Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - HDMI Capable DVD Player?? MULTI REGION? HUH???

I really want to get the new Onkyo 7.1 Home theatre, but we have a 10 month old that is getting into everything and wouldn't work right now. I have been looking at the New DVD Players that have an HDMI output, and upgrade the 420p dvd's to 720p or 1080p. I see that they have a multi region and what not listed? WHat does this mean?? Also I saw CODE FREE?? Does that mean I could rent a dvd and burn it if I had a dvd recorder. I have a 42 inch Samsung DLP HD tv and I love it. I also have a Sony 5 disc home theatre 5.1 all in one unit which is ok but I do wanna upgrade. I have been looking at the new Samsung dvd player but since I wanna buy the new Onkyo which sounds amazing I think I may look for an Onkyo. Any suggestions or help will be appreciated. Thanks

The Samsung DVD/VR 325 I bought last year came with a HDMI cable.. That alone saved me $75.. It upconverts to 1080i and I do like it..

$75 for an HDMI cable???

I see HDMI cables that run up to 140 bucks for a 6.6ft cable which is crazy. I wouldn't spend 75. Monster is over rated. CALLED WAL MART. I will be getting mine there. I read a lot of discussions on the whole HDMI cable thing with the gold plated ends and crap like that. There was a study done where this company tested 5 different HDMI cables ranging from 30 bucks to 250 bucks and the 30 dollar one was as good if not better than the 250 dollar one.
I wish I still had that link saved b/c it was interesting. All were tested on all the same equipment and same movie playing on the tv.

"I see that they have a multi region and what not listed? What does this mean?? Also I saw CODE FREE??"
DVD players are distributed to specific global regions. The players in the US use Region Code 1. In Western Europe it's Region 2, etc. DVDs are designed to play only in players with the proper codes. This was done in an attempt to control world-wide distribution. A multi-region player will play discs from more than one region. A Code 0 player (a.k.a. Code Free) will ignore the region codes and play all discs.

"Does that mean I could rent a dvd and burn it if I had a dvd recorder."

Commercial DVDs are copy protected. You'd need additional equipment or software, and you'll be in violation of copyright law.

"There was a study done where this company tested 5 different HDMI cables..."

Yeah, don't get me started on that. I wish I had thought of that "Premium Cable" scam.

diyplank - check on-line; even Wal-Mart and other so-called discout stores are selling digital cables for 3-10 times what they're worth or more. I got a hdmi cable for our new LCD on line for $7.99 and a couple of bucks shipping. I stumbled across one of the reviews/studies you mentioned; very enlightening.

Multi-region and Codefree mean pretty well the same thing.
It means you can play DVDs from other regions on the world, not just the region you are in. If the DVDs are commercial DVDs you domestically purchased form normal retailers, there is no need to worry about that.