MojoLists

Is it time to go Blu-Ray? The answer is, well, that depends. Blu-Ray is a superior format, better than DVD in every way except price. With entry level, Blu-Ray players found for $200 or so from major brands like Sony, Samsung and Panasonic the time has come for many of us to jump in.

Prices on Blu-Ray players are dropping as quickly as they did with DVD, which means we have a few years before the players and media reach current, or close to current DVD prices. This depends a lot on Blu-Rays ability to continue making its way into homes. If sales slow because of the economy, we will have a longer wait.

One thing to avoid when purchasing a new Blu-Ray player is bargain basement machines. I was shocked to see that Consumer Reports listed the Sylvania player as their best buy. This player and others from brands like Insignia will not play newer Blu-Ray discs and will continue to become more useless with each day. You don’t need a 2.0 Profile machine but it must absolutely be capable of accepting firmware updates.

Blu-Ray players are Java based which allows them to be easily upgraded by the consumer (Free of charge) as new features are added. Unlike DVD, Blu-Ray can and does change, you have to be able to upgrade or your fancy new machine will sit unused after just a few months. Fortunately, most players are upgrade friendly.

The advent of 2.0 Profile Blu-Ray players allows the consumer to connect directly to the internet for automatic updates which makes their use much easier overall. In the event you have an older player or are unable to make an internet connection, manufacturers provide upgrade discs through the mail or you can download the update on your computer and burn it to a CD.

Profile 2.0 players are also able to take advantage of all of the BD-Live functionality, which brings interactive features to the experience. I am not blown away by BD-Live, at least not yet but I have found some fun games and in the case of Sony, a fan club where I can register my Blu-Ray discs and receive points towards additional purchases or even free Blu-Ray discs. If you can afford the little bit extra for a 2.0 Profile player, it is worth it for ease of use but certainly not a deal breaker in my opinion.

Blu-Ray disc prices are also a consideration but I have found that waiting for bargains pays off. In addition, I rent many Blu-Rays from Blockbuster. Netflix also carries Blu-Rays and both services will automatically update your queue so that you don’t have to mess with doing it yourself.

If you have an HDTV, it is probably time to upgrade just for the difference in picture quality. If you have an HD audio capable receiver, you should really go ahead and jump. I know the movies cost more right now but you can always rent and in the end, we are having this discussion because we want the best possible picture and sound available. DVD is far from dead and I weigh my buying decisions on the type of movie and the benefits I can expect to see if I buy Blu-Ray.

Do yourself a favor and treat that fancy HDTV to a completely new level of amazing, even if you can’t start collecting the media, you can still enjoy the magic that is Blu-Ray.