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Take Home Entertainment to the Next Level with Blu-Ray

When HDTV sets initially began appearing in the marketplace about 10 years ago people were amazed at the clarity hi-def delivered over standard TV sets. Since that time thousands of people have upgraded their TVs to take advantage of wide screen movies with DVDs and high definition cable and satellite programming. While many folks still haven't made the leap, a technology breakthrough has made even HDTV aficionados take notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed television resolutions to a new level. Just a couple years ago, no one knew what format would become the inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has won the battle and I'll tell you why you should think about adding Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system.

Though research began almost ten years ago, Sony and its partners didn't manufacture a final commercial product until mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray derives from the blue laser that is used to read information from a Blu-Ray formatted disc. This conflicts with the red laser used to read standard DVD discs. Yet why is Blu-Ray an improvement over existing DVD formats? Even though Blu-Ray discs and players don't look any different than standard DVDs, they can save much more data meaning clearer picture, improved audio, and more special extras. DVDs can hold up to eight gigs of data while Blu-Ray discs can hold 50 gigabytes. Quite a difference. The max resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines while Blu-Ray has a maximum of 1920x1080 (also referred to as full HD). If you've spent $1000 or more on a 1080p television, you're actually not making use of all the TV can deliver when watching standard DVDs.

Originally prices for Blu-Ray players were way above what an average user wished to pay. Price tags between $700 and $1000 were common for the first Blu-Ray players. And, there had been another competing standard on the store shelves that made a lot of bewilderment. Toshiba and NEC introduced their own DVD successor with release of the HD DVD standard. HD DVD, with enough space for 15 gbs., was a step up over standard DVDs but didn't match the specs of Blu-Ray. But HD DVD did have some marketplace advantages. First, they made it to the market a quarter before Blu-Ray. Second, HD DVD devices where a little cheaper to make and were sold cheaper as a consequence. Lastly, HD DVD had more picture studios on board at launch than Sony did which meant more pictures were at first available while Blu-Ray remained scarce.

Sony had a gigantic trick up their sleeve that quite potentially saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax fate. Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their long awaited PlayStation three and sold the entire device for a little less than many stand alone players were going for at the time. Soon after, Blu-Ray commenced making strides until shortly it outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 by late 2007. More Hollywood studios started to sign on to the Blu-Ray standard solely, beginning 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 shops, said they'd no longer carry HD DVD movies. Currently all major studios release their films on Blu-Ray. A couple still produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases concurrently.

Costs have fallen seriously over the last few years too. Many 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 quickly. For anyone that likes viewing movies at home and has invested in a high definition TV, now is a great time take a look into adding a Blu-Ray player to your home entertainment system. Even those who may be skeptical about Blu-Ray's improvements over DVD owe it themselves to go down to their local electronics store and ask for a Blu-Ray demonstration. The picture clearness and audio fidelity from Blu-Ray is really superb.

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