Blu-ray emerges as a challenger to the DVD

by Jessie Atkin

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Blu-ray, just like the DVD, is an optical disc format. Even it's physical size is identical to that of a DVD.  The main difference between Blu-ray discs and DVDs is storage capacity.  Blu-ray discs can store up to five times more information than DVDs. The name "Blu-ray" comes from the blue laser that is used to read Blu-ray  data instead of the typical red.  Why does any of this matter?  Because it's the basis for the potential of the Blu-ray Disc and player.

The fact that a Blu-ray Disc holds more information than a standard DVD is what gives the Blu-ray its greatest asset in the video market place, high definition (HD) picture.  The fact is, with high definition disc technology (and a claimed clarity six times that of a DVD) picture is the clear selling point.  With all the hype over HD televisions, channels, and pictures, Blu-ray is the main way to translate the at home video library to that expected quality (including surround sound).

To make the switch to Blu-ray, a new player is required and there are quite a few options available, but expect to pay at least $300.  In addition to the stand-alone Blu-ray players, dual-disc players are also available.  If you jumped on the HD DVD band wagon before it all fell through in February 2008, players that work for both Blu-ray  and HD formatted discs are available.  Most players can accommodate both Blu-ray and regular DVDs. Computers, as well as the Playstation 3 console, all come with Blu-ray capabilities as well.

The problem with Blu-ray is not quality, it is price.  Beyond the players themselves the discs generally cost $10 to $20 more than standard DVDs.  In recent months that trend has begun to level out, so there is hope for the future, just as there was at the beginning of the DVD/VHS debate in the 90s.  Blu-ray Discs do claim extra special features with their higher price tag. 

So what else goes into the decision of to Blu-ray or not to Blu-ray?  Beyond price and budget there is, of course, always function.  For those in dorms or plagued with less-than-stellar quality television sets, Blu-ray is not the best investment. It's more money for no extra value.  Without an HD Television, Blu-ray's greatest feature will not matter at all.  Also, if you are one of those who neither notice nor care about the difference in regular or HD picture, Blu-ray  too would seem not the wisest of investments. 

However, to predict the future it is always appropriate to look at the past.  DVDs used to hold the spot Blu-ray discs hold now, the newer more expensive medium to the good old fashioned VHS tape.  Slowly but surely prices dropped and the popularity of the VHS dropped with them.  There are still tapes and VHS players in the world, more old movies that may have yet to be converted to DVD let alone Blu-ray , but the possibilities remain.  DVD will not die in the next few months, but Blu-ray popularity, as well as options, will surely increase.  From the expansion of the disc library to the increasing popularity of the HD television set, the home movie experience is definitely in transition.