Apparently everything we just may have bought is already obsolete...

[Boerd]

I have absolutely no worries whatsoever.

I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D and also in regular 2D.

My wife asked me which one I preferred.

It took me 1 second to answer her: I preferred the 2D Avatar.

Why?

It wasn't because the IMAX 3D was bad. Far from it. It was a COOL experience.

But if there's one thing I can't stand -- it's wearing GLASSES or any other accessories while I'm watching a movie (or listening to music). I can't stand it. It looks NERDY. It feels NERDY. It feels uncomfortable.

In my HT room, I'm lying on my comfy sofa watching my BDs. There is no way I'm lying on my sofa wearing some stupid eye-goggle to watch movies.

3D (& IMAX) to me is just another Been-There-Done-It experience. And now that I've been there, and done it, it is absolutely nothing special at all.

Oh, and my 73" HDTV already has 3D technology. And I won't even spend $1 on any 3D eye-glasses either.

If you're right they're going to have a tough time selling it. Just think how much time it took to the BluRay to take off...

 

[pzaur]

My PJ isn't even 720p and it has a DVI input!

Whoa! Why do your pajamas have a DVI input! Twisted. Very twisted.

-pat

 

[MidnightSensi]

Really? It's like dropping acid? Hmmmm. I may need to look into this 3D stuff.

DJ

Haha, I'm being dramatic, but what I'm trying to describe is that everything in 3D is just too dynamic and over-exaggerated to be a visceral experience.

 

[Halon451]

Haha, I'm being dramatic, but what I'm trying to describe is that everything in 3D is just too dynamic and over-exaggerated to be a visceral experience.

Bah.. in A/V, nothing is over-exaggerated or too dynamic. Just ask ParadigmDawg with his setup.

 

[itschris]

I don't like the way articles written by the uninformed exaggerate or sensationalize these sorts of things. If my neighbor came across the article... he'd be calling me within minutes all pissed that he just spent $2k on an "obsolete" tv and that he should have just waited.

It's really not the innovation that's the downside, it's how it's marketed and reported on.

 

[highfigh]

Here's in interesting quick read on 3D.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/04/high-definition-television-goes-dimensional/?test=latestnews

There's a fine line between constant innovation and causing outright frustration with the buying public. On one hand, I love all this new stuff coming out, but at the same time, it's also extremely frustrating that we spend so much money on gets surpassed in such a short time nowadays. I concerned aboiut a backlash... especially from people who may have somewhat reluctantly finally dove into the HD world with a new flat screen and bd player. I think the average consumer gets put off by all this to a certain degree.

Talk about being conflicted!

So, you're saying you want to be one of the first to buy high-tech equipment? Really? I wouldn't. Let someone else eat the high price at the beginning and deal with un-forseen failures. I did this with the Harmony 1000 and it sucked. My customers hated it, it wasted a buttload of my time and cost me a lot of money that couldn't be billed to the customers because it wasn't their fault. I'll never be in that position again.

Someone has to be the guinea pig but it's not gonna be me. Can't wait forever to buy some things but unless someone just has to have this, I think most of us will be fine with 2D video. I was watching Criminal Minds and was struck by how much more it looked like ENG (Electronic News Gathering) video than regular TV shows.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you're right they're going to have a tough time selling it. Just think how much time it took to the BluRay to take off...

Going from 480p (DVD) to 1080p (BD) was easier.
Going from DD/DTS to TrueHD/DTS-HD also helped BD.

And 3D would be a lot cooler if we didn't have to wear these glasses.

Imagine the acceptance of blu-ray if it had required some silly BD eye glasses!

 

[itschris]

So, you're saying you want to be one of the first to buy high-tech equipment? Really? I wouldn't. Let someone else eat the high price at the beginning and deal with un-forseen failures. I did this with the Harmony 1000 and it sucked. My customers hated it, it wasted a buttload of my time and cost me a lot of money that couldn't be billed to the customers because it wasn't their fault. I'll never be in that position again.

Someone has to be the guinea pig but it's not gonna be me. Can't wait forever to buy some things but unless someone just has to have this, I think most of us will be fine with 2D video. I was watching Criminal Minds and was struck by how much more it looked like ENG (Electronic News Gathering) video than regular TV shows.

No... saying that at all. I wasn't even posting that because I think it applies to me. The point was, and I guess I did a fairly inept job at getting my point across, was that we all benefit from innovation. However, non-enthusiasts get turned off by the notion that the very day they buy something, it's no longer viable. I'm not saying that's entirely true, but it's a common fear a lot of people have. And when you have mainstream sources throwing words like obsolete around, it impacts peoples' enthusiasm... some... who haven't bought anything in awhile may be excited, but others who have made recent purchases who really aren't into the details of HT, get turned off because they feel they've been hosed. It's not even about early adoption as much as it is about new technology. We had DVD really take off in the early 90's... a few years later it was progressive scan... but not much changed for a long while. 16x9 DLPs hit the market at a decent price point and they were pretty much all 720P and touted as Hi-Def... only to find out that a year later, that no... 1080p is really the hi-def tv you need. I think when things change too fast, it hurts a segment of consumer confidence. We've had a nice run in the industry for a several years now with the HD TV's and flat panels and the steady migration to blu-ray. I don't want to see a drop off in consumer interest. I'd just like to see thoughtful technology entering the market that can be built upon and on the wish list would be more informed reporting.

 

[highfigh]

No... saying that at all. I wasn't even posting that because I think it applies to me. The point was, and I guess I did a fairly inept job at getting my point across, was that we all benefit from innovation. However, non-enthusiasts get turned off by the notion that the very day they buy something, it's no longer viable. I'm not saying that's entirely true, but it's a common fear a lot of people have. And when you have mainstream sources throwing words like obsolete around, it impacts peoples' enthusiasm... some... who haven't bought anything in awhile may be excited, but others who have made recent purchases who really aren't into the details of HT, get turned off because they feel they've been hosed.

Oh. I didn't take it that way. However, if people are turned off, it's not for very long. In about '82, consumer electronic industry estimates were that the entire industry's sales amounted to about $8B in '81. The performance/price ratio has increased dramatically and the technology of the average piece of equipment is much higher than it was then. The first CD players sold at list price, for $900 and they couldn't make them as fast as they can now. They also were far more complex, internally. Now, a CD or DVD player often has a large case and lots of air inside or a really small case that makes people wonder if it's any good. The last estimates I read for the consumer electronics industry is for about $15B. Even adjusting for inflation, which hasn't been terrible in the last 28 years, we get more for our money than ever before. Unfortunately, durability isn't necessarily great on a lot of things and that bothers me a lot.

 

[njedpx3]

My Grandmother still has a Zenith Floor console TV from 1973 or 76 not to sure on the year and it still works. They don't make TV's like that anymore either they break in first couple of years or there is something newer and better on the market.

When my aunt died, we inherited her Zenith Console TV. It was in the guest beroom and I just moved it to the small Wood's cabin master bedroom. Don't really plan on using much because no phone, no Internet and can only get 1 or 2 air channels ... weather emergency

Also have a Sony trinaTON that won't die taking up space in the cabin den. It is a huge and very heavy ( aproximately 200 lbs) 36 ". The old Sony CRTs never die.

Peace and Serenity,

Forest Man

P.S. - Being lost in the Forest isn't as bad as one first supposes

 

[njedpx3]

Here's in interesting quick read on 3D.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/04/high-definition-television-goes-dimensional/?test=latestnews

There's a fine line between constant innovation and causing outright frustration with the buying public. On one hand, I love all this new stuff coming out, but at the same time, it's also extremely frustrating that we spend so much money on gets surpassed in such a short time nowadays. I concerned aboiut a backlash... especially from people who may have somewhat reluctantly finally dove into the HD world with a new flat screen and bd player. I think the average consumer gets put off by all this to a certain degree.

Talk about being conflicted!

It's all about the business model cycle:

The Everett Rogers Diffusion of innovations theory - for any given product category, there are five categories of product adopters:
Innovators – venturesome, educated, multiple info sources;
Early adopters – social leaders, popular, educated;
Early majority – deliberate, many informal social contacts;
Late majority – skeptical, traditional, lower socio-economic status;
Laggards – neighbours and friends are main info sources, fear of debt.


"Innovators" pay more, get the goodies first, and sometimes have to bite the bullet when one of the Alpha or Beta version fizzles.

The "Laggards" have 20-20 hindsight, but live in a very desolate world. However, they didn't buy an Edsel, Betamax or HD. ... Most aren't sure stereo or TV will survive ..so they are still holding off.

Chris, as always, good to hear from you

Peace and Serenity,

Forest Man

P.S. - While being an early innovator is usually fun and intriguing, sometimes it can backfire, e.g. Microsoft patches.

P.S.S.- The Yorkshire pudding was absolutely perfect!

 

[PBMax]

HALON I agree. When I first saw HD, I told myself that the only thing left now is to go 3D. And here it comes. But, like Halon say's it will be awhile. Too many people aren't going to dump their new 3-5,000 dollar sets for some time. So there is not much of a market yet.

I always (since the late '80's or ealry 90's) figured the final frontier would be sitting around a cube, probably rectangular in shape (so technically not a cube), watching either movies or sports and being able to move around the "cube" to get a different viewing angle. True 3D which would require no glasses.

So ESPN and Discovery have both announced that they are putting dedicated 3D channels on the air as early as this summer.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/espn-launching-first-3d-television-network.html

 

[Halon451]

I always (since the late '80's or ealry 90's) figured the final frontier would be sitting around a cube, probably rectangular in shape (so technically not a cube), watching either movies or sports and being able to move around the "cube" to get a different viewing angle. True 3D which would require no glasses.

So ESPN and Discovery have both announced that they are putting dedicated 3D channels on the air as early as this summer.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/espn-launching-first-3d-television-network.html

Total immersion is what you speak. I don't necessarily think 3D is the only thing left at this point, but going beyond that into something more approaching total immersion will likely take more than a hundred years - I mean, for now that's outrageous Star Trek type stuff, but who knows what the distant future may bring? Wish I had the ability to come back to life around that time just to check it out!

 

[damnngina15]

Glad I went with the PS3 for BD!!! Now I just have to get an HDMI 1.4 cable. I think I found a good one here.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5571636&SRCCODE=WEBINK&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjCQztBB! mmVCjCECjCE

 

[pzaur]

Glad I went with the PS3 for BD!!! Now I just have to get an HDMI 1.4 cable. I think I found a good one here.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5571636&SRCCODE=WEBINK&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjCQztBB! mmVCjCECjCE

And your current cables will probably do just fine...

-pat

 

[damnngina15]

Just watching Sports Center and they just said that their first 3D broadcast will be the 2010 World Cup and with 85 more sports events to be displayed in 3D before the end of the year!!!

 

[Smigletat]

Eh, I wouldn't worry too much. I think the article deliberately overstates the "obsolete" connotation presumably for better dramatic impact, but in reality any flat panel 1080p display and BD player is still at the forefront of what is considered mass produced technology these days. This excludes technology that is currently under development, those that maybe have a few demonstration models out (at trade shows for example), etc. The LED displays are out now, but really they're just another interpretation of sorts on technology that already exists. BD players continue to go up in quality and down in price, but that's been the case for years with technology and anyone of us could have seen it. Also, anyone who's been paying attention to this stuff can probably surmise that at some point the industry is going to come together to push new 3D formats as they figure out better, cheaper and more efficient ways of doing it. Personally I don't think that's going to happen for some time, but I could be wrong.

One of the main reasons I think that the LED TV's have revolutionized into what they are, is obviously compactibility but the fact that everyone is going GREEN these days-Nothing wrong with that-and the led is by far a lot more efficient that the Plasma or LCD. Next time you are even close to your Plasma or LCD tv arch your head over the back of it and feel the heat that is generated from these tv's! A lot of used electricity that is going out the window! The led is being led to be more than 76% more efficient that these leading models.

 

[Halon451]

One of the main reasons I think that the LED TV's have revolutionized into what they are, is obviously compactibility but the fact that everyone is going GREEN these days-Nothing wrong with that-and the led is by far a lot more efficient that the Plasma or LCD. Next time you are even close to your Plasma or LCD tv arch your head over the back of it and feel the heat that is generated from these tv's! A lot of used electricity that is going out the window! The led is being led to be more than 76% more efficient that these leading models.

Good point, but not really addressing the actual topic. As cool and fresh as LED technology is (with respect to consumer grade televisions - LED displays have been around for years already in other forms), I personally don't feel that it has "revolutionized" anything. All they have done is brought existing LED display technology to the market of home use flat screen TV's. Subjectively, some may debate on image quality, sharpness, black levels, all the meat and potatoes of what makes a good display; inarguably nobody can refute your claim that they are more efficient by a long shot, that's just plain science - but it's still the same old ball game with a brand new bat to choose from the pile.

For the record, I own a plasma TV (I'm "old school" like that), and sit about 10 feet away from the screen. The heat doesn't bother me.