3D PCs and Laptops - 3DGaming.net

Acer has been busy working away at their first foray into the 3D market by realeasing a 3D laptop. We can expect a 15.6 inch Aspire 3D laptop by the end of October. The system will run Windows 7 and have full support for native 3D content while at the same time converting 2D content into 3D. Glasses will be required however, at this point as glasses-free systems are not currently available. But Acer did in fact confirm that a glasses-free version is in the works though no official release date has been set yet.

Some early reviews are promising for the Acer 3D laptops as well as for other 3D laptops by other manufacturers. The biggest question at this time is whether the 3D content will be intriguing enough. The other big question on everyone's minds right now is the ability to enjoy 3D content at home or mobile without special anaglyph glasses. Time will tell if 3D laptops will become mainstream with the need for 3D glasses or if the mass market will simply wait for glasses-free 3d laptops.

The Asus 3D laptops seem like they are more capable gaming machines. The machines come pre-bundled with Nvidia's special 3D glasses as well as a gaming mouse. The 3D on the Asus machines is perhaps what makes the system more geared towards serious gamers. Nvidia has the reputation for its 3D gaming video cards and hardware accelerators. The glasses for the Asus systems are battery-powered shutter glasses that get their signal from a small USB box that you plug into the computer. The box essentially sends out a signal that alternately closes and opens the right and left lens. The laptop screen sequentially delivers a different left and right image. The brain is tricked into seeing the 3D image essentially. You can also wear the glasses over prescription eyewear. The downside to this system is that if you need a replacement pair of glasses or simply a second set, you will pay upwards of $150 for them.

Acer provides a much less expensive setup with non-electronic polarizer glasses (you will have to wear clip-ons if you wear prescription eyewear). The laptop's screen is polarized whereby the even and odd lines in the image deliver a each the left and right image that is then decoded through the glasses (much like the old style red and cyan glasses). Replacement glasses from Acer should only cost around $15.