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Blu-Ray - What's it all about?

If you've been looking for a DVD player lately, you'll have no doubt come across the "competing" formats for High Definition DVD players and recorders. Having two competing technologies is nothing new ... you're probably aware that in the 1970's, VHS and Betamax were rivals in the race to become the dominant format for domestic video recording. Essentially, two technically different ways of achieving the same result battle it out usually with one overall winner.

Late 2007 and early 2008 saw the conclusion of a similar clash between two formats for high definition DVD. The two contenders this time were HD DVD and Blu-ray, with Blu-ray winning out in the end, doubtless because Sony endorsed the format in the awesome Playstation 3.

Why HD DVD?
The answer's simple - if you've recently purchased, or are thinking of purchasing a new LCD or plasma TV, the chances are it will be capable of displaying the latest high definition pictures. High definition TVs not only look great but are also far superior to regular TVs. They provide the viewer with brighter colours, crisper images, a sharper picture and an all round better viewing experience. This is thanks to the number of dots or "pixels" which make up the picture an HD TV displays compared with a standard TV (which use a cathode ray tube [CRT]).

What's available in HD?
Some of the major TV networks such as the BBC and Sky are already broadcasting HD content on their HD channels and you can be sure that more and more networks will follow suit. There's also an ever increasing number of films being released in HD format available to purchase or for rental. Some players even ship with free HD DVDs to give you a taster of the superior quality of High Defintion TV.

What are you going to watch?
For most of us the source for this content will probably be either high definition digital TV - typically from an HD box such as Sky, a Blu-ray DVD player or a device with a Blu-ray disc inside such as a PS3, laptop or PC. For a list of Blu-ray players and recorders, click here.

So, what exactly is Blu-ray technology?
Similar to regular DVD or CD players and recorders, Blu-ray uses a laser to "read" the data off a spinning reflective disc. The data is recorded and read by a laser, which reads the "tracks" off the disc as it spins. The amount of information that can be stored is limited by the "wavelength" of the laser used to record [burn] or read the data.

The data stored on the discs is translated into pictures or sound, which can be watched and/or listened to. Regular DVD devices use a red laser, which has a wavelength of 650 nm [nanometers] to record or read the data. A double sided disk is capable of storing up to 8.5GB of data, which is sufficient to hold data for a standard quality film and extras. However, a high definition film is technically far superior in quality and requires much more storage space, hence the requirement for a disk with a larger capacity - a high definition Blu-ray disc.

The laser used in a Blu-ray disk is blue-violet [hence the name Blu-ray] and operates at a shorter wavelength meaning that the laser can be focused with greater precision, and therefore narrower "tracks" can be used. All this means that substantially more data can be stored on a Blu-ray disk - up to 5 times the amount of data even though the physical size of the actual media is the same as regular DVD. A Blu-ray DVD can typically store 50GB of data on a dual layer disc. Luckily, Blu-ray players and recorders are backwardly compatible and can read and write to traditional discs meaning that you won't need to replace your current DVD collection. However, your current collection will not be of the same quality as a DVD filmed and recorded in high definition, so you may want to purchase the Blu-ray versions of some of your more favourite films.

Of course, films are NOT the only media which is suitable for Blu-ray DVD. As console games become more sophisticated and faster, with better picture and sound quality, the 8.5GB discs traditionally used are soon deemed to be insufficient, and HD DVD is required to carry all the extra data required. This means even better quality than ever before, with more life-like imagery and amazing graphics. If you're an avid gamer, buying a Sony Playstation 3 means that you not only get the latest console on the market, you also get a Blu-ray DVD player capable of playing the latest blockbuster films high definition thrown in!

So, which Blu-ray device to go for?
If you're starting from scratch and need the complete set up then you'll need a standalone Blu-ray DVD player and a High-Definition [HD] TV. Popular manufacturers include Sony, Samsung and Panasonic. As with all new technology, prices were high when the players first came to market and Sony were first to market with the first Blu-ray player retailing at about £1900, however today our prices start as low as £200.

If you want the full home cinema experience, you should consider a home cinema system, incorporating 7.1 surround speakers. Various models are available from manufacturers such as Samsung, Panasonic and Sony. With this, you'll not only get superb picture quality, but cinema-like surround sound too. It's like being in the cinema but in your own home!

If you're looking to enjoy your high definition films on the move, then you'll be pleased to learn that you can get all the benefits of a Blu-ray DVD player incorporated into a state-of-the-art laptop. So you can not only read your email and produce quality presentations on the move but you can also experience high definition films whilst on your travels! Click here to see a list of Laptops incorporating Blu-ray drives.

Of course many desktop PC's now incorporate Blu-ray DVD players too, and you can also upgrade your current PC by buying an internal Blu-ray drive. If you don't fancy opening your PC case, you can connect an external Blu-ray drive via your USB port and still experience high definition DVD's on your computer. Of course don't forget that if you are upgrading your existing PC you'll need to check that your monitor is capable of receiving High definition signals. And lastly to go with your new Blu-ray drive, of course you'll need some blu-ray discs!

If, as mentioned above, you're a gaming fan, then the Sony Playstation 3 is for you. The PS3 combines one the latest and greatest gaming consoles on the market with a high quality and compact Blu-ray DVD player all for one great price.

More and more devices will incorporate Blu-ray as time progresses and the player will probably be commonplace in the home, replacing standard definition DVD in time, so keep checking our site regularly. Why not visit out Blu-ray store, when you can see all our Blu-ray devices in one place?