HD-DVD definutly is my pick as of now. For many reasons. First of all the higher capacity of Blu-Ray is always touted. Blu-Ray has a maximum prerecord capacity of 54 gigabits while HD-DVD has only 30 gigabits. Thing is Blu-Ray discs use MPEG-2 compression. The same as SD-DVD uses. HD-DVD has already finalized MPEG-4 and VC-9 compression. With that a 30 gigabit HD-DVD can hold 30% more information then a 54 gigabit Blu-Ray. Yes HD-DVD will be out in America in 2005. It will be out at least 6 months ahead of Blu-Ray.Read here. It also has the advantage in cost. Blu-Ray has a radical new disc structure that requires new assembly lines in order to produce. HD-DVD has greater storage but the same disc structure as SD-DVD. With that HD-DVD will be 20% cheaper to produce then Blu-Ray. While not a technical advantage the formats name is also an advantage. Consumers know what DVD means and know what HD means. Consumers will see HD-DVD and know that means high definition movies on disc. The name Blu-Ray is oviously a reference to the blue lasers. Most people don't know anything about the difference between red and blue lasers. So someone will hear about Blu-Ray and just say huh and pass it up.