| When HD sets first started appearing in stores in | | | | over regular DVDs but couldn't equal the |
| 1998 folks were amazed at the sharpness HDTV | | | | specifications of Blu-Ray. However HD DVD did have |
| offered over standard TV sets. Since then thousands | | | | some marketplace benefits. First, HD DVD was on |
| of people have bought new TVs to take advantage | | | | the market 3 months before Blu-Ray. Second, HD |
| of wide screen pictures with DVDs and high definition | | | | DVD devices where a little less expensive to produce |
| cable and satellite channels. While many people still | | | | and were sold cheaper as a consequence. Finally, HD |
| haven't made the jump, a recent technology | | | | DVD had more Hollywood studios on board at launch |
| breakthrough has made even HDTV aficionados take | | | | than Sony did which meant more movies were at |
| notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed TV | | | | first available while Blu-Ray stayed scarce. |
| resolutions to a new level. Just a couple years gone, | | | | Sony had a big ploy up their sleeve that quite |
| nobody had a clue what format would become the | | | | possibly saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax destiny. |
| inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has won the | | | | Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their highly |
| battle and I'll tell you why you should consider adding | | | | anticipated PlayStation three and sold the entire |
| Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system. | | | | device for a bit less than most stand alone players |
| Though research started in 2000, Sony and its | | | | were being sold for at the time. Quickly, Blu-Ray |
| partners did not present a final commercial product till | | | | started making strides till shortly it outsold HD DVD |
| mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray comes from the blue | | | | 2-to-1 by late 2007. More movie studios started to |
| laser that is utilized to read information from a | | | | commit to the Blu-Ray format totally, starting with |
| Blu-Ray formatted disc. This contrasts with the red | | | | Warner Brothers in early 2008. Shortly after Toshiba |
| laser utilized to read regular DVD discs. But why is | | | | stopped making HD DVD players and recorders. By |
| Blu-Ray better than existing DVD formats? Even | | | | the end of 2008 rental firms Netflix and Blockbuster, |
| though Blu-Ray discs and players don't look any | | | | as well as major stores, announced they would no |
| different than regular DVDs, they can store much | | | | longer carry HD DVD movies. Now all major studios |
| more information that means sharper picture, | | | | release their pictures on Blu-Ray. A couple have |
| improved audio, and more special features. DVDs can | | | | continued to produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases |
| hold up to 8 gbs. of data while Blu-Ray discs can hold | | | | concurrently. |
| fifty gigabytes. Quite a difference. The max | | | | Costs have fallen dramatically over the last few |
| resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines whereas Blu-Ray | | | | years as well. Many big name brand Blu-Ray players |
| has a max of 1920x1080 (also called full hi-def). If | | | | from firms like Panasonic and LG can easily be found |
| you have spent $1000 or more on a 1080p television, | | | | between $150 and $250. Blu-Ray disc recorders are in |
| you are essentially not exploiting everything the | | | | the $200 - $400 range and dropping just as fast. For |
| television can deliver when viewing standard DVDs. | | | | anyone that likes viewing movies at home and has |
| Originally prices for Blu-Ray players were way beyond | | | | invested in a high definition television, now is a |
| what an average consumer wished to pay. Price tags | | | | wonderful time to have a look at adding a Blu-Ray |
| between $700 and $1000 were common for first | | | | player to your setup. Even those who could be |
| generation Blu-Ray players. And, there was another | | | | skeptical about Blu-Ray's enhancements over DVD |
| competing standard on the store shelves that | | | | owe it themselves to head down to their local |
| created plenty of bewilderment. Toshiba and NEC | | | | electronics store and ask for a Blu-Ray |
| introduced their own DVD follow-up device with the | | | | demonstration. The picture clearness and audio fidelity |
| delivery of the HD DVD format. HD DVD, with a | | | | from Blu-Ray is truly excellent. |
| storage capability of 15 gigs, was an improvement | | | | |