TV

[larmer]

For a few years I've wanted to upgrade to a modern TV.  Our current unit is a CRT unit around 24 inches that CG bought about 12 years ago.  It leaves a lot to be desired watching DVDs.

With Christmas sales I started looking at Future Shop.  I dislike shopping as I feel intimidated by all of the choices.  Fortunately a helpful salesman and some prior

Comments

[chequey]

When it comes to electronics, choice-paralysis can affect even the most informed consumer. There are so many products with so many features (and zillions of permutations of combinations of features), not to mention frequent technolgical advances that render last year's hot new thing obsolete, that it's nearly impossible to keep track of them all. I'm very much a techno-peasant, so it's all greek to me anyway...

I have to ask: what's "passive 3D"? Intuitively, the name seems to imply that you wouldn't need the 3D glasses (which I think would be annoying in a home situation), but from what you mention, it appears they are still required.

[larmer]

It is not 'all greek' but 'all geek'.

Passive 3D, I believe, means that you need the type of glasses that they give out in the theatre (e.g. cheap or free). We watched it normally in 2D in the store so that is an option. Same with the Samsung TV.
From http://www.pcworld.com/article/225218/active_3d_vs_passive_3d.html
"the early active-shutter glasses were prohibitively expensive, and often hard to use for prolonged periods of time. The new wave of 3D TVs coming in from LG and Vizio, however, work with "passive" (polarized) 3D glasses, like the kind found in movie theaters, which are cheaper and easier to use--but sacrifice image quality."