While console gamers won't have the option of stepping up to the world of Blu-ray gaming until the PS3 launches in November, PC players on the bleeding edge of technology can already equip their desktops with Blu-ray optical drives. Boutique gaming PC manufacturer Alienware is now taking orders for Blu-ray-equipped versions of two of its high-end desktops, the Aurora 7500 and the Aurora ALX.
Replacing the default DVD drive on either of those models with a 2x Blu-ray reader/writer drive adds $999 to the final price tag, with the least expensive possible full setup (including monitor) going for $3,099. The company is also offering a handful of blank Blu-ray discs, but don't expect them to sold in spindles anytime soon. Individual discs run from $20 for a 25GB disc that can be written once to $50 for a 50GB rewritable disc.