3D Technology

I don't get it. I just don't see what the hype is with 3D? I've seen a couple of movies, and the 3D effects distracted me from the movie. Not to mention the glasses were very annoying, and strained my eyes after about an hour.

Here's the thing though, I love new tech. I think it's great. If you read this blog you know I write about it frequently. If I was a bajillionaire, I would probably buy every new tech that came to market on day one. I realize I'm just one person with my own needs and wants, but I feel like 3D technology would/should be targeted towards people that share my sentiment. Besides my above mentioned dissatisfactions, to go all out 3D would require you not only to buy a new TV (starting around $1,500), but also a 3D capable Blu-ray DVD player (about $200 bucks), and the content to watch. That's a lot of money. Considering for only about $700 you can get a very nice 1080p HD TV, spending an additional $1,000 for 3D is a tough pill to swallow. And remember, these are the minimums you'll have to spend.

Also, there has been talk of content; sports, TV shows, video games, etc. But so far, there is very little offered. I mean, it's still not a common standard to broadcast everything in 1080p HD, let alone 3D. Then on top of all of this, you have the potential major problem of not having enough glasses for your friends. If you don't wear the glasses, you can't see 3D. Brand-name glasses run about $150 bucks. Each. Oh, did I mention your glasses might not work with your friends 3D TV of a different brand? Yikes. And now, all the major players are trying to release 3D cameras, video cameras, and gaming systems! Give me a break.

3D could be great. But it's just not there yet. As a tech fan, it seems like a big gimmick at this point. Maybe in five or ten years it will be common place, just like ten years ago not many people were toting smartphones; now everyone seems to have one. We're actually considering a new TV purchase in the next six to 12 months, and 3D isn't even on our radar. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this push for 3D everything turns out to be a giant flop. The technology just isn't polished enough, in my opinion. As soon as you can watch it without glasses, there's a legitimate stream of content, and the price comes down; I'll reconsider. Until then, I'm not buying.

Sources: Best Buy, Wikipedia