Rich Jaroslovsky has some tips for joining the 3-D TV revolution
Ready or not, 3D television is coming. The first sets, from Samsung and Panasonic, are showing up in US stores, and the trickle is about to turn into a flood as Sony, LG, Vizio and others join the fray in coming months.
Even with 3D's success in theatres - Avatar has raked in more than US$1 billion ($1.4 billion) - it will be a while before we know whether it turns out to be must-have technology in the home, or just the latest high-tech fad.
But on behalf of those with more curiosity than common sense, I went to an electronics store in New York to figure out some of the right questions to ask when you hit the stores yourself.
Do I have to wear the glasses?
Yes, whenever you watch 3-D content; images will be blurry and unwatchable without the specs. Not only that, you can only use glasses made for your particular brand. The sets work by sending signals that control shutters in the glasses, and there isn't yet an industry standard for how they communicate with each other.
How big a screen do I want?
You don't want to sit too close. A decent rule of thumb is the screen's diagonal measurement should be about one-third the distance from which you'll view the set - say, a 50-inch screen if you'll be sitting about 3.6m away.
The optimal viewing angle seems to be no more than 50 degrees off dead centre.
What kind of screen is best?
In my storekeeper's opinion, plasma, which has been losing ground in the hi-def marketplace to lighter, less-expensive liquid-crystal displays, yields a better 3D experience. He says that with LCD screens you should pay special attention to the refresh rate, the speed with which an image is redrawn. He recommends a rate of at least 240 hertz to keep the picture as sharp as possible even when there's fast action on the screen.
What will I watch?
Make sure you like the set's picture for 2D content, because for the near future there won't be much else to use your set for. ESPN plans to launch a 3D sports service that will include coverage of the soccer World Cup, starting in June. Discovery Communications is working with Sony and Imax, on a 3D channel, too. You'll almost certainly want one of the new generation of 3D Blu-ray players; you won't have to buy the same brand of player as your TV.
How much will it cost?
Oh, lots. My store is selling a 55-inch Samsung set with a starter kit that includes two pairs of glasses and a 3D Blu-ray copy of DreamWorks Animation's Monsters vs. Aliens for US$2969 ($4178.07). That's about double the cost of a comparable 2D set. A Blu-ray player may be a further US$250 to US$400. For extra glasses, figure US$150 to US$200 a pair. You may even need new HDMI cables to connect various components; 3D requires cables labelled either 1.4, or 1.3 high-speed.
Will it make me sick?
Samsung has warned of possible side-effects, including seizures or strokes, and pregnant women, children and teenagers should be especially careful. Some users may experience headaches or nausea, though that may be as likely to come from the cost and complexity as from the technology.
The smartest thing you can do is to wait and see how the industry's enormous 3D push plays out. The second-smartest thing: Make sure your store has a decent return policy.
- BLOOMBERG
