QI know that Blu-ray has won the high-definition DVD format war. So, I felt that I could finally buy a player with confidence. But then I heard about player profiles. Does that mean there are different kinds of Blu-ray players? What do I need to look for when shopping for a player? Thank you, Kim! I love your show and tell all my friends about it.

AThank you, right back. I love what I do. And I'm glad you love it, too.

I want to make sure you buy the right Blu-ray player. If you don't know some important facts, you could end up with old gear.

You heard right; the format war is over. HD DVD is dead. Blu-ray Disc is the way to go for high-definition DVDs. But yes, there are different kinds of Blu-ray players.

I know it feels like I just threw you another curve ball. But it may not be as big a deal as you think. The profiles concept isn't complicated. But it's important to understand if you're shopping for a player.

The Blu-ray format is adding new functionality to DVD players. New features will bring interactivity to your movies. But they are rolling out slowly. New Blu-ray profiles add different features. As new profiles emerge, older ones will be phased out.

Here's what you need to know.

The first Blu-ray players were profile 1.0. This profile was often called the Grace Period Profile. These players simply played Blu-ray movies. They provided HD quality video. But they didn't include any extra features.

All players manufactured

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after Nov. 1, 2007, must be profile 1.1. This profile adds picture-in-picture capabilities. Blu-ray movies can show bonus content in a picture-in-picture window. And they can show it while the movie is playing.

Profile 2.0 is coming soon, probably in the fall. It will add Internet connectivity to Blu-ray players. You'll be able to access movie-related games, blogs and other content. And you'll be able to interact with this content on your HDTV.

Salespeople may not know a lot about the different profiles. Just know that if the player supports picture-in-picture, it's profile 1.1. And, in the future, if it has Internet connectivity, it's profile 2.0.

So, should you go out and buy a profile 1.1 player? Should you wait for profile 2.0 players? There are probably profile 1.0 players still on the shelves. What about those?

I recommend picking up at least a profile 1.1 player. Profile 1.0 players should still play all Blu-ray discs. But format standards and requirements can change. It could become obsolete in the future. Then you'd have to buy a new player.

If Internet connectivity sounds enticing, you might wait for profile 2.0. It's not available just yet. But several Blu-ray releases already include Web content. It's a feature that you can expect in future Blu-ray discs.

Another option is to buy a PlayStation 3. The PS3 plays Blu-ray movies. It can already connect to the Internet. And it's capable of receiving firmware updates online. A PS3 can be upgraded to profile 2.0 when the time comes. Plus, PS3s are priced on par with stand-alone Blu-ray players.

Tips for going HD:

-Want to make home movies on HD?

-Don't get stuck with a dud HDTV

-Where do you get HD programming?

Copyright 2008 
WestStar TalkRadio Network.
Reprinted with permission. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written consent of WestStar TalkRadio Network. 

Visit Kim Komando on The Weekend Kim Komando Show. Here, Kim takes your calls from coast-to-coast three hours every weekend. Call during the live broadcast Saturday mornings 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. Pacific, (10 am. - 1 p.m. Eastern) Toll-Free at 1-888-825-5254.

In the southern Connecticut area, Kim is on WNLK 1350 AM, Sundays starting at 2pm (Norwalk)

The Daily Kim Komando Computer Minute. In 60 seconds, Kim runs the gamut about all things digital In your area, Kim is on the following station(s) every day, Monday through Friday:

BRIDGEPORT: WICC 600 AM, in the 8am hour
New York, NY: WCBS 880 AM, in the 5am hour

The opinions expressed are the author's and not necessarily those of connpost.com. Please direct comments to cdauber@ctpost.com.