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If there’s new TVs or coffee makers, Consumer Reports will test them out. That’s the case with the new Samsung and Panasonic 3D TVs and the company just posted a early hands-on look that actually reveals some differences. It’s totally worth your time even if you don’t plan on jumping on the 3D bandwagon this early on.
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Samsung will soon have a bit of competition in Best Buy’s 3D TV department. A $2,899 Panasonic VT20 plasma, Blu-ray player and 3D glasses bundle will go on sale tomorrow expect not all Best Buy stores. It’s a Magnolia exclusive. What’s strange is that the $3,299 55-inch Samsung 3D is in stock most Best Buy locations, including the none-Magnolia stores. It’s not clear whether Best Buy or Panasonic decided that the product should be an exclusive. Perhaps the model will roll out to the entire chain, but that’s not been announced as of yet. VT20 plasma, however, is just Best Buy exclusive model and is the same thing as the VT25 that will be available in other retail outlets in the same bundle package and separate.
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You might want to take a different approach when shopping for a 3D TV than a standard HDTV. Instead of just looking at the picture quality, you should also take a serious look at the brand’s 3D glasses. Some show some clear advantages to purchase that brand’s 3D TV and until there’s a standard format for 3D glasses, each brand requires its own unique glasses, thereby locking you into that manufacturer’s products. Yeah, it’s a bit messy right now. Click through for details on all of them. Samsung There are three different models currently available. $150 gets you the SSG-2100AB with a user-replaceable battery, while the $200 set is rechargeable. (SSG-2200AR) There is a rechargeable pair for children priced at $180. ( SSG-2200KR ) Samsung 3D TVs come bundled with two glasses and a 3D Blu-ray movie. Sony Sony hasn’t official announced its US 3D TV accessories, but it’s probably safe to say that the Japanese-market versions will be available here, too. The standard size TDG-BR100 gray model, along with the smaller blue and pink TDG-BR50 glasses will sell for 12,000 yen in Japan. That translates to $132 USD. The glasses also require the TMR-BR100 IR emitter, too. (5,000 yen, $55 USD) Only the LX900, which retails for 290,000 yen or $3,204 USD, comes with glasses — two, in fact. Panasonic The Panasonic TY-EW3D10U glasses clearly win the “most radical” award. Each Panasonic 3D TV comes with a set and they retail for $149.99. Nvidia 3D content can also be seen on computers with the right gear from Nvidia. The $199 Nvidia 3D Vision kit includes one pair of glasses, IR emitter, and connection cables. Additional glasses can be purchased for $149 each. Keep in mind, though, that a 3D-ready monitor/projector, GPU, and operating system like Vista or Win7 is also required.
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3D TVs are coming whether we want them to or not. TV makers and content providers aren’t testing the water – they’re jumping head-first and pulling consumers in, too. But like high definition a few years back, early adaptors will be forced to pay a high premium and suffer through a format war of sort before it really catches on. Take a look at Sony’s just-announced 3D lineup: The company announced eight 3D BRAVIA TVs for the Japanese market along with a set of necessary 3D accessories, which will compete against Panasonic and Samsung sets when they all eventually hit the market in the coming months. Nevermind that the US models might be slightly different. Let’s talk about the multiple steps needed to watch 3D content on your brand new 3D TV. First you have to get a 3D TV. That much is obvious and you’ll have a few options to choose from. Sears is already taking pre-orders for Samsung models and Best Buy is kicking off 3D TV with Panasonic this morning. At this point we really don’t know which brand or model is better, so let’s assume they are all nearly the same and go with the new Sony’s for the sake of moving forward. So you have your new Sony 3D TV. Good for you. But you might have noticed that your brand new TV didn’t come with 3D glasses. Those cost extra — $140 in Japan. At least they will be available in gray, blue, and pink. But you’re still not done. You’ll need to buy the $60 3D “synchro transmitter” that ensures the glasses stay synced with the TV. But you still can’t watch 3D content because there isn’t any right now. A few 3D Blu-ray movies are scheduled to come out this summer, but you’ll need a special Blu-ray player to watch them. Sony just started sell a few, but they can’t output the 3D content until they receive firmware that’s supposed to be out in a couple of months. It’s true that ESPN and Discovery announced that they both plan on launching a 3D TV station. ESPN will start broadcasting only special events like the World Cup this summer. Discovery 3D should be on the air sometime in 2011. But it’s up to your cable or satellite provider to get you the station. This is a hot mess, right? It gets worse, pal. Let’s say you jump in and spend the cash on a nice Sony 3D setup, complete with the Blu-ray player and pink glasses. Those same 3D glasses will not work on your buddies Samsung 3D TV or with your NVIDIA 3D Vision computer setup. You’re stuck watching the World Cup alone because each brand of 3D TV requires its own 3D glasses. There is no denying that 3D is here to stay. It’s the only viable option manufacturers have to get consumers to upgrade from their just-purchased HDTV. But it might be wise to sit on the sidelines for the first couple of rounds until the TV makers get some standards hammered out. You just saw Avatar in 3D anyway and soccer is probably just as boring in 3D as it is is in 2D.
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Get ready, the 3D revolution will be televised. Sears has started offering pre-order pricing on Samsung’s 3D televisions, with some models expected to be available in stores later this month. Sears is also starting to advertise a Blu-ray player with 3D glasses as well. Initially, the only televisions available will be the 46 inch and 55 inch versions, with the 46 inch priced at $2,600 and the 55 inch at $3,300. Sears also plans on providing education to shoppers via their online presence and in stores. Apparently there are a few misconceptions out there regarding how 3D television works and that 3D televisions are going to be expensive. However they are doing it, this could be a big win for Sears and Samsung if they can leverage the public consciousness into associating them with the new 3D technology. [via TWICE ]
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