PS3 controllers are Bluetooth.

I would go with Blu Ray, more studio support, and there's rumors that WB will drop either HD DVD or Blu Ray soon, and from the looks of it, they will drop HD DVD.

Like I said, it's all about the movies. :D

Also, the ps3 controllers are bluetooth. 1UP or somebody did a test and the controllers still functioned from over 30 feet away from the machine across the office. You can also buy a Sony ps3 bluetooth remote for $25.

Here's a quick synopsis of the major movies from each of the studios that you'd probably like (about 3 from each):

Blu-Ray exclusive:

Sony: Underworld, Spiderman, 5th Element
Fox: Die Hard, Independence Day, Fantastic Four
Disney: Pirates of the Caribbean, Cars, Ratatouille

HD DVD Exclusives:

Paramount: Transformers, Blades of Glory (this list was tough, most of their older HD movies are muti-format)
Universal: Bourne movies, the Mummy, Serenity, Heroes

Multiformat:

Warner: 300, Harry Potter, Blade Runner

Currenty, the Matrix and Batman Begins are HD DVD exclusive, as Warner is waiting for BD-Java 1.1 to finish the extra features on the movies (specifically picture-in-picture). They are coming out on Blu-Ray early 2008. I say screw the extra features and give them to me now, but w/e, I'm not Warner.

Here's a complete list of Blu-Ray movies available from Amazon.com.

Here's a complete list of HD DVD movies available from Amazon.com.

Here's the upcoming Blu-Ray release list.

Here's the upcoming HD DVD release list.

Figure out which selection you prefer, and make the jump. You won't regret it, either way. :)

At first I was leaning towards HDDVD because of the high BluRay prices then towards Blu Ray because the PS3 instantly gave it a huge lead in players and software sales BUT now I'm leaning back towards HD DVD because they will have $199 Players in a few days (mass market) and thats actually affordable for me (although at $399 the PS3 is a great deal too).

I think the big change will be when HD DVD can get 1080i players down to $99 (although they will have them for $149 on Black Friday).

And when 1080P players are available at $199.

 $149 for Black Friday?  Where di you here that?

The best I've heard so far was Best Buy, etc. matching Wal-mart's $198 price for Black Friday.

Can someone please explain to me in laymans terms what 1080i and 1080p and all that resolution mumbo jumbo is? I am a huge gamer and feel horrible not knowing. But graphics have never been THAT important to me. I just thinks its time for me to know =] Oh and also, what cables would I need to support it all? Just an HDMI cable?

Honestly you should ignore pretty much everything said in this thread up to this point. The reality is most of these posters are not trying to do what is best for you, but what is best for their fanaticism. Like religious fanatics trying to convert the natives. Most of them would not have an opinion one way or the other had a certain console manufacture not used their latest console as a Trojan horse for one of the formats. Thus they support the format since it is good for their console. Others support the other, because it would be bad for that console.

These are the things you need to know to make a informed decision.

Both formats support backwards compatibility with DVDs. The only difference is backwards compatibility for CDs is mandatory for HD-DVD. However most BluRay manufacturers will support that format regardless.

Unless your television supports 1080p there will be no visual difference between the two players. Even then the popular opinion is that the difference is marginal. Even if your set does not have 1080p you should still have 720p. Frankly the difference is not enough to get me to use 720p over 1080i.

There are few things in life more certain then cheaper being better when it comes to consumers. That said if there is a front runner it is HD-DVD. Do not be concerned with the current numbers. Most consumers are not buying in yet, but HD-DVD is the closest at the moment. So if your looking to play it safe go cheaper. Even then backwards compatibility plays to your favor you still have the DVD compatibility, and you usually get enough movie offers to make it a moderate risk.

Ignore the console consideration. Your looking to buy a movie player not a game player, and despite what some have written previously. The PS3 does not have an altogether brilliant library, or as of now a back catalog to play off of. Honestly they are bragging about you spending another two hundred dollars to get half of a console.

Equally don't buy the player to compliment a 360 either. Lets be rational here the 360 does have reliability issues. Being able to play the movie through your PC is not a bonus really. Your buying a player to watch movies on your television. The console is a weak spot you really want a stand alone player. Ironically you can actually rent high definition movies through the 360. However I recommend something like Netflix is cheaper. Hell movies on the 360 are almost highway robbery. Then again On Demand cable service is not much better.

Anyway the quality is the same for all intent and purposes. Studios will fall in line with the winner. The only real difference is the price, and in all honesty we all know who wins there. More importantly the price will determine who is by far the most likely to win. For my money the HD-DVD player is the safer bet. Not only does it seem more likely to win out in the end, but your not taking quite the same gamble. Better to have spent two hundred on a DVD player then four hundred on a DVD player.

One other thing you can watch all the movies on either player, because they are both backwards compatible with DVDs, and those do not look half bad on a high definition screen either.

Just so everyone knows, there is NO difference between 1080i and 1080p output for movies. It is a meaningless statistic.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/gearworks/1106gear/index.html

@loadedstatement:

The cabling you will require will largely depend on what kind of audio signal you are using. HDMI does support audio and video, but if you don't have a new receiver, chances are you'll be needing to use coaxial/optical digital or else multiple discrete analog cables.

"Ignore everything else in this thread."

"Price is all that matters."

"Don't even think about the ps3."

Why don't you just give him the information and let him decide for himself, instead of telling him what to think?