Blu-ray laptops expected to increase in 2010

Notebooks shipping with Blu-ray players will take off during the second half of  2010, but will continue to struggle until then, according to new reports.

The lack of adoption is due to the relatively high cost of slim-type Blu-ray players — in the $100 price range — while slim-type DVD burners are available for less than $20 now.

The $100 price estimate is expected to drop significantly as the industry gets closer to the second half of 2010, with the cost savings expected to transfer to consumers.

Blu-ray will move from a “niche” technology and finally go “mainstream” next year due to the falling prices and a recovering economy, the NPD research group said in its annual report.  Until the industry transforms, the high-end sector will continue to provide built-in Blu-ray players — and depending how much of a price drop takes place, it’s possible Blu-ray notebooks will continue to stay in the high-end.

Last year, “cutting-edge” consumers — who account for 20 percent of U.S. consumers — represented 64 percent of Blu-ray owners.  The number of “cutting-edge” Blu-ray owners has dropped, to just 38 percent now, which shows more mainstream adoption of the format.

I believe the price drop has to be significant, or consumers will continue to sit on the fence waiting for a real price drop.  Even though regular consumers are finally becoming interested in Blu-ray, it still could be some time before they want it in their notebooks if the price remains too high.