Samsung's BD-P1600 is capable of streaming online video and radio. (Forbes.com)

Though Blu-ray is the undisputed king of high-definition video, there's still plenty of confusion among consumers as to what they should be looking for in a Blu-ray disc player.

The variety of Blu-ray players shouldn't be viewed as a curse, but rather a great opportunity to find one that's perfectly aimed at your specific needs and desires. What previously would have been considered high-end has now become standard, and these models have gotten creative with wider feature sets and eye-grabbing design innovations.

One thing should be made clear, however: Buying a Blu-ray disc player doesn't mean you have to replace your collection of DVDs. In fact, a Blu-ray disc player can enhance your standard-definition DVDs, making them look far better on a high-definition television than they would when used with your old, traditional DVD player. Using a process called "up-scaling," Blu-ray disc players can fill in the gaps of resolution that separate standard from high-definition, and help your old movies fit properly on the new TV screen. This means that you can keep and enjoy all your old DVDs while beginning to add new, Blu-ray discs to your collection.

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Vizio, whose low-cost, high-definition LCD TVs have become incredibly popular during the economic downturn, has decided to venture into Blu-ray with a budget player, the VBR100.

The VBR100 is a simple, relatively straightforward profile 2.0 Blu-ray disc player. "Profile 2.0" means that it includes 1GB of flash memory and an Ethernet port for Internet connectivity, which allows it to access the "BD Live" special bonus content found on some Blu-ray titles. It's not the flashiest or most versatile device, but for only $188 US it's an excellent way to bring high-definition movies into your living room without spending too much cash. The VBR100 is available exclusively at Wal-Mart, so you won't find this player at any other store, at least until the fall.

Some manufacturers are future-proofing their Blu-ray disc players by integrating an exciting new feature: Internet streaming. Both Samsung and LG offer players that are capable of connecting to Netflix's "Instant Queue," which allows subscribers to stream selected movies over the Internet to be viewed on your high-definition TV. Rather than straining to watch a motion picture on a small computer monitor, you can instead enjoy it on the big screen, without the need for any extra connections or confusing adapters.

The Samsung BD-P1600 ($299) and BD-P3600 ($399) both support Netflix streaming and also allow users to stream Internet radio from Pandora. The LG BD370 ($329) and BD390 ($449) are Netflix-friendly, as well, and throw in support for viewing YouTube videos. Both the BD390 and BD-P3600 have wireless capabilities. This means the players can hook up to your home Internet connection via wi-fi, rather than a thick, unsightly Ethernet cable.

True connoisseurs of home entertainment, those with big-screen home theaters and surround-sound setups perfectly attuned to provide the best possible audio and video fidelity, will be interested in a more robust, high-end Blu-ray player. The Oppo BDP-83 ($499) and Samsung BD-P4600 ($499) are specifically intended for only the most discerning media consumers.

Both players offer not only sterling high-definition Blu-ray playback, but also onboard decoding of advanced audio formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. These players can help harness the full potential of Blu-ray's 7.1 surround sound audio. The BD-P4600 leans more toward mainstream consumers with its support of Netflix and Pandora streaming. It can also access media files located on your computer's hard drive and serve them up to your TV over your home Internet connection. Oppo seeks to captivate audiophiles as well as videophiles, with SACD and DVD-audio playback.

Sharp's thicker TVs loaded with Blu-ray players

Though they do make traditional set-top boxes, Sharp has decided to sidestep the competition by integrating Blu-ray disc players right into their high-definition TVs. Sharp's "BD" series of flat-panel LCD TVs includes the 32-inch LC32BD60U ($999), the 46-inch LC46BD80U ($1,799) and the 52-inch LC52BD80U ($2,099), each of which have full, 1080p HD resolutions and side-loading Blu-ray disc players tucked away inside the body of the television. These TVs are a little thicker than standard LCDs, at a little over five inches in depth, but the space (and headaches) you'll save by combining two devices into one just might be worth it. Keep in mind, though: If either the TV or the Blu-ray player breaks or needs servicing, you'll have to part with both until the problem can be resolved.

With a firmer understanding of the different Blu-ray players out there, it should be clear that the format doesn't have to complicate matters. It can actually be an elegant solution. Blu-ray players can serve as a bridge between your disparate media collections, enhance your old DVDs and allow you to embrace the future of streaming video, be it from the Internet or off of your hard drive. As prices continue to drop and the feature sets become more capable, now is a particularly excellent time to pick up one of these players.