The Knowhow
Blu-rays (BD) are more scratch-resistant than standard DVDs:
- BD's have a special coating on them - this protects the disc from wear and tear
- Scratch tests have shown that Blu-rays are fairly tough - they can even withstand scratches from sharp metal keys (and still be played)
- The coating combines a cover layer, a hard, protective middle layer, and the recorded layer - the film's data - underneath
- At the moment BDs are more expensive to produce, but the Blu-ray Disc Association have said that BDs will soon be the same price as DVDs
What's the difference between Blu-ray discs and standard DVD discs?
- Blu-ray discs are stronger and more resistant to wear and tear
- BD can store more information (five times more: 25 - 50 GB)
- BD have a much faster data transfer rate (this means they perform better)
- HD shows more picture detail than standard definition (5 times the amount)
- Blu-rays play high-definition films
- Blu-ray discs cost more than standard DVD formats (for the time being)
Should I make the move to Blu-ray?
- Blu-ray is all about high-definition viewing. If you're a fan of HD TV and want to make the conversion to an HD-Ready TV, then Blu-ray is the next step towards full-spectrum HD viewing
- BD will eventually take over from DVD, but at the moment BD and DVD formats run side by side
- Once HD TV has been rolled out across the board - it is likely BD will take over.
- Standard DVD formats won't be obsolete - you'll still be able to play your old DVDs, but they won't be in high-definition
- BD is good if you want to build up a film library with a long shelf-life
