Blu Ray Vs. DVD: is it time to switch?

With the emergence of the Blu Ray disk, which is currently being pushed heavily by Disney and Sony alike, many people are heading towards an inevitable idealistic decision of whether or not to switch from DVD-based video technology to the latest tech that allegedly has better sound and video quality. But is it worth it to switch, and for what reasons?

In my case, I still have DVD's and likely will not switch to Blu Ray technology, but it's not simply because I'm a poor college student who can't afford to purchase both a new video player system as well as replace my movie collection (though price is a small factor, no doubt).

But let's face the facts here: the TV in my room is an ancient 32" Zenith that has no HD capability to speak of, and the largest TV in my house is an off-brand 37" TV that's not quite as old, but only has S-Video ports and nothing else. Blu ray is a little pointless. No point in upgrading to better video playing technology until I have better video display technology to match it.

But again (for everyone else that's not me, why bother) DVD technology was the drastic improvement from VHS tapes, going up in quality and performance for both sound and video. But then that was during the age where television was still king, and the fledgling internet media market was virtually nonexistent. It was easy to see what appeal a media library transformation to DVD would have on the average consumer when the center of his or her world-connectivity was a massive, landlocked glowing machine. Today however with the internet and the surge in portable computers and cell phones all with the power to bring high-definition movies and television series at the click of a finger, television just isn't as crucially-important to society as it once was. Convenience coupled with digital video makes the computer web browser more important than a home entertainment system, and that in turn has diminished the interest in home-based media such as Blu Ray technology. At best the TV is used as a background noise-producer, or to act as a substitute for another presence in the room; the computer is the new baby of the family, and thus the new favorite.

And in all honesty, if you don't have a TV at least 42" or larger it wouldn't even be worth it to go through the physical and financial strain of upgrading. A Consumer Reports Study found that most people sit at least 6' away from the TV when watching, and comparing that distance ratio to that of 32" or 22" screen size demonstrates no real obvious difference in clarity and quality. Even with new HDTV's of either the Plasma, LED or LCD variety, the 720p and 1080p sets or their equivilants would make no difference to a Blu Ray player or DVD of an average-sized TV (42" or smaller). It's just not big enough to make the details matter, so why bother paying all that extra money?

Stick with what works, in my opinion. Wait for the virtual holograms beamed directly into your brain. I'm sure there'll be an app for that soon enough.