In January 2007 we took a look at Blu-ray the next-generation optical disc format for high-definition video. The only problem we encountered at that time was that there seemed to be a BetaMax versus VHS style war going on between Sony's Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD ... well that and the fact that I was lamenting my Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection being outdated before it was even a few weeks old.

Oh, but I digress, back to Blu-ray ... it seems the war is won ... early in 2008 Warner Brothers announced they were moving their titles from HD-DVD to Blu-ray and Disney Studios, MGM, Sony Pictures (well duh) and Fox closely followed suit. The last straw for HD-DVD came from the USA retail giant Wal-Mart who announced only Sony's Blu-Ray format would be stocked in its stores. Shortly after that blow the announcement came from the Toshiba camp that they were going to cut their losses and dump HD-DVD. Toshiba cited the Warner Brothers withdrawal from their camp as the reason but touted some analysis of their own sales figures versus the Sony PlayStation 3 and other Blu-ray players saying Blu-ray was the obvious winner. Those figures showed only 2000 HD-DVD players were sold in Australia but there were 7000 Blu-ray players sold and an impressive 188000 Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles (which utilise Blu-ray technology).

Interestingly, Apple has been on the board of directors of the Blu-ray consortium since 2005 but won't go public on their Blu-ray plans. Some believe this is because there aren't any Blu-ray drives thin enough or priced appropriately enough for a Mac laptop. While others believe Mac won't put one out until they can support the technology. Whatever the real situation, in March 2008, Dell beat them to the punch with the release of the Dell Inspiron 1525 Notebook complete with Blu-ray drive which will play Blu-ray discs and burn DVDs and CDs.

The question remains, why aren't we seeing Blu-ray drives in Apple Computers? Perhaps after their long association with the Blu-ray consortium they know something we don't. Or, perhaps it's simpler than that, alot of Apple software doesn't support HD technology, so, if Apple can't offer the pudding then they're not going to buy a Food Processor. Confusing metaphors aside, this is all conjecture and I'm sure a smart man like Steve Jobs has the bigger (ahem) picture in sight.

And Microsoft? After vehemently declaring no Blu-ray would ever be shipped with a Microsoft game console and putting their feet solidly in the Toshiba camp in support of HD-DVD ... they announced recently the next XBox 360 will probably be shipping with Blu-ray technology as early as May 2008. At least Mr Gates' ability to swap hats quickly shows he is not a sore loser and, as usual, shows good business acumen.

What's my take on all this? Forgive me but I'm alarmed that in my lifetime there has been (so far) not just one but three (I'll say that again THREE) different versions of home visual media players, VHS, DVD and now Blu-ray. Let's have a moment of silence for the poor souls who actually purchased BetaMax or HD-DVD. All I'm saying is ... I bought Disney's Sleeping Beauty in the early 90's on VHS and again on DVD in the late 90's and according to Disney I'm urged to buy it on Blu-ray in the 00's because only then can I experienced the ultimate audio visual experience this unique little operetta can offer. Tut tut Disney tut tut ... I'm sure that's what the label read on the DVD version I purchased ... and to be quite honest all this fuss over an animated cartoon which came out in the 50's! I repeat, I'm alarmed and it's no wonder this planet is in trouble.

But again, I digress, back to Blu-ray ... The Blu-ray win in Australia appears to have been brought about largely by JB HiFi (a large CD/DVD retailer in Australia) and their refusal to stock HD-DVDs or players. It's being predicted that, in Australia at least, it could be five years before we see the last of DVDs and Blu-ray firmly takes over.

This year Sony expects to sell about 4 million Blu-ray players in the US, mostly inside PlayStations. And, those figures give us a just cause for all this new technology ... retailers just love it.