As high definition televisions exploded into the main stream market, the makers of DVD and media players quickly followed suit to design newer models capable of playing media in HD quality. These two new HD quality formats are HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. While both of these new formats used new blue laser technology, the formats of each are very different. These differences created a “battle” between HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. However, in recent days, the manufacturers of HD DVD players have lost the format war to Blu-ray. Many of the top electronics distributors have confirmed they will be ditching the HD DVD models and exclusively selling Blu-ray players and discs.
The name Blu-ray Disc comes from blue-violet lasers used to read and write this type of disc. Because of its shorter wavelength, substantially more data can be stored on a Blu-ray Disc than on the current DVDs, which uses a red laser. Blu-ray discs will store 25-50 GB of memory compared to HD DVDs 15-30 GB. In terms of video, the storage spaces allows Blu-ray discs to play 23 hours of standard definition video or 9 hours of high definition video.
Another reason, Blu-ray beat out HD DVD is due to the wide spread support for that format from major suppliers of content and distributors. According to www.blu-ray.com, “Seven of the eight major movie studios (Warner, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate) have released titles for Blu-ray, whereas HD-DVD only has support from two major movie studios (Paramount and Universal).” Also to be noted, Blockbuster and Netflix, two of the leading video rental companies, have supported the Blu-ray model over HD DVD.
The last straw for HD DVDs came when leading electronic distributors confirmed they will be supporting Blu-ray technology. Best Buy and Wal-Mart have been two of the most recent to announce their stance behind the move to the latest technology in high definition. Additionally, leading manufactures such as Sony, Panasonic, Philips and many others have favored Blu-ray. For instance, Sony’s latest gaming system the Play Station 3 is currently running Blu-ray technology. There have even been rumors lately that Toshiba, a heavy supporter of the HD DVD format, will be dropping the product line.
Best Buy’s current selection of Blu-ray disc players will run from $399 to $999 (US Dollars). The prices will appear to be quite pricey for “just a DVD player,” but just as HD TVs were expensive when they first hit the market the prices will eventually come back down to Earth. Just remember how impressed you must have been the first time you watched your favorite show or sports game on a HD TV. Now, picture watching your favorite movies in HD as well.
Nearly 500 movies titles have already been released in the Blu-ray format. The future of high definition movies and media storage is moving to Blu-ray players. So if you are shopping around for a new DVD player that matches your HD LCD or Plasma TV, make sure to go with Blu-ray. Although you may wait for the cost to come down some before buying, a Blu-ray disc player will be worth the cost in the long run.
While many stores will still carry remaining HD DVD players and movies, just know that in the upcoming months Blu-ray will become the new dominate technology in the world of high definition.
As high definition televisions exploded into the main stream market, the makers of DVD and media players quickly followed suit to design newer models capable of playing media in HD quality. These two new HD quality formats are HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. While both of these new formats used new blue laser technology, the formats of each are very different. These differences created a “battle” between HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. However, in recent days, the manufacturers of HD DVD players have lost the format war to Blu-ray. Many of the top electronics distributors have confirmed they will be ditching the HD DVD models and exclusively selling Blu-ray players and discs. 
Best Buy’s current selection of Blu-ray disc players will run from $399 to $999 (US Dollars). The prices will appear to be quite pricey for “just a DVD player,” but just as HD TVs were expensive when they first hit the market the prices will eventually come back down to Earth. Just remember how impressed you must have been the first time you watched your favorite show or sports game on a HD TV. Now, picture watching your favorite movies in HD as well.
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