Wiiiii & Xbox360.

Macbook to receiver via DVI to S-Video connector and the optical output. Not ideal, but it works for now.

No CableCard here.

Dave LaChapelle

Man, I've been waiting for them to upgrade their SXRD line to accept 1080p forever. I'm so disappointed that they've left out a 50" option from the XBR lineup, instead choosing to cripple the technology and sell anything below 60" as part of the A2000 lineup. So annoying.

So I get punished with less sophisticated video processing just because I don't have enough room in my apartment for a 60" television?

Oh Sony, so many mistakes lately. You just lost my business.

Wii -- is that pronounced "W-2" like the tax form? What fun.

How unfortunate. I believe almost any brand can become recognized and successful with the right content and marketing behind it -- but this is pushing the limits. We'll see if Nintendo can pull it off.

I think your second point is an important one that is overlooked by most everyone. I'm not a direct salesman, but I am in the business of commercial art and I'll tell you that name recognition is incredibly important. It should never be underestimated. "HD DVD" is a perfect brand name, because it builds on an already super-successful brand and gives the consumer the comfort of feeling that they are upgrading without having to start all over.

AVERAGE MIDDLE CLASS CONSUMER: I own DVDs, I bought an HDTV, from now on I will buy HD DVDs to take advantage of my expensive TV.

While all of us that are really into the A/V world know that blu-ray (potentially) offers more, the average consumer is not informed the way we are. This is a hobby for us, so we know much, much more. The same way that some of us might not know the first thing about buying a stove if we had to go out and get one or a baby stroller or a swimming pool.

Tell the average consumer to buy a blu-ray machine. What is that? What does it do? Oh the PS3 is a blu-ray machine? Well, I don't play video games. Oh, it's like HD DVD? What are the benefits of this blue ray? More storage? hm. ok. but are the movies better on it? Not really? Well, I'll stick with the HD DVD, that sounds like what works with my TV. I don't have a blu TV.

I think "blue-ray" is actually a really bad branding move. They should have worked on a name that pandered to consumers' existing knowledge. Nothing in the words "blu" or "ray" explain what the technology is. It sounds cool, but that's about it.

Also, the blu-ray folks are hanging a lot on the PS3 to sell their format. This might work, but it might blow up in their face too. The PS3 is really, really expensive. Until the price comes down only gamers with lots of expendable income and the upper middle class and above are going to be able to run out and get one of these. Little Johnny MiddleClass is not going to find a PS3 under the christmas tree this year.

Another thing - I've seen photos of the blu-ray disc packaging. Are they really selling them in those hideous blue boxes? No one wants that ugly sh*t in their house. Seriously - it's nasty.

For me, its not so much that there are too many choices - as not any one particular choice that stands out as favorable. I'm still an HDTV holdout, because I just don't feel like any technology has been fully realized. There are aspects of each that I dislike. The only television I've seen that really appeals to me is Sony's 34" CRT HDTV - because the picture is stunning - gorgeous black levels, color, detail and infinite viewing angle. But it weighs over 200 pounds, uses the oldest TV technology and the screen is small. Still, if I buy anything, it will be that - until the other technologies match it. I'm dying for HDTV, but everything out there feels like a compromise.