Apple TV is ok but I think Tivo is the most bang for the buck. You get a top quality dual tuner HD DVR and lifetime SW updates. It has netflix so unlimited downloads from their library for $8.00 plus enough BD to feed your HD habit. If you ditch the tivo desktop software for pyTivo, you can stream most content from a media server. Transfer recorded HD shows to your PC (if you want to get creative you can remove the commercials and compress to mp4) without any hacks...works out of the box. You can subscribe to most HD video podcasts, steam music, and show pictures just like appleTV, just without the slick apple interface. HW cost is about $200. If you want all in one without an HTPC with more flexibility build it, get a Tivo.

I actually like Chuck, but the quality is so bad it is painful to watch....just not enough bits.

Tivo isn't a bad option either. I didn't like these other options because they didn't provide DVR. HTPC would be a better but more costly and time consuming option in most cases. Unbox isn't the premier rental outlet yet but its getting a better by the day. I like the Tivo because it has a great DVR, HD, dual tuner, streams most types of content, can be easily hacked (see the last item:), PC connectivity and transfers, and provides movie rentals. The only other compeitor I have found for all these features is a HTPC but the Tivo is only about $200 which directly comptes with these other little boxes. Plus you own the dvr as compared to all the content providers options.

I have to disagree with how this post is worded. Changing the picture settings is definetly not calibration. Calibration involves adjusting a myriad of settings in the service menu using expensive equipment to tune your tv to the environment it is in. All the regular picture controls do change but getting an ISF calibration is a whole other story. Not to mention that manufacturers often use different components to make the same model number of TV. My service menu settings differ from other models based on which components are in my model so taking some generic settings for any of these models is just asking for a crappy picture.

You can separate this into two questions. The first is whether now is the right time to buy blu ray which was already discussed in another ask engadget. My opinion was that I'd prefer better quality/reliability/features for less money before I buy but I already have an HD-DVD player.
The second question then is, is HD (blu ray) relevant for 720p owners? I definitely think it is! You get 1080p content that 1) you will take advantage of in the future 2)wont have to purchase again because you got the DVD instead and 3) can ejoy really good 720p content in the meantime which is tons better than upconversion. Upconversion was just a way to sell more players to people who couldn't wait for a real HD player. Unless the player was bundled with something else (like an HD-DVD player), your TV probably upscaled sufficiently. Blu ray can wait until they hit Toshibas quality and price marks!

Great start! The details seem ok. I have thought for some time that whoever wins the format war should reach out to the customers in the losing camp especially flip-flop studios like warner. If you purchased the media in HD-DVD, there should be an easy way to get a Blu copy. Of course it doesn't make them much money as if everybody just got two copies. The benefit is getting everyone behind one format and helping the consumer. Yeah, I'm talking to you Warner!

(drooling)

sign me up.

"Ummmm...HD slingbox!" (homer voice)

PS3 unless it doesn't do upconversion of old games and dvds.