Technology: Blu-ray Disc format

If you haven't heard about the provisionary successor to DVD technology, Blu-ray Disc (BD) titles are supposed to hold 25 MB of video data instead of 15 MB on HD DVD. This is accomplished because Blu-ray technology uses a blue-violet laser with a shorter wavelength (405 nm) than DVD technology, which uses a red laser (650 nm). Blu-ray was announced at CES in January and products, which have been delayed a month, are expected to hit the market June 20. It will initially be more expensive than DVD, which frankly has only recently established a toehold in the consumer market as Blockbuster stores converted entirely to videodisc and disc-only online rental services like Netflix and Peerflix are starting to go mainstream.

I witnessed the launch of DVD technology at Fall Comdex in 1995. I seriously doubt the average consumer is going to let anyone pry the DVD from their hot little fingers for another 5-6 years at least. Like HD TV, however, it can be another market option for the early adopters.