I may be in the minority, but for the most part, assuming you don't get a radioshack model player, you will do well with just about anything. Toshiba and Panasonic models $75-125 do quite well. I would get a cheap one, use it for a year or two, and upgrade to HD-DVD or BlueRay (sounds like BlueRay has the upper hand).

In short, get a cheap one now, let the market sort itself out with regard to which format will win, then let them work the kinks out of production, and buy a High Def. model in 1-2 years. Price will come down and quality will go up.

--TDA