What is Blu Ray?

As a home audio/video enthusiast, I have talked with many different types of people regarding "Blu-Ray" technology. I currently own a Samsung HDTV (LNT-4066F), a Sony Playstation 3 and an Onkyo 7.1 Surround Sound System.

Now that I have cleared up which equipment I use on a daily basis, I can tell you that it hasn't been an easy road accumulating this expensive equipment. Not only do these electronics start adding up against my wallet, so does the cost of renting/buying the Blu-Ray discs. But, I really enjoy the added benefits, so it's worth the price I have paid in my own opinion.

For Starters

A standard DVD can hold about 5 gigabytes per CD, which translates to approximately 2-3 hours of movie enjoyment. If a movie lasts longer than a couple hours, not many extra features are able to be placed on the disc. For this reason, Blu-Ray introduces a whole new level of entertainment.

Blu-Ray

Blu-Ray technology was invented by many different companies, who joined together for resources and planning of the technology. Some of the bigger named companies include Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Samsung, Sony, Walt Disney and Warner Bros. There are many more involved, but these companies are the major players that I can think of off the top of my head.

The basic design of Blu-Ray discs is fairly simple, if you don't get into the technical details. Think of a Blu-Ray disc like this; wouldn't it be great if companies could just take 2 or 3 discs, put them together and create more room for content? If you answered yes, then Blu-Ray is right up your alley. Each layer of a Blu-Ray disc can hold approximately 25 gigabytes of video/audio. Companies can now combine multiple layers of these discs, and create a monster all rolled into one disc. Now, think of a Blu-Ray disc having 3 or 4 layers each. 25 (gigabytes) x4 (layers) = 100 gigabytes of storage.

So, now Blu-Ray takes care of storage issues, giving "us" consumers more content on one CD like alternate endings and watching how the movie was created. Not only is storage improved, but so is the picture and sound. A Blu-ray laser uses a shorter wavelength than a standard red laser. The less distance a laser needs to travel, the better quality produced through the Blue Laser. Make sense so far?

Blu-Ray Requirements

Ok, you can't just buy a Blu-Ray disc and put it into your regular DVD player. You need certain equipment to view this new technology correctly. Let's start with a Television.

Television shopping can be exciting or saddening. Everyone would like a huge TV in the living room, but prices sink those dreams quickly. Realistically, think of a price you are willing to spend and stick to it. Do your research online about different models and what features are included. Make sure you purchase a TV with 720p, 1080i or 1080p abilities. Many TV's include all 3 different resolutions, with 1080p being the best picture quality available today. Most new HDTV's have "HDMI" hookups. I explain this under the next section...

Blu-Ray playerscome in many different models from several companies. They can run you anywhere from $230 on up. Again, do your research online for a Blu-Ray player. If you need to ask questions, make sure you get answers before purchasing.

Cables

Now that you have researched a HDTV and a Blu-Ray player, you need the right cables to hook it all up. An "HDMI" (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable is the perfect answer because this type of cable incorporates audio and video in one. No more yellow, red and white RCA cables!

There are many different companies who make HDMI cables, some cheaper than others. I have purchased a few different cables for research and have not noticed any "improved" picture clarity through my wonderful 20/20 vision. Cables that run from $30-$90 dollars are usually gold plated and have an extra "layer" of protecting. Stick to the basics and get a cable that fits your needs.

The only difference in my opinion is the Length of the cable. My conclusion; you are paying for the HDMI cable length, not different features or improved connectors.

The After Effect

After hooking up the Blu-Ray player to your HDTV, you'll notice a remarkable difference. Background images, details, colors and the entire movie just looks amazingly clear. You may even be able to notice your favorite actors/actresses flaws!

Cost

Blu-Ray discs are actually very close to standard DVDs when it comes to production costs. The only reason why a new Blu-Ray disc is around $25-$40, is because it's a new technology. Unfortunately, just like when standard DVD's came out, pricing is high until the demand has been fulfilled. Right now, Blu-Ray is not in demand for the majority of consumers. So, will you be a High Definition consumer now, or later? The choice is yours, but eventually another technology will be discovered and we'll get to ride this roller coaster all over again!

Thanks for reading!