Not what I'd had hoped.

Out of the box it looks beautiful. Picture is also great. Side by side the Toshiba HD-A1 (HD-DVD) I still like the HD-DVD product better. Mostly for the cost. Bluray only fails in the cost factor and the uncertainty in of which direction the HD market will go. 500 is easier to swallow. If you've got to have Bluray go with the PS3. The picture and sound are the same to me. The only thing that the PS3 is missing at this time is the upconvert for DVD's. So if Bluray bombs you'll still get use out of the PS3.