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Blu-Ray and HDTV: A Unbeatable Combination

When HD sets initially began cropping up on the market about 10 years ago people were amazed at the clearness high definition offered over standard television sets. Since that point millions of people have upgraded their TVs to enjoy wide screen flicks with DVDs and high definition cable and satellite broadcasts. While many folks still haven't made the jump, a technology discovery has made even HDTV fans take notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed screen quality to the next level. Just a few years gone, no one had a clue what format would become the inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has take the crown and I'll tell you why you should consider adding Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system.

Though research began almost ten years ago, Sony and its partners did not present a final commercial product till mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray derives from the blue laser that is used to read info from a Blu-Ray formatted disc. This conflicts with the red laser utilized to scan standard DVD discs. But why is Blu-Ray an improvement over existing DVD formats? Even though Blu-Ray discs and players don't look any different than normal DVDs, they can store much more info which means clearer picture, improved audio, and more special extras. DVDs can hold up to eight gigabytes of info while Blu-Ray discs can hold fifty gbs.. Quite a difference. The maximum resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines whereas Blu-Ray has a maximum of 1920x1080 (also called full HD). If you have spent $1000 or more on a 1080p television, you're really not making use of all the set can deliver when viewing regular DVDs.

In the beginning prices for Blu-Ray players were well above what a typical user wished to pay. Price tags between $700 and $1000 were not unusual for first generation Blu-Ray players. And, there had been another competing standard on the market that created plenty of perplexity. Toshiba and NEC introduced their own DVD successor with release of the HD DVD standard. HD DVD, with enough space for 15 gigabytes, was an advance over standard DVDs but couldn't match the specifications of Blu-Ray. However HD DVD did have some marketplace benefits. First, they made it to store shelves 3 months before Blu-Ray. Second, HD DVD devices where a little cheaper to make and were sold less expensive as a result. Lastly, HD DVD had more movie studios on board at launch than Sony did which meant more pictures were initially available while Blu-Ray remained scarce.

Sony had one gigantic ploy up their sleeve that quite possibly saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax destiny. Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their long awaited PlayStation 3 and sold the entire device for a little less than most stand alone players were going for at the time. After that, Blu-Ray commenced making strides till soon it outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 by late 2007. More and more picture studios began to commit to the Blu-Ray standard exclusively, starting with Warner Brothers in early 2008. Shortly after Toshiba stopped making HD DVD players and recorders. By the end of 2008 rental companies Netflix and Blockbuster, as well as major shops, said they'd no longer carry HD DVD movies. Now all major studios release their films on Blu-Ray. A few have continued to produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases at the same time.

Prices have fallen dramatically over the last few years also. Many big name brand Blu-Ray players from companies like Panasonic and LG can easily be found between $150 and $250. Blu-Ray disc recorders are in the $200 - $400 range and falling. For anyone who likes watching films from home and has invested in a high definition TV, now is a fabulous time take a look into adding a Blu-Ray player to your home entertainment system. Even those who could be doubtful about Blu-Ray's enhancements over DVD owe it themselves to head down to their local electronics store and ask for a Blu-Ray demonstration. The picture clearness and audio fidelity from Blu-Ray is truly superb.

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