Why buy a 3D TV?

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20164 posts

Uber Geek

#966403 13-Jan-2014 19:22

Buzz Bumble: I doubt 3D TV nor 4K TV will ever be a big thing. These days everything moves so fast that by the time TV show makers are starting to even think about using 4K, the TV set makers will already be trying to sell 10K, or 40K, ... or holographic TVs.

4k as a tv may not be big for a while, until they are affordable, however 4k for computer screens maybe. Instead of having multiple monitors, you can have like a computer monitor wall, with multiple windows open at the same time, great for productivity. A curved screen will help with this

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#966406 13-Jan-2014 19:30

Some counter points -
1: 3D glasses don't have to cost much, passive glasses are $1 at Hoyts if need be... or, if you need, there's often x 4 in the box.
2: TV's need a better processor on board to handle 3D playback. Last year you could compare the Panasonic U series plasma with the UT's... and the motion handling difference was miles apart, in favour of the UT.
3: 3D is not going anywhere, its been around for what, 100 years now? From here on in it'll be a 'added feature', with the only TV's not to feature it being sub 50Hz dungers. I never wanted Teletext, but it was an 'added feature' of my TV... but it didn't cost a considerable amount to add to my TV.
4: The cost difference between TV's is seldom that it does 3D. Normally, it's ONE of the differences, for instance, the number of USB's / HDMI's increases + refresh rate increases + contrast improves + bezel size reduces blah blah.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#966407 13-Jan-2014 19:32

We've got a passive 3D tv. LG. Animated movies are awesome! It came with 4 pairs of glasses... another 4 pair are like $30.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#966492 13-Jan-2014 22:03

3D is a gimmick. The sooner it dies the better.

4K is also a gimmick unless you have a HUGE TV to be able to notice the difference during general viewing. It's like watching 1080p on a 32" TV, the jump from 720p isn't much of a big deal at normal viewing distances.

They need to come up something new to try & shift new screens, but for anyone buying a new set in 3-4 years time, they'll probably mostly all be 4K anyway just as pretty much anything you buy now is 3D capable even if it's not something you care about.

@KnightNZ

StarBlazer

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#966557 14-Jan-2014 08:30

I suspect that we will be seeing some cheap 3D screens on the market soon as they build the hype over the 4K screens and want to sell off older stock.

Personally I've never been interested in 3D at home. I enjoy it at the cinema but wearing two pairs of glasses is a pain so I can't imagine being sat at home watching normal tv with them on!

Procrastination eventually pays off.

Davoid

142 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#966574 14-Jan-2014 08:47

I bought a new Panasonic 55" 3D LED tv last year, and have to say I quite like watching movies in 3D, some movies a are better at showing off the 3D content than others. One of the best I have watched in 3D was G I Joe Retaliation, the ninjas on the cliff scene was very well done. Most of the 3D movies I have bought have only been about $5 more than the 2D version, or I wait untill they show up in the bargain bins or on sale.
The tv was on special when I purchased so went away happy, and am very happy with it.

ruben999

24 posts

Geek

#966585 14-Jan-2014 09:04

Thanks very much everyone, I think the consensus is clear.

Its true the price of 3D TV is already marginal vs their equal 2D versions:
2D Samsung UA50F5500 $1500-1700
3D Samsung UA50F6400 $1700-2000
(pricespy.co.nz)

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Buzz Bumble

332 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#966596 14-Jan-2014 09:24

mattwnz:
you can have like a computer monitor wall, with multiple windows open at the same time, great for productivity.

You don't need multiple displays nor 4K for that ... I've been doing that since the days of the original Macintosh. :)

tehgerbil

1102 posts

Uber Geek

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Subscriber

#966637 14-Jan-2014 10:15

ruben999: Thanks very much everyone, I think the consensus is clear.

Its true the price of 3D TV is already marginal vs their equal 2D versions:
2D Samsung UA50F5500 $1500-1700
3D Samsung UA50F6400 $1700-2000
(pricespy.co.nz)

Hm, I see what a few people have been saying,

You do get..
5500: 6400:
3x -4x HDMI
2x -3x USB Slots
Built in WIFI

If you intend on using the built in Apps (like TVNZ on demand) or using the TV to play content from a compatable uPNP player (like a Samsung cellphone) having built in WIFI is actually quite a mint feature.

Plus the ability to plug in an extra HDMI device and USB device are again (Perhaps for power users with a lot of peripherals especially) worth an extra 100 or so dollars.

SepticSceptic

2191 posts

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#966756 14-Jan-2014 12:46

Curved TV Screens are the next "Big Thing" to separate our $$'s from our wallets :-)

So a 4K, 3D Curved Smart TV would be the penultimate ?

ruben999

24 posts

Geek

#966771 14-Jan-2014 13:18

Buzz Bumble:
mattwnz:
you can have like a computer monitor wall, with multiple windows open at the same time, great for productivity.

You don't need multiple displays nor 4K for that ... I've been doing that since the days of the original Macintosh. :)

Dont you bring up that sh*t in my forum..... you mean Windows 3.1 :)

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#966776 14-Jan-2014 13:28

4k seems like a bit of a gimick to me - I am sure it looks superb given the right content and setting, but most people have something like a 50" TV and not a lot more space for anything larger.
Given you sit several metres away from it you wont see the individual pixels anyway so is it going to make a big difference.

Broadcasters arent going to be too keen as they have to buy a lot more bandwidth to transmit the picture - they would sooner squeeze in more channels.

I assume blu-ray could store enough data for a 4k movie?
Do blu-rays support 4k output yet?

Unfortunately the electronics industry always has to try and push for the 'next big thing' to keep people buying - so its not likely to ever stop.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Jaxson

8042 posts

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#966809 14-Jan-2014 13:59

3D on a TV/movie screen is an interesting concept. For all time, the focus point and the depth of field have been linked. With 3d you're required to focus constantly at one point (the TV screen), and then your eyes are being fed different images to simulate depth of field. That's a massive fundamental change from 'real life' and some people just can't do that for whatever reason.

If it works it can be pretty cool but to me it's a gimmick. I've honestly never seen a movie where it didn't seem really dim during the 3D version of it. I don't like it and as someone who wears glasses it just bugs the out of me.

4K on the other hand seems massively sensible to me. To date we've been stuck with HD as the max consumer resolution and the larger the screen gets, the larger the pixel size does. For it to seem the same you have to keep moving backwards from the larger screen, which ultimately creates the same viewing angle. 4K simply allows you to keep the same pixel size/density as HD when you increase the physical screen size. I've seen some in the stores and they look awesome compared to larger full HD flat panels, which look blurry/SD by comparison.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

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#966820 14-Jan-2014 14:12

SepticSceptic: Curved TV Screens are the next "Big Thing" to separate our $$'s from our wallets :-)

So a 4K, 3D Curved Smart TV would be the penultimate ?

That's kinda amusing. Remember the very old CRT TVs? They had curved screens (convex) and now the latest idea is to go back to curved (concave in this case).

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#967209 14-Jan-2014 23:17

SepticSceptic: Curved TV Screens are the next "Big Thing" to separate our $$'s from our wallets :-)

So a 4K, 3D Curved Smart TV would be the penultimate ?

It truly is the worst concept...
I genuinely don't want to see a TV where letter boxing on 21:9 footage creates the 'happy face / sad face' scenario if you're sitting off-axis.
The company who brings out the first OLED that's ultra HD, with a flat screen would be worth looking at IMHO. If it lasts a descent amount of time that is.

Also, saying that ultra HD is a waste of time because broadcasters won't spend the money is short sighted IMHO.
Heck, some people said that streaming content would never be popular due to NZ's lack of infrastructure.
Well guess what, over time the market moves to fit in with trends (all-be-it slowly) and we're going to see things move in the right direction.
My bet, is broadcast TV may never get to ultra HD levels, but, we won't be consuming our entertainment through UHF aerials / sat. dishes by that point anyway... content will be delivered on-line, and only collectors / movie buffs will be buying the physical discs. A little bit like the current trend in music circles... most people download / share low quality files, while the audio folk buy vinyl / high definition downloads.

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