Mobile Computing News

Photo: /pitzyper!

Since its introduction into the consumer market in 2006, the Blu-ray optical disc format is becoming increasingly popular. Seven out of the eight major motion picture studios in Hollywood have agreed to market their releases in Blu-ray, alongside traditional DVDs.

Blu-ray explained

The Blu-ray format combines high-tech laser innovation and advanced disc technology to create discs that have more than five times the capacity of DVDs. Named after the blue-violet laser used to read the discs (as opposed to red lasers used to read DVDs), Blu-ray discs currently offer up to 25 GB of storage on single-layer discs and up to 50 GB (or up to nine hours of HD video) on dual-layer discs – while sharing all other physical characteristics with DVDs and CDs. The use of the powerful blue-violet laser enables more information to be embedded onto the same disc area. Because the data layer of Blu-ray discs is closer to the disc surface than that of traditional DVDs and CDs, Blu-ray discs are equipped with strong scratch-protected surfaces – ensuring disc lifespan that far surpasses that of DVDs.

Death of DVD

Photo: Sony

As high-definition (HD) broadcasts, films, video games, televisions and computer screens become more ubiquitous, experts predict that Blu-ray discs will eventually supersede DVDs in use and production. This is because Blu-ray discs are more capable of storing HD video, which often requires many gigabytes of available storage space. When used in conjunction with an HD screen of some kind, Blu-ray discs convey the true fidelity of HD recording and consistently outperform DVDs in terms of visual clarity.

Blu-ray laptops

Many laptops available today which offer HD displays – including popular brands Acer, Dell, Sony, and HP – also offer optional Blu-ray drives. This makes the magic of HD video personal and portable. While this has serious and immediate benefits for serious movie watchers, the use of Blu-ray compatible drives in these systems will carry users into the future of portable data storage with ease. Blu-ray discs will undoubtedly be used for inexpensive backup solutions for many users.

When considering a Blu-ray laptop, shoppers should be sure to look for a machine that enables full enjoyment of Blu-ray discs with a full-HD screen (one with a resolution 1920×1080 and aspect ratio 16:9). To maximise the investment in a new Blu-ray laptop, it’s also wise to keep an eye out for the release of laptops that offer Blu-ray recording. For serious gamers, a Blu-ray laptop will be essential in keeping a competitive edge in tomorrow’s gaming world.