsets and standalone mics, by the way, but I'd like to keep the bill under $100 if possible. Help!"
#6 - ALL HD-DVDs are encoded in 1080p. In addition, there's little to no difference between 1080p and 1080i -- all the lines of resolution are still there, it's just in how they're presented.
#4 - Currently at least, it's Blu-Ray that's crap. Toshiba's HD-DVD provides the best picture available to the consumer market.
#3 - As Steve J said, the Blu-Ray player is nearly $2,000 USD in Europe. so they still have a major price advantage. In addition, it apepars to me (correect me if I'm wrong) that the Samsung player being released there is the exact same one as in the States... Whereas Toshiba is releasing NEW players (although the feature set is not all that much different).