Ever since televisions became a household staple, the way we view recorded programs and movies has evolved. The VCR player and tapes were eventually replaced by the standard DVD player and DVDs. These were soon replaced by the HD DVD player and HD DVDs. The latest and greatest to come along is the Blu-Ray player and Blu-Ray disc.

The development for Blu-Ray began before 2003 and was the brainchild of many different consumer electronic companies like Apple, Dell, and Sony. Blu-Ray was developed to house more data and to provide playback for the new high definition televisions that were hitting the market. While the old standard DVD players use red laser technology, Blu-Ray uses a blue-violet laser. Even though Blu-ray players use different lasers, they are backwards compatible with HD DVDs and DVDs.

Many people don't think that the Blu-Ray format will be successful, as the ability to download and watch videos via the Internet has slowed down the sales of disc formats over the years. But there are no standards in place for watching or downloading digital media via the Internet. Eventually, Blu-Ray is expected to replace the HD DVD, just as the DVD replaced the VHS. Prices for Blu-Ray players and movies are Blu Ray are a little expensive right now because they are new to the market, but they are expected to drop in the next year. There are some lower-end models that will sell for around $100, which is very affordable. Blu-Ray disc prices are supposed to drop to about the same price as a normal DVD.