Replacing DVD's with Blue ray DVD's

Developed during the golden age of the VHS video tape, the DVD (digital video/versatile disc) was designed as a low cost replacement with vastly improved data capacity for improved video and audio quality. Because of these benefits, the DVD soon became the dominant home video format around 2000, a position which it has enjoyed through 2007. However with the advent of high definition televisions capable of displaying 1080p content, consumers now yearn for new home video formats capable of playing HD movies. That's where Blue ray comes in. Below is an overview of the Blue ray DVD technology and a guide designed to help you upgrade to the next video format.

The Technology

A Blue ray DVD doesn't actually leave much up to the imagination. A standard DVD uses a red laser to write and read data to an optical disc, and a Blue ray player uses a blue (and violet) laser to write and read data. However, a blue laser uses a shorter wavelength, which in turn uses finer (and more expensive) equipment. As such, a Blue ray DVD is able to store up to a whopping 50 Gb of data, as opposed to just 4.7 Gb for a standard DVD or 30 Gb for Blue ray's rival, HD-DVD. However, the higher storage capacity results in slightly greater costs, but at the benefit of being able to record more video on a single disc.

Already, Blue ray DVD's are expected to win the next generation home video format war between HD-DVD and Blue ray. With 70% of the titles on the market, Blue ray is outselling HD-DVD by at least 2:1, and in Japan that figure recently reached a 6:1 ratio for Blue ray : HD-DVD. Also, Blue ray players are now outselling stand alone HD-DVD players, whereas before the cheaper HD-DVD players had been slightly outselling Blue ray DVD players. Once you add in the Blue ray DVD support from millions of Sony PS3's, the picture becomes much clearer. HD-DVD is expected to become obsolete beneath Blue ray DVD within a year or two at most.

If you want to upgrade to Blue ray DVD, one of the most popular methods is buying a PS3. Not only will you be able to play the most popular movies in crisp, clear 1080p, but you'll also get to choose from hundreds of great game titles, such as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and soon to be released Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, although you can choose from a number of stand alone players. If you want to upgrade your movie collection to hi def, check out Blue ray DVD.