To 3D or not to 3D? The question is answered. For now.

This article caught my attention this morning. Apparently there's a bit of a glut of flat-screen televisions. That means great prices for you if you're in the market for one.

What wasn't in the news is 3D HDTV. A few months ago it was the rage, at least in the trade media if not customer showrooms. When was the last time you saw an ad for a 3D television? Or a promo on a network promoting it? I thought so.

I saw an 3D HDTV demo a few months ago showing a World Cup Soccer match. It was pretty cool. Two things held me back. I'm not in the market for a new television and the 3D glasses. At $150 a pop plus having to replace batteries every 20 hours or so is a no-sell and nonsense. As consumers, most of us aren't conditioned to buying added doo-dads when we buy a TV.

Then there's the question of how many sets of glasses do you buy? We've all broken eye glasses in our lives, just something else to break and replace. Again, there's the $150 tab. What if the batteries die in the middle of the Superbowl? Oops, remembered the drinks and snacks but forgot the extra batteries.

For want of a horse, the battle was lost. For the expense of the glasses, the 3D battle is lost. At least for now. When someone markets a 3D set that comes with glasses as convenient as those we get in theaters, the battle will be rejoined.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Tech evolving faster and faster....jump in quick!

South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce members were hosted today by Best Buy at their Park Meadows Store. Along with a nice breakfast, we were given a detailed briefing on "what's new" in technology.

It was impressive to say the least and I can't imagine any of us not being at least a little bit overwhelmed by it all.

One of the stops was seeing a demonstration of 3D HD Television. Unlike the transition from Standard Def to HD where the technology was in place before the programming, this time programmers like ESPN are driving the evolution with content.

Early adaptors already have forked out a couple of thousand dollars for a set, along with $150 for each set of 3D glasses. (Which require batteries) Then there's more for receivers, video players etc to watch what's available, not the least of which is World Cup Soccer. More programming will come and prices will go down so I'm sitting on the sideline and will watch TV in "good old fashioned" HD!

What did impress me is the incredible networking technology for devices like your PDA, iPad, Laptops, your existing screens and the like. For home or work, the opportunities to integrate all of them seamlessly, and to connect just as easily to friends or customers are endless.

I already use some of the technology, or today learned how to use it to more advantage.

At first glance, it can indeed be overwhelming but the key with all this is not to worry as much about how it works, but rather that it DOES work.

The only limits are your imagination and of course, budget. Regardless of whether you jump in, or simply dip your toe, do it. Embrace it.

Or be left behind.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC