There are lots of products hitting the market now from TV's for your home, to computers to hand-held devices. 3-D costs more. Is it worth it?
Watching 3-D TV isn't just about sports or movies. More and more 3-D video games are coming out. At Consumer Reports' labs, the games are creating quite a buzz. Video games are just one of many 3-D products now on the market. There are also 3-D laptops. But, Consumer Reports tests on an Acer laptop showed that the 3-D effects aren't very exciting and the viewing angle is limited.
But, Consumer Reports' Terry Sullivan says that one 3-D point-and-shoot camera is more promising. The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 camera is pricey at $600, but it shoots 3-D photos and videos.
"It's really cool that you can watch 3-D video on this camera without needing to wear special glasses, but you have to shoot it horizontally, not vertically," he says.
However, take a pass on the camera's $500 3-D digital frame. Tester Rich Fisco saw double images and experienced eyestrain. And, what about those latest 3-D TVs being tested at Consumer Reports? They include a 63-inch plasma from Samsung and a 40-inch Sony LCD. Testers are still finding BIG differences in performance.
"So far, we're finding that plasma is a better technology for 3D and when it comes to screen size, bigger is definitely better for 3-D's immersive experience with movies and video games," Jim Willcox says.
If you're looking to buy a high-end TV right now, go ahead and get one that's 3-D. Top-rated are the Panasonic VT-20 and VT-25 series, which start at about $2,500. But, there are other expenses like additional glasses, which cost more than $100 each and you'll need a 3-D Blu-Ray player for movies. Those run $200 to $400.
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