Is 3D TV worth it?
It seemed like my wife and I had just fixed everything in our ‘state-of-the-art living room home entertainment center’ (as I like to call it). We had just finished downloading and installing the firmware updates that would allow the HDMI output of our Blu-ray player to communicate with the rest of the system. We had just made peace with long Blu-ray load times. We had fought and won the battle to place our surround speakers behind the sofa and our subwoofer next to the potted plant. We had just made a nice sandwich with all the garnishes (ham and Swiss cheese with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise for me, a Reuben classic for her). The lights were low, the kids were out of the house, and it was Blu-ray time.
And then, like a phone call from his annoying aunt on Long Island, came the shocking news: there’s a new Blu-ray format! Oh for the love of – hit the sandwich! Turn off the lights! We are obsolete! You better start covering up the TV from the wall.
Yes, 3D Blu-ray is here, and there is no amount of “But I just bought X and Y!” will change that. The drum beat for 3D was already strong, but once it became clear that James Cameron’s story about the blue Native American giants from another galaxy would make more money than Uruguay’s gross national product, it became a solid inevitability as a stone. And, of course, there are plenty of armies of young people used to seeing Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers there in glorious 3D at the theater. If you deny them that same experience at home, they will text you to death.
Perhaps the most important question to ask before upgrading is: “How dumb are those sunglasses, anyway?” Do you remember the dumbest kid from elementary school? The one who picked his nose until it bled and then swallowed it all? Do you remember his glasses? Now multiply the stupidity 10 times. 3D glasses are that dumb. The only other battery-operated glasses you are likely to see are the front-end wiper-jaw ones. But it is simply an unavoidable responsibility, the price we must pay to be on the cutting edge of technology. Have you read any 3D TV reviews? Everyone mentions glasses because they are impossible to ignore. And yet, if you see LeBron James hitting a game winner in 3D from the comfort of your couch, you’ll deal with them. Trust me.
Another question to ponder: “Is it 3D for me?” Good question. Tests have shown that while the vast majority enjoy 3D television, some only want the experience once in a while. But more importantly, 3D developers have found that youngsters love it, while older people think the colors are too rich and immersive. Young people who love something equals something moving forward in the economy. Sorry veterans.
Regardless, chances are, if you’ve gotten this far in the article, it’s the majority of those who want the 3D home theater experience. Also, if you’ve gotten this far, you’re probably saying “Okay, okay, you sold me … but do I really have the money?” Read any 3D TV review and it’s hard not to ignore the price of the next big thing in technology. The ‘next big thing in technology’ is often expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to pay for. So yes, you have to buy a new TV. But what if I told you that you can watch Monsters and Aliens in 3D while in your underwear? “I’m listening.” you say. And how soon will you be able to play 3D video games and view 3D photos on your TV? “Done and done!” you scream, reaching for your credit card.
Can we put up with it, just curl up with our normal old Blu-ray and wait until the next format hits town? Sadly not. Time to put down the sandwich, send the old TV to your aunt on Long Island, and start shopping. Because, as hard as it is to believe, after 3D, the next new format could be a long way off.
