Blu-ray technology was developed in order to enable recording, rewriting and the playback of high definition video (HD). On top of this they can also store large amounts of data. With a Blu-ray disc you get more than five times the storage capacity of a traditional DVD as they can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual layer disc. The extra capacity as well as the combined use of advanced video and audio codecs means that with Bluray you are being presented with unprecedented HD experience. Also thanks to the extra storage space Blu-ray DVD discs offer an exciting array of advanced interactive features and bonus content. The discs are also highly resistant to dirt and scratches.



The reason that Blu-ray is the ultimate in high definition is down to the laser that is used to read the discs. Current optical disc technology, for example DVD, DVDR and DVDRW as well as DVD-RAM are all read and written using a red laser; Blu-ray however used a blue-violet laser instead, which is where it gets its name from. So what is the difference? Well the main benefit of using the blue-violet laser is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser. The red laser is 650nm, whereas the blue-violet laser is 405nm. This makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision.

Blu-ray DVD players are available from many manufacturers, for example Sony, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, Pioneer, LG and Sharp. On top of these quality brand Bluray DVD players the Playstation 3 includes a built in Bluray disc player. Also recently a number of laptop computer models have started to incorporate Bluray Disc players as well as producing add-on Bluray disc drives for desktop computers.

In order for you to enjoy all of the benefits that Blu-ray technology has to offer you will need a number of things such as a HDTV with HDMI cables to ensure the best picture quality. On top of this you will of course need a form of Blu-ray player and Blu-ray discs. It is however possible to play standard DVD's on a Blu-ray player; if you are doing this however it should be noted that they will play in their normal quality and not be presented in Blu-ray standard. Also you are unable to play Blu-ray DVD discs on anything other than a Blu-ray player.

Bluray is a glimpse of what future home entertainment is destined for and the industry expectation of Bluray is that it will eventually replace DVD. Also since its introduction Bluray has continually advanced and there is no sign that this is going to change.

Whether you want to keep up-to-date with the latest industry trends or if you want the very best in home entertainment you need Blu-ray, so what are you waiting for? Get your Blu-ray technology set up straight away.