3d tv

[136368]

Well, I've talked to our rental company and it turns out that for the same amount we are paying now, we could have a 3D Plasma screen plus a 3D Blu Ray player and a coupla glasses. I'm dead excited because it would mean I get to watch Avatar in 3D!

My question is this: the official glasses we need - there are 5 of us - cost at least £70 EACH and that's off of eBay! Will the cheapo ones we get at the cinema (say, £10) work just as well? They won't be super designer über comfortable ones, but the maths says it all!

 

[HM]

You rent your TV?

 

[KadysMom]

The movie theater glasses do not work. We got ours on Black Friday and the tv came with 2 free pairs of glasses. SInce we are a family of 3 i have to buy another pair at $150.00 a pop.

 

[bicker]

A few notes to try to put some of this in context.

First, the OP seems to be British, where renting televisions is far more common than in the United States.

Second, as pp mentioned, the kind of glasses that they use in movie theaters are inferior, and totally incompatible, with the latest generation of 3D televisions. They will not work with the television. Movie theaters rely on passive technology, such as stereochromacy (red/blue, perhaps) or polarization. 3D HDTVs use a far superior technology - active matrix shutter glasses.

Third, I'm not sure how it is in the UK, but here in the United States, Avatar in 3D is not available for rental or for sale; it is only available included in a hardware package (specifically - it is only available as part of a Panasonic 3D Starter Bundle). Hopefully that will change this coming Spring.

 

[136368]

Thanks for the info guys! Looks like we're gonna hafta shell out a pretty penny to take advantage of this technology...

Sadly I have come to understand that just as you said, Avatar is not out in 3D yet. Pity. The effects are breathtaking on BluRay and I understand they're even more amazing in 3D (I missed it in the cinemas annoyingly).

 

[bicker]

New news on this this morning: Apparently, Avatar won't be available in 3D except as part of the Panasonic package until at least 2012:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/14/panasonics-avatar-3d-monopoly-runs-into-2012-no-3d-blu-ray-rel/

 

[Golf4food]

New news on this this morning: Apparently, Avatar won't be available in 3D except as part of the Panasonic package until at least 2012:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/14/panasonics-avatar-3d-monopoly-runs-into-2012-no-3d-blu-ray-rel/

Manufacturers are such idiots about this. If they want people to adopt 3D TV then they have to make 3D programming and Bluray's available, but so many are holding back their 3DBlus and only offering them as part of $1,500 packages that the number of 3D Blus on the market is limited and makes it less likely that people will want to make the switch. Stooopid.

 

[bicker]

On the contrary: This is being billed as a major coup for Panasonic - a master stroke. The exclusivity is directing a lot of business to Panasonic that might have otherwise found its way to a cheaper brand.

There is no reason to believe that exclusivity does anything other than help Panasonic, in this context. We're still in the early-adopter period for 3D, and so the whole business model is necessarily and properly predicated on the gotta-have-it factor, rather than on normal, mainstream consumer models. That comes later. Perhaps as late as February 2012.

Indeed, for now, the exclusivity, itself, is of value. It's why a lot of people pay full retail for some new items, even though they know that six months later it'll be available at substantially lower prices.

BTW, the package that includes Avatar 3D is only $300.

 

[136368]

Sux

Ah well, blu ray it is until 2012...

EDIT - apparently I can snaffle one on eBay... For a hefty price!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

There aren't enough 3D BluRay movies available to warrant a purchase right now, so we are waiting. Besides, in another year or two, the price will come down significantly and the technology will have improved. Even if you are a renter, waiting is probably the better plan.

 

[bicker]

I agree. If you're not one of those people who simply must be first, then this is a good time to wait. However, if you're going to purchase a (big screen) HDTV now - a set that you would rather not end up having to decide whether or not to replace after just a few years - then you're well-advised to consider future-proofing your purchase by buying a 3D set. Our 3D set was only 20% more than than the next-model-down (non-3D) set, and 3D was only one of about a dozen extra features and advantages that the set we bought gave us. The prices are probably closer together now.

 

[KadysMom]

I love my 3D Tv, and while there will be some issues that will have to be resolved (not enough blue ray 3D movies) this is the chance we take as early adopters in technology

 

[136368]

This is where renting comes into it's own. If the technology improves, we'll simply upgrade and probably make a saving at qthe same time

 

[bicker]

For folks interested in 3D discs, this is a pretty useful thread:

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/3d-gear-movies/108630-3d-blu-ray-release-schedule.html

It shows the discs that are currently or soon will be available in 3D. Currently there are 35 discs that are, or are scheduled, to be available for sale to the general public (i.e., not exclusive) by the Spring.