Dell Intros First Blu-ray Enabled Notebook PC

By NewsFactor Network | December 12, 2006

Dell has launched its first PC incorporating Blu-ray Disc technology, with the next-generation optical-disc format now an option on its XPS M1710 notebook computer.

Adding Blu-ray to its high-end computers is part of Dell’s strategy of offering PCs that can function as a single platform for digital entertainment throughout the home, explained Dell spokesman Marc Speier.

Blu-ray is a new optical disc format designed to store large amounts of data and to record, rewrite and playback high-definition video. A Blu-ray Disc supports playback of high-definition feature-length films and offers the highest optical disc capacity — up to 50GB — or more than five times the capacity of a dual-layer DVD.

Speier said Blu-ray’s optical drive technology has gained broad industry support and Dell believes it will become the optical drive standard of the future. “We started looking at Blu-ray three or four years ago and eventually came to the decision that it has the right set of standards for our customers,” said Speier.

Entertaining Experience

Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell’s Product Group, said the company expects to see desktops and notebooks continue functioning as part of the main entertainment and productivity hub in the home.

“We believe high-definition video powered by Blu-ray Disc technology will be a significant part of that entertainment experience,” he said.

Having a Blu-ray disc drive on the XPS M1710 will also enable users to store and access large amounts of data without needing an external hard drive.

Blu-ray’s Migration

Blu-ray’s migration into the PC is just the latest development in the war between next-generation DVD formats. The battle between formats has been raging for some time on DVD players, video game consoles, and now PCs.

Dell’s announcement marks yet another phase in the fight between competing high-definition formats that has not eased, with Toshiba, the chief competitor to Sony’s…

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