
Blu-ray, like regular DVD, is a digital format, this means, in its self, it doesn't deliver any better quality. The use of a blue-violet laser, as opposed to a red laser, enables data to be packed more tightly onto the disk giving anywhere up to 500GB of storage capacity. Very attractive when you consider regular DVD have a maximum capacity of 8.54GB. (Both format capacities are achieved via 'layering').
High Definition (HD) video is the format delivered on Blu-ray disks. Currently DVD delivers Standard Definition (SD). HD offers five times the definition of SD making the picture incredibly sharp with vivid colors. It also offers access to substantially better audio than SD.
Blu-ray offers quite a few other enhancements for video but these are mostly benefits of the increased storage capacity (such as more interactive menu systems and an increased amount of extra content).
So, why would I want Blu-ray to die? It sounds fantastic doesn't it. Indeed it is. In fact now that I've reached this point in the article (having done all the research as I go) maybe Blu-ray shouldn't die. Perhaps it should become immortal.
When I started this article the point I wanted to make is 'enough is enough'. Do we really need better video quality? Better audio? More content? Interactive menus?
To be honest, I'm quite happy with what DVD, SD video delivers. It does the job. It looks and sounds great. It works. Sure Blu-ray is better but after the initial experience wears off I'm just going to think, 'meah'. It's not like seeing a movie on an IMAX screen where the experience blows you away nearly every time - and never gets old. At the end of the day it's just a new STANDARD.
Standard is exactly that, standard. It's what we expect and take for granted. Let's stop trying to improve on things that work far better than they need to. Let Blu-ray become immortal. The final standard.
Put some of those research and development dollars into something movie related that actually does need improving - like getting George Lucas to re-imagine the Star Wars franchise for an adult audience.