The first three parts of this series explored the different types of Blu-ray drives for use in computers (and some game systems).  We looked at the basic Blu-ray disk readers (BD-ROM), that were capable of playing Blu-ray discs, and probably also capable of reading data recorded onto Blu-ray discs.  We also looked at the ‘combo’ drives that not only had the ability to read Blu-ray discs, but also could record DVDs and CDs.

Next, we looked at the Blu-ray Disc recorders (BD-R) drives.  These drives could read and write data onto single layer (25 GB capacity) and double layer (50 GB capacity) media.  An important aspect to the capability of recording data onto Blu-ray media was that you can store large amounts of data (and, of course, not just data, but audio, video, and other content) onto a single disc.  Of course, a BD-R drive could also read and write to DVD and CD media, making a BD-R drive a useful replacement for the older DVD-R (DVD-R and DVD+R) drives — and immensely important if you want to get the most amount of data onto the fewest number of discs.

Part Three took the story a bit further, introducing the Erasable or Re-Writable capabilities (BD-RW, BD-RE).  Erasability (or re-writability) provided the option for reusing Read the rest of this entry »

In the first two parts of this ongoing series I explored a few of the ways Blu-ray has been implemented into computers. The first installment discussed Blu-ray readers that would allow you to view Blu-ray movies and also (probably) read DVDs and CDs. The ‘combo’ drive also let you record DVDs and CDs, in addition to just reading Blu-ray discs.

In Part Two of this series, I wrote about recordable Blu-ray – the rather remarkable technologies that let you store as much as 50 GIGABYTES of data onto a single disc. I discussed how single layer Blu-ray discs (BD-R) can store as much as 25 GB of data, while their dual layer (BD-RDL) siblings can store up to twice as much data. It’s not clear whether all recorders (or even Blu-ray readers) can read the second layer of a dual layer disc; or whether a recorder that can write to BD-R media can also write to BD-RDL.

There’s another twist to the Blu-ray story – Blu-ray rewritable (RE – Recordable/Erasable). Rewritable media has been around for more than a decade – with CD-RW, DVD-RW, and now Blu-ray RE. RW technologies, in the past, don’t seem to have been particularly successful – except with those Read the rest of this entry »

I went to my local nerdy electronics store a few days ago and was slightly dazzled by the many options a person can have if he or she wanted to install a Blu-ray drive into a home or office computer.  (Even the term ‘Blu-ray drive’ is one that lacks a single definition.)

The basic drive is one that is similar to the one used in home entertainment sysems — it does ONE thing, and should do it well.  That one thing, of course, is ‘playing’, or ‘reading’ the discs put into the drive.  These discs don’t necessarily have to be Blu-ray videos or games – the drives should be able to also read DVDs and CDs.  It should be able to read discs that you get commercially, like a game or movie, and also those that have been created with a DVD or CD or Blu-ray recorder.   This type of drive, with no settings for anything other than reading a disc, is the basic type of Blu-ray drive you can buy.  A drive of this type often goes by the name BD-ROM.  No recording media (BD-R or other) is supported by a BD-ROM drive.

A Combo drive adds functionality (and cost) and goes beyond the basic Blu-ray drive.   In addition to handling the reading tasks, a Combo drive is also capable of recording onto Read the rest of this entry »