Blue-Ray Disc

A Blu Ray Disc is similar to the DVD but more data can be stored allowing for a higher quality picture.  The Blu-ray is competing against the HD DVD for the next most widely used format.  The winner takes all.  It is a battle comparable to Beta and VHS in the 80's.  Blu-ray was named after the blue-violet laser used to read and write the disc.  To get technical, the Blue-ray disc is able to store more information because of the shorter wavelengh (405 nm) of the blue violet laser.  Compared to the DVD's 650 nm wavelength red laser.  The difference in wavelengths allows more information to be stored in the same amount of space, compared to HD DVD, which also uses blue laser, but has less information capacity per layer ( 15 gigabytes instead of 25).  The problem lies in the cost.  Blu-ray currently is more expensive to produce.


Companies that support Blu-ray
20th entury Fox
Buena Visat Home Entertainment
Electronic Arts
MGM Studios
Paramount Pictures
Sony Pictures
Vivendi Universal Games
Warner
The Walt Disney Company

Companies that support HD DVD
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
New Line Cinema
Paramount Pictures
The Walt Disney Company
Universal Studios (Exclusively)
Warner Bros.

Microsoft will add an external add on HD DVD for the XBOX 360 in late 2006.  Otherwise most players will range from $500 +.