Propelled by the success of Avatar and other 3-D films, a steady stream of consumer 3-D gadgets has launched over the past year. Experts, however, warn that 3-D technologies vary by device, and not all are ready for mainstream use. Read on for a rundown of what works and what doesn't when it comes to 3-D.
Televisions
Pros: Plenty of choice, big brand support
Cons: Lack of 3-D content, high price
Available products: Multiple models from LG, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and others
Game Consoles
Pros: Gaming well-suited to 3-D
Cons: Requires a 3-D TV and 3-D glasses to play
Available products: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3-DS (February/March 2011)
Blu-ray Players
Pros: Main way to view 3-D DVDs on TVs
Cons: Gamers may prefer multipurpose consoles like Sony's PS3
Available products: Multiple models from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp and others
Desktop PCs
Pros: Ideal for 3-D gaming, due to processing power and display size
Cons: More expensive than regular PCs
Available products: Multiple models from Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, MSI, NEC, Toshiba and others.
Notebooks and Netbooks
Pros: Portable way to enjoy 3-D games
Cons: Desktop PCs better suited to 3-D gaming
Available products: Multiple models from Acer, Asus,Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Toshiba and others.
Glasses
Pros: A necessity for viewing 3-D on any large device; some models compatible with multiple TV manufacturers
Cons: Price: $100-$150 a pair; (dis)comfort factor
Available products: Multiple models from Oakley, Vuzix, Xpand and others.
Cameras
Pros: Novelty
Cons: 3-D photos only viewable on the camera or on a 3-D TV
Available products: Fujifilm FinePix REAL 3-D W3, Sony Cybershot TX9
Camcorders
Pros: Novelty
Cons: Limited ways to view the 3-D video produced; pricier than regular camcorders
Available products: Panasonic HDC-SDT750, BenQ device (mid-2011)
Cellphones
Pros: Novelty
Cons: Requires special chips, not widely available in many countries
Available products: Sharp LYNX 3-D SH-03C (Japan only), Spice Mobility M-67 3-D (India only)
Digital Photo Frames
Pros: Novelty
Cons: Limited market; requires use of Nikon's online image sharing and storage service
Available products: Nikon NF-300i (Japan only)
