Apparently blu-ray will be around because the Sony PS3 will use that format for its games. This could lead to it being thought of as more of a proprietary disc format, while HD DVD will be used for commercially available films-this is what I foresee but who knows? I meant near future as in 3-5 years down the road, although the first players will be available to the rich late next year sometime. I've seen a few prototypes and the technology is pretty amazing, but you will need an HD TV to see the difference, and even HD TVs are ever-changing in their capabilities. I've decided to stay away from HD until more standards have been set and the FCC mandate goes into effect.