Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to land a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc player in an exercise echoing the acquisition of Toshiba's HD-AI HD-DVD player almost exactly two months prior. Unfortunately, store clerks are keen on upholding the June 20 street date for the seven launch titles, of which I applaud both their following studio wishes and having a clue about the new format launch.

For now, these quick impressions images of the first commercially released Blu-ray Disc player and comparisons to Toshiba's first HD-DVD player will have to suffice until Sony sends us our press review titles or Tuesday morning, whichever comes first.

Of course for readers in the UK and Ireland this is an import item only for the moment, same as the Toshiba HD-DVD player. Such is life for the moment, but the early adopters among us, with their home theatres already kitted out for the high definition age, will not find many barriers between themselves and an imported next-gen player.

At first glance the BD-P1000's noticeably smaller and more colourful box accounts for a couple bucks of the dubious $500 price difference between the Samsung and Toshiba. Keep an eye out for this box design if you're hoping to stumble upon a player before the official June 25 release date.

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