what is Blu-ray Disc ?

Answer 1

Check out lots of info on this format here...

Answer 2

A Blu-ray Disc is an ultra-high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital media, including high-definition video.

Answer 3

Blu-Ray (See first link for detailed information) is one of two (the other is HD-DVD) competing high definition DVD formats. Each have advantages and disadvantages, but at the moment HD-DVD is delivering closer to its potential. For answers to FAQs see the 2nd link.

In the gaming world PS3 will include Blu-Ray and XBox 360 supports HD-DVD. To date little program material is available.

While players of both formats are backward compatible (and therefore play conventional DVDs) they are incompatible re HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disks. In other words you can only play one of the two formats on either machine. And, unfortunately, the backers of the two formats are locked in a battle to see which will survive. The consumer is caught in the middle, much like the battle between Beta and VHS in the 80's.

Advertising for Blu-Ray attempts to position it as the superior format, but is misleading (See 3rd link).

There are numerous arguments and recommendations re. what consumers should do at this time (i.e. ignore both formats, buy now, etc), but the overwhelming view is that it is premature to buy now. There is even doubt that either format will survive in the long run (See last link as an example).

The future acceptability is potentially akin to the SACD and DVD-A format ... both exist but are of marginal importance because of low market acceptance (and at least in that case universal players were developed, which appears unlikely for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD since the licensing aggreement precludes combination formats).

There is no doubt that a high definition format can give a "better" picture, but given that few consumer have the equipment to appreciate the benefit (large format HD display, ie. 45-50" minimum, since anything much smaller won't really show appreciable improvement over an upconverting DVD), the high cost of the players ($500 -$1500), the relative lack of disks, the delayed arrival of HDMI 1.3 enabled A/V equipment to support the newer HD audio formats (i.e. requiring a new A/V receiver), and the failure of most disks to reach their potential (e.g. dual layer Blu-Ray disks are not yet available), it is -- at best -- premature for most consumers to buy.

It remains to be seen how the current situation will be resolved. One view is that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are solutions looking for a problem. The bottom line is most consumers won't notice much improvement over an upconverted conventional DVD, and to really take advantage of the potential of this format (and the audio improvements they will enable) will cost big $$$$ (for an HD DVD player, large HD display (e.g. 100" HD front projector or 60" plasma/LCD flatpanel) and A/V receiver).

Probably a bit more than you expected ... but it may help to have a complete picture.

Answer 4

blu-ray discs are a new next generation storage format used to store high definition movies and games(Playstation 3). They are similar to DVD but can hold up to 50Gb of data.

Answer 5

IT IS LIKE A CD OR A DVD.