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When HD sets first started appearing in stores in 1998 folks were amazed at the sharpness HDTV offered over standard TV sets. Since then thousands of people have bought new TVs to take advantage of wide screen pictures with DVDs and high definition cable and satellite channels. While many people still haven't made the jump, a recent technology breakthrough has made even HDTV aficionados take notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed TV resolutions to a new level. Just a couple years gone, nobody had a clue what format would become the inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has won the battle and I'll tell you why you should consider adding Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system.

Though research started in 2000, Sony and its partners did not present a final commercial product till mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray comes from the blue laser that is utilized to read information from a Blu-Ray formatted disc. This contrasts with the red laser utilized to read regular DVD discs. But why is Blu-Ray better than existing DVD formats? Even though Blu-Ray discs and players don't look any different than regular DVDs, they can store much more information that means sharper picture, improved audio, and more special features. DVDs can hold up to 8 gbs. of data while Blu-Ray discs can hold fifty gigabytes. Quite a difference. The max resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines whereas Blu-Ray has a max of 1920x1080 (also called full hi-def). If you have spent $1000 or more on a 1080p television, you are essentially not exploiting everything the television can deliver when viewing standard DVDs.

Originally prices for Blu-Ray players were way beyond what an average consumer wished to pay. Price tags between $700 and $1000 were common for first generation Blu-Ray players. And, there was another competing standard on the store shelves that created plenty of bewilderment. Toshiba and NEC introduced their own DVD follow-up device with the delivery of the HD DVD format. HD DVD, with a storage capability of 15 gigs, was an improvement over regular DVDs but couldn't equal the specifications of Blu-Ray. However HD DVD did have some marketplace benefits. First, HD DVD was on the market 3 months before Blu-Ray. Second, HD DVD devices where a little less expensive to produce and were sold cheaper as a consequence. Finally, HD DVD had more Hollywood studios on board at launch than Sony did which meant more movies were at first available while Blu-Ray stayed scarce.

Sony had a big ploy up their sleeve that quite possibly saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax destiny. Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their highly anticipated PlayStation three and sold the entire device for a bit less than most stand alone players were being sold for at the time. Quickly, Blu-Ray started making strides till shortly it outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 by late 2007. More movie studios started to commit to the Blu-Ray format totally, starting with Warner Brothers in early 2008. Shortly after Toshiba stopped making HD DVD players and recorders. By the end of 2008 rental firms Netflix and Blockbuster, as well as major stores, announced they would no longer carry HD DVD movies. Now all major studios release their pictures on Blu-Ray. A couple have continued to produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases concurrently.

Costs have fallen dramatically over the last few years as well. Many big name brand Blu-Ray players from firms like Panasonic and LG can easily be found between $150 and $250. Blu-Ray disc recorders are in the $200 - $400 range and dropping just as fast. For anyone that likes viewing movies at home and has invested in a high definition television, now is a wonderful time to have a look at adding a Blu-Ray player to your setup. Even those who could be skeptical 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 excellent.

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