Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 25GB and dual-layer discs can hold up to 50GB - enough for four hours of HDTV. Like HD-DVD, Blue laser discs don’t require a caddy and players and recorders will be able to play current DVD discs. Codecs supported by Blu-ray include H.264 MPEG-4 codec which will form part of Apple’s QuickTime 7, and Windows Media 9 based VC-1.

The BDA says that although blue laser discs and players are already shipping in Japan, they won’t ship in US until end of 2005 at very earliest. It is likely that players will be very expensive initially, compared to DVD players. In Japan, they cost equivalent of $2000. However, as with all new technology, prices will quickly fall - particularly as Blu-ray will be competing with HD-DVD for that space under your TV.

Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 25GB and dual-layer discs can hold up to 50GB - enough for four hours of HDTV. Like HD-DVD, Blue laser discs don’t require a caddy and players and recorders will be able to play current DVD discs. Codecs supported by Blu-ray include H.264 MPEG-4 codec which will form part of Apple’s QuickTime 7, and Windows Media 9 based VC-1.

The BDA says that although blue laser discs and players are already shipping in Japan, they won’t ship in US until end of 2005 at very earliest. It is likely that players will be very expensive initially, compared to DVD players. In Japan, they cost equivalent of $2000. However, as with all new technology, prices will quickly fall - particularly as Blu-ray will be competing with HD-DVD for that space under your TV.