Hi-def Tv With Time Warner Cable

When HDTV sets first started showing up in stores in late 90s consumers were dazzled at the clearness HDTV delivered over regular TV sets. Since then thousands of people have upgraded their TVs to enjoy wide screen pictures with DVDs and high definition cable and satellite broadcasts. While some people still haven't made the jump, a technology breakthrough has made even HDTV aficionados take notice. Developed by Sony, Blu-Ray has pushed screen quality to the next level. Just a few years ago, nobody knew what format would become the inheritor to DVD, but now Blu-Ray has won and I'll tell you why you should think about adding Blu-Ray to your home entertainment system.

Though research started in 2000, Sony and its partners failed to release a final commercial product until mid 2006. The name Blu-Ray derives from the blue laser that is utilized to read info from a Blu-Ray formatted disc. This is in opposition to the red laser utilized to scan regular DVD discs. But why is Blu-Ray an improvement over current DVD formats? Although Blu-Ray discs and players don't appear any different than standard DVDs, they can save much more info meaning clearer picture, improved audio, and more special features. DVDs can hold up to eight gigs of data while Blu-Ray discs can hold 50 gigs. Quite a difference. The maximum resolution of a DVD is 720x480 lines whereas Blu-Ray has a max of 1920x1080 (also referred to as full high definition). If you've spent $1000 or more on a 1080p television, you are really not utilizing everything the television can deliver when viewing regular DVDs.

Originally prices for Blu-Ray players were far beyond what an average consumer wished to pay. Costs between $700 and $1000 were not unusual for the first Blu-Ray players. Plus, there was another competing standard on the market that made lots of bewilderment. Toshiba and NEC introduced their own DVD successor with the delivery of the HD DVD format. HD DVD, with enough space for 15 gigabytes, was an advance over regular DVDs but didn't equal the specifications of Blu-Ray. But HD DVD did have some marketplace authority. First, they made it to the market three months before Blu-Ray. Second, HD DVD devices where a little cheaper to produce and had a lower price tag as a result. Lastly, HD DVD had more movie studios on signed up at launch than Sony did which meant more flicks were initially available while Blu-Ray remained rare.

Sony had a huge trick up their sleeve that quite potentially saved Blu-Ray from a Betamax destiny. Sony included a Blu-Ray player into their long awaited PlayStation three and sold the entire device for a little less than many stand alone players were going for at the time. After that, Blu-Ray commenced making strides till soon it outsold HD DVD 2-to-1 by late 2007. More and more Hollywood studios began to commit to the Blu-Ray standard totally, beginning with Warner Brothers in early 2008. Right after Toshiba stopped making HD DVD players and recorders. By the end of 2008 rental firms Netflix and Blockbuster, as well as major stores, announced they would no longer carry HD DVD films. Now all major studios release their pictures on Blu-Ray. A few have continued to produce HD DVD and Blu-Ray releases simultaneously.

Prices have fallen seriously over the past few years as well. Many big name brand Blu-Ray players from firms like Panasonic and LG can easily be found between $150 and $250. Blu-Ray disc recorders are in the $200 - $400 range and dropping just as fast. For anyone that likes watching films at home and has invested in a high definition television, now is a great time to look into adding a Blu-Ray player to your setup. Even those that may be skeptical about Blu-Ray's enhancements over DVD owe it themselves to head down to their local home entertainment store and ask for a Blu-Ray demonstration. The picture clarity and audio fidelity from Blu-Ray is truly excellent.