Blu-ray for Computers

By Martin Wyman



They’re coming, they’re coming! The Blu-rays are coming! If you’ve been anxious for Blu-ray technology to arrive to your PC or laptop, the day has come. Blu-ray drives for computers are making their way into the mainstream.



These first generation drives come at a pretty penny and often require video card upgrades if you want to view Blu-ray movies on your computer. Both Sony and Phillips have Blu-ray disc drives specifically for computers.


Depending on whether the drive has writing capabilities, this Blu-ray technology lets computer users store up to 50 gigabytes of data on a disc. That’s oodles of storage capacity especially considering many hard drives have less storage capacity.



If watching high-definition Blu-ray discs on your computer is the ultimate goal and storage capacity isn’t your primary concern, a Blu-ray player without writing capabilities will suffice. Keep in mind that you will need to upgrade your video card to handle the high definition video.



These Blu-ray disc players and Blu-ray recorders for PCs come in standard 5.25 inch drives just like your typical DVD or CD-ROM drive. If you’ve ever installed a new drive before, you’ll know it’s a matter of turning off the PC, unplugging the PC, opening up the case, installing the Blu-ray disc drive into an available slot, and plugging in the various cables to the motherboard and power supply all the while making sure to be static-free.



While you have the case open, swap out your old-fashioned video graphics card for a high definition graphics card. In addition to the physical installation, you must also install software and drivers. If installing the new Blu-ray device, related hardware and software sounds like too much of a hassle, your local electronics store or computer shop will be well-equipped for the job.


What’s a little more money to get the job done correctly, right?

Martin Wyman is a contributing author on Blu-ray News at http://www.mangotango.co.uk/technology-news/.

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