mm wrote:
[...]my friend rents DVDs and doesn't wantto buy any DVD recorder
unless it can play and maybe record Blu-ray.
[...]How long until DVDs for rent, the recenly released movies,
will only be Blu-ray?

There are lots of groups
http://groups.google.com/groups/sear...ring=d&num=100
where your question would have been more appropriate.

HD-DVD / Blu-Ray formats are STUPID.
They exist only for the uber-rich.

Folks who used to watch regular DVDs on cross-country flights
are now finding their batteries don't last long enough
to see the whole movie
(the hi-def formats require lots of computing power.)
and what they see on their tiny screens
is no different than what they used to see with regular DVDs.

Is there any point in having Blu-ray now if one's tv is still analog,

NO.

or digital but less than 24 inches.

Like I said: STUPID.
If they didn't have to knock out a wall to get your TV into your house
(or build your house around it),
you will NEVER see the difference between hi-def and regular.
All you will do is **** away money pursuing the latest buzzword.