3D TV - should I wait is it worth it ?

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xlinknz

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#112977 30-Dec-2012 23:32

I started looking at replacing the 29" CRT

and came to the conclusion I don't need [or want] a 3D TV but it appears that if one wants a 'smart' TV i.e. Internet goodness, WiFi, recording to USB etc that I cannot avoid 3D !

My conclusion is that there is too little 3D content and then there is the additional cost of the eyewear, I would almost say it is a marketing device lol

Can anyone comment of their own 3D TV experiences or thoughts ?

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#738758 31-Dec-2012 01:47

There is a school of thought that suggests that 3D is just a passing phase and soon all the TV makers and broadcasters will be pushing 4k TV and eventually 8k TV.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9774380.stm

#include <standard.disclaimer>

MikeB4

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#738761 31-Dec-2012 06:30

3d is just part of the feature set of most TV's if you are buying a quality set it will have 3d capability however you don't have to use it.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

driller2000

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#738765 31-Dec-2012 07:23

yeah what the guy above me said

i wanted a big, quality tv - just so happens it has 3d - its a nice enough feature, but i rarely use it.....however its 2d efforts are great

smart tv features are getting better - but still aren't (yet) a substitute for a dedicated pc imho - which is why i use my htpc instead for on demand viewing / browsing / fb etc

so i suggest you focus on the features you want and if there are other features added in - well i guess they are a "bonus"

sbiddle

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#738774 31-Dec-2012 08:38

I for one wouldn't even focus on that as a feature. Every high end set features it so you're not really paying any more for it. The biggest decision you really need to make is what your budget is - is it $688 for a 50" Panasonic Plasma for $3k for something bigger and better?

Kiwipixter

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#738795 31-Dec-2012 09:54

Also don't forget you'll need a 3D source, at the moment blu-ray is the main source, so you'll need a 3D bluray player. Lastly, i'll stick to the major brands, like Samsung and Sony.

JimmyH

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#738804 31-Dec-2012 10:19

You just need to think carefully about what you are realistically going to use it for and make sure it covers those bases. If you have a choice don't pay a big premium for features you don't want, or are unlikely to use much, but don't worry too much if it has features you won't use.

Remembering that the principal purpose of a TV is to le you watch video with sound, think about:

1. What's the picture quality like? (this is key in my mind, everything else is secondary to this, if the picture is rubbish then the overall unit is severely compromised and any other "features" it has are pointless)
2. Is the sound quality OK, or do you need/plan to connect it to an external amp & speakers?
3. What devices are you likely to plug in, and does it have enough inputs of the right type to connect them?
4. Is paying a premium for a smart TV worth it as as opposed to, say, spending the money on an external recording solution and/or a media player that may have more features, such as twin tuners, DLNA serving and burning disks, and allowing modular upgradeability?
5. Are you really going to use the TV to surf the internet (and, if not, why do you need WiFi)?

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stocksp

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#738811 31-Dec-2012 10:28

You would need wifi even if you are not going to surf the net if you want to consume DLNZ served content off a media server (which we do all the time).

#D - we never use it, in fact I have taken to actively avoiding getting 3d movies.

Dunnersfella

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#738820 31-Dec-2012 10:46

Samsung's have the TVNZ OnDemand App (and it's SD bleeeurgh) but the mouse AND keyboard support is a real bonus.
LG feature Plex support as well as pretty good DLNA support. Their lack of mouse support is annoying, but the Magic Remote is surpisingly useful.
Panasonic's codec support isn't as far ranging, but it seems to crash less than Samsung's efforts... some signs of progress are appearing in their approach (a semi-decent Trademe app) but the lack of mouse support and a dated GUI count against them.
Sony's interweb efforts are in desperate need of a touch up.

B1GGLZ

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#738822 31-Dec-2012 10:58

I've had my 3D TV for nearly 2 years now. Had to buy a 3D player to play 3D discs and Glasses to watch.
I think I've watched only 3 or 4 movies in that time.
Not worth the effort and expense.
Most new good quality TVs these days are 3D capable anyway whether you want it or not.
Recently upgraded to latest Panasonic Freeview Blu Ray Recorder and it's 3D capable plus built in Wi Fi. Seems to be the way manufacturers are going now. And the price was about 1/2 what I paid for my original Sony DVD recorder about 7 years ago.

Klipspringer

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#738826 31-Dec-2012 11:05

Dunnersfella:
Sony's interweb efforts are in desperate need of a touch up.

Cant say I agree.
We use Skype, netflix, Hulu+ and Pandora. All work exceptionally well. Even used quickflix and found it worked really well too. As for DLNA support, never had an issue.

Although have never used or even tried the twitter/facebook apps. But to me a TV is for watching video. Dont see the point of browsing facebook/news sites and trademe on my living room TV.

Batman

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#738832 31-Dec-2012 11:30

Question is, do all the fancy pants features work on your model?

I know some models have many features non of which were usable by a normal human being

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#738835 31-Dec-2012 11:40

Dunnersfella: Samsung's have the TVNZ OnDemand App (and it's SD bleeeurgh) but the mouse AND keyboard support is a real bonus.
LG feature Plex support as well as pretty good DLNA support. Their lack of mouse support is annoying, but the Magic Remote is surpisingly useful.
Panasonic's codec support isn't as far ranging, but it seems to crash less than Samsung's efforts... some signs of progress are appearing in their approach (a semi-decent Trademe app) but the lack of mouse support and a dated GUI count against them.
Sony's interweb efforts are in desperate need of a touch up.

Samsung has plex as well which works extremely well. Tv3 on demand works sort of in the browser although it runs off centre which is annoying.

networkn

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#739000 31-Dec-2012 21:44

CES 2013 should give an indication. Keep an Eye on Engadget and similar sites. Whatever is presented there is a reasonable indication on what the next 12 months will bring to retailers here.

xlinknz

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#739013 31-Dec-2012 22:32

Thank you all for your replies

Yes I came to the conclusion whatever I buy if its over $1K will almost certainly have 3D in some form so its unavoidable. As many of you said I don't have to use it

Good points made too about using the TV as a browser for me it will be a device to watch TV and some content

My basic criteria really is as follows:

- 55" or bigger
- HD [1080p]
- The ability to record to USB - many name brands don't seem to support this but basically I need something my wife can use to record TV and we don't have a HD recorder. That said maybe I could just buy a DVB-T USB stick for my PC [that said I suspect my N550 Netbook will struggle to record DVD-T H.264?]
- Something that is good in bright light [my understanding is budget plasma are not good in that respect]

sbiddle: I for one wouldn't even focus on that as a feature. Every high end set features it so you're not really paying any more for it. The biggest decision you really need to make is what your budget is - is it $688 for a 50" Panasonic Plasma for $3k for something bigger and better?

Agreed - Well it is now very tempting to minimise investment than paying for 'features' that that will get negliable use, that said any 50" under $1000 will be 720p. I definateky don't want to spend more than $2K, hopefully less than $1500...

networkn

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#739014 31-Dec-2012 22:43

There is a reason that name brand gear doesn't support recording to USB esp not in HD, and that is that a dedicated device will do it better, cheaper and with more flexibility.

Most TV's this day have pretty good contrast ratio's.

I don't think you could look past the Sony EX720 55"

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