Feature: Blu-ray: Everything you need to know

DVD is, by some measurements, the greatest success in consumer electronics history. Following its 1997 debut, it took the format just a few years to completely conquer the home-video market previously ruled by VHS tapes.

Before DVD even reached its 10th birthday, however, the electronics industry and the Hollywood studios began putting it out to pasture.

Twelve months after , Blu-ray is finally poised to hold over as the consumer home-video format of choice. It offers high-definition video and high-resolution audio, providing a superior viewing experience to DVD, and it does this by its ability to pack more information on a disc. Blu-ray, like HD-DVD, is a blue laser technology, and for more information on how it works you can check out our .

Like every fresh format, Blu-ray comes with a whole host of fresh terminology, like 1080p, Blu-ray profiles, and on-board decoding. It can be overwhelming, but remember that Blu-ray is basically just like DVD: pop in the disc, then sit back and watch movies in high-def.

Blu-ray has definitely had its struggles since the format's inception, with the format war against HD-DVD, high prices, and hardware that wasn't fully baked. But the format has made a lot of progress in the last couple of years, so for movie lovers who want the most out of their high-def home theatres, CNET Australia recommends going with Blu-ray. Read on to find out why.