There are seemingly endless ways to watch and record your favourite programmes, enjoy movies, view your pictures and play MP3s at home. Sainsbury's has all the latest models, stacked with features to bring you the best quality with the least hassle - whatever your budget.

Would you prefer a DVD player or a Blu-ray player? Read on to help you choose.

DVD players are usually marked DVD±R or DVD±RW compatible.

DVD-R (write): will automatically find free space on the DVD and record to it. Once done, the information can't be changed and the disc can only be played in DVD-R and DVD-RW compatible machines.

DVD-RW (rewrite): as above, but the information can be erased and recorded indefinitely, although the disc can only be played in DVD-R and DVD-RW compatible machines.

DVD+R (write): when you hit record the machine won't look for a blank space, but will record from the point the disc is at - like a VHS tape. Navigation through the disc's contents is via a menu with a thumbnail picture representing each recorded section. This format is compatible with most existing DVD players, but is not re-writable.

DVD+RW (rewrite): like a DVD+R, with the benefit of re-recording up to 1,000 times.

DVD-RAM: the information on these discs can be erased and re-recorded many more times than DVD-RW and DVD+RW. You can start watching a programme that's being recorded, pause live TV and watch one programme while recording another. Anything recorded will need to be played back on a DVD-RAM compatible player.

Blu-ray: a high-definition format that you'll need to view on a high definition TV to fully appreciate. Blu-ray discs have much greater storage capacity, so they can hold a film in much greater quality, although there are currently no consumer machines with a Blu-ray record facility.

HDMI up-scaling: sometimes referred to just as ‘up-scaling'. The product's chip converts lower resolution input to a higher resolution HD Ready TV, via an HDMI cable.

Progressive scan: gives a more natural picture, with each frame of the picture shown completely. This is in contrast to interlaced scan, where half the picture is shown in one frame and half in the next - although with around 60 frames a second, you're unlikely to notice the difference on small screens. Both methods are used to display HD pictures, which have 1080 lines of resolution. The ‘p' or ‘i' after the figure 1080 shows which method is used.

See our TV guide for a fuller high definition explanation.

CD-R and CD-RW compatible playback: plays CDs on your DVD player and listen to the music through your TV. If you've got a home cinema set up, the music will play through this too.

Digital tuner: lets you view and record digital TV - essential when the analogue signal gets switched off in your area.