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I know the drives are available, but how long before they're standard or BTO on Mac Pro or MBP? Anyone heard anything? Speculation?

I'm big on this stuff and jumped into the whole DVD-R thing when the drive was a 2X at $500. Usually, it's a few main things:

1. OS Support, which will be in October.
2. Software support. There is a few now, but when OS X and iLife is compatible, that's the time to take the plunge.
3. Lower prices. Where I shop:
http://www.dfwdepot.com/opticstor/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_17_131&products_id=250
$949 for a slim Blu-ray is a bit hard to swallow for a $599 Mini. When prices go down to about $199 (which should be around late this year or early next). A Mini (or hopefully a newer Mac equivalent) with OS X, iLife, and a Blu-ray (or really hoping, a Super Multi Blu with HD DVD-RW support also) is feasible. The desktop models will be cheaper and should show up earlier (October?)
 
Blu Ray Drive

Last Friday in the Fry's ad they had the Philips Blu Ray burner for $450.00. Also, I find it interesting that Final Cut Studio 2's DVD Studio Pro 4 supports HD DVD blue laser replication but there is no mention of Blu Ray.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/mastering.html
Maybe when they mention HD DVD they are referring to High Definition DVD's in general and not the HD DVD format.

Also, why are you looking for a Blu Ray burner? If its for home movies, I have successfully burned a 10 minute home movie recorded with a Canon HV10 onto a DVD-R as an HD DVD disk and played it back on my Toshiba HD-A2. I edited it in iMovie, but had to use a PC with Movie Factory 6 to actually burn in HD DVD format. It looked excellent at 1080i. This is the way to go for now since the quality is the same and the disks are cheap. A DVD-R will hold up to 30 minutes of High Definition video.
BTW, I am indifferent as to which format wins, I am just playing with the least expensive way to get into HD disks.
 
Last Friday in the Fry's ad they had the Philips Blu Ray burner for $450.00. Also, I find it interesting that Final Cut Studio 2's DVD Studio Pro 4 supports HD DVD blue laser replication but there is no mention of Blu Ray.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/mastering.html
Maybe when they mention HD DVD they are referring to High Definition DVD's in general and not the HD DVD format.

From Apple:

DVD Studio Pro 4 lets you create industry-standard images for SD and HD DVD replication, including dual-layer (DVD-9) as well as single-layer discs. Replicate to traditional red laser formats or double the capacity on your HD DVD disc by using the blue laser format.


In context with SD, they just mean High Def - they should change that to avoid confusion and call it "High Def Discs".
 
Thank you for your answers. When a MBP is released with BR, we'll sell our current 3 computers and pick up 3 MBPs. We do a lot of HD work and the limiting size of single layer DVDs... well... let's just say that BR is going to be a godsend.
 
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