3 Reasons to Avoid Blu-ray (For Now)

[MJM]

3 Reasons to Avoid Blu-ray (For Now)

Blu-ray has established itself as the high-def wave of the present and future, but here's why it might not be right for you - right now.

Jun. 10, 2008 — by Jeff Winston

Blu-ray supporters let out a collective sigh of relief following the format war victory several months ago, but manufacturers have yet to reap the benefits. Turns out consumers are reluctant to give up their now-pedestrian DVD players. In a recent poll, only nine percent plan to buy a Blu-ray player within the next year. All things considered, you might do well to wait awhile.

It’s true that a Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25GB on a side (compared to 4.7GB for a regular DVD), and can hold high-definition TV formats (720p, 1080i, 1080p) vs. the 480p of a regular DVD. But still, is that sufficient reason to upgrade? The answer really depends on your taste in movies, the size of your wallet, and your tolerance for changing technology.

Not-so-great HD
Most movies made over the last 60 years were not filmed with HD formats in mind. It’s possible to re-process a film into HD resolution, and the studios are doing so with many movies. However, it’s a manual process, and the results for older or less popular films are mixed. So, before you run out and buy a player, read some unbiased reviews for the titles you plan to re-purchase. Also, keep track of which of your favorite TV shows were recorded in HD, as there’s little benefit to buying the Blu-ray version of a show shot in standard-def!
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