let's see whether your prediction correct or not 

do wait for the cheaper complete 2.0 spec before jumping on the wagon, or else if you are interested in gaming too, the ps3 is by far the best choice - Sony can definitely upgrade the firmware to support BD profile 2.0

But PS3 still can't decode DTS-HD even it can support profile 2.0 so it's more like a win - lose situation.

i think anything tat isnt free for u is a scam

PS3 is a software player. A software player can easily be updated . better still wait for the 2.0 BD stanalone players to hit the street at $135. Anything more than that is a scam that should be avoided BY ALL COST

Well, I would be happier if I can get a Blu-Ray / HD-DVD combo player at USD135 with 7 free movies. That's a much sweeter deal to encourage me to abandon the dvd format for good. 

everybody's wish   

Samsung to discontinue UP5000 hybrid player
Only months after its introduction, Samsung has already decided to discontinue the BD-UP5000, its hybrid Blu-Ray/HD DVD movie player. The unit was to have been one of the most powerful players Samsung had produced, with 1080p24, HDMI 1.3, and an Ethernet port for Internet content; users have reported substantial problems with it however, such the inability to run HD audio codecs, or properly view discs such as Sunshine or 3:10 to Yuma. Other problems have included troubles with with standard DVDs or the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Although Samsung notes that no timeframe for the 5000's demise has been set, some preliminary reports suggested that it could come in May. A replacement is due in the second half of the year; this schedule is shared with the sibling UP5500, which also shares many of the same features.

wow .. hope will get 1 around this year. found this about Samsung BD-UP5000

Yup, that's the one ...... my precious but then .......... Samsung blu-ray players have incompatibility issues with certain blu-ray movies and they're slow in releasing firmware updates so maybe you wait until your neck long long also you still can't play your blu-ray movies unless with a PS3. Not sure about hd-dvd though as Samsung never released a hd-dvd player before. This BD-UP5000 ain't cheap, should cost RM3K to RM4K but our Asian model is BD-UP5500, will be released in the middle of this year, it's Profile 1.1 ready but no mention of Profile 2.0 or DTS-HD onboard decoding.

that is the same prices as Sony's BD player - there was a full page ad for in TheSun on friday on Sony's two BD players

Blu-ray format not only for Sony lar...
look at the list of their member which includes Panasonic, Sharp, Samsung, LG, Philips, Dell etc...
It just that Sony had a bigger role and the main force to push it because of the PS3 and they also have a movie studio making software for it....their stakes are higher....
To be frank, both format ultimate objective is $$$$$$ and the royalty that comes with it....Toshiba had it for SD DVD and they will never want to lose that for nexgen DVD software....Microsoft just wanna kacau only....

as usual, fark M$
*sorry g5sim

Don't worry, g5sim doesn't work for M$, he works for Toshiba. 

Do all think now is the time to buy HD or BD players? I mean the price is still kinda expensive and the technology has yet to stable, plus there aren;t a lot of choices in the market yet.

just get BD la.. no need prediction... build your software collection with the right format.. in the long run, supporting the wrong format will be more costly (due to buying the obsoleted original priced discs) than just tempted to getting a cheapest HD player..

Do all think now is the time to buy HD or BD players? I mean the price is still kinda expensive and the technology has yet to stable, plus there aren;t a lot of choices in the market yet.

if there are combo players (HD & BD) price below RM2K, sure i'll go for it. 

ar188, I told my fren to nego for a special price for 1 BD player meant for display purpose. If dapat good price, sapu balik.    At the mean time, planning to buy PS3 after CNY (if the deal doesnt go thru)