Is Blu-ray really an improvement over DVD?
DVD offers excellent image quality and most people find it perfectly acceptable, but Blu-ray looks noticeably better as long as it’s played on HDTVs, especially larger ones. Blu-ray pumps up to two million pixels into your HDTV, compared to about 345,000 for DVD. It also has a higher bit rate and better color, all of which translate to the best picture available today. Audio is also slightly improved with Blu-ray, but you’ll need the right equipment and a very keen ear to tell the difference. Right now, however, DVD has a big price advantage over Blu-ray. DVD discs are far cheaper, and a typical standalone player can be had for less than $100. Furthermore, now with services like Vudu and Direct TV’s Video on Demand coming onto the scene, pure hi-def content can be viewed from a number of sources. Buyers aren’t restricted to buying discs anymore, which may ultimately hinder Blu-ray’s adoption rate.
