First Look At Acer's 3D Laptop

Barence writes "Acer today revealed the world’s first 3D laptop, the Acer Aspire 5738PG, which will launch alongside Windows 7 on October 22. It uses a combination of software and specially coated glass on the 15.4in screen, along with a standard set of polarised glasses. Initial impressions were a bit iffy, and whether anyone actually needs a 3D laptop is another question entirely, but we'll find out this month."

Sounds fine, but not for me.

[Zontar The Mindless]

I'm on my third Acer laptop in 4 years (one for work, one for personal use, and a spare). I do not by any means consider myself an Acer fanboi -- they just keep coming up with the features I want at a good price point, and they seem to last a good long while (yes, I still sometimes use the one I bought in 2005).

This 'feature', however, is not likely to be among them. Might be cool for gamers and/or designers, though.

Re:3D = Novelty Technology?

[Bruiser80]

Remember the warnings on those polarized glasses?

"Warning! Do not wear outside!" Dunno if it was for spatial awareness or if the polarizing messes with your eyes in higher sunlight.

Re:3D = Novelty Technology?

[91degrees]

Yes. Polarised sunglasses have the same polarisation on each lens. Presumably different levels of glare in each eye is going to be slightly disorienting. Although probably not enough as to need a warning.

Not the world's first--misleading summary

[bipbop]

The article links to the Sharp Actius RD3D [pcpro.co.uk], a 5-year-old failed 3D laptop. But, the summary calls this new one the "world's first". I suppose the article submitter didn't RTFA, and neither did the poster?

Re:3D = Novelty Technology?

[Actually, I do RTFA]

Polarizing glasses look like sunglasses (they cut out ~50% of the light to each eye). Therefore, some people would have thought "cheap sunglasses". But darkening the visual light you can see, so that you can pick up more details/be more comfortable is only one purpose of sunglasses. A more important purpose is to protect your eyes from UV light, of which sunglasses block far more than 50%.

Hence the warning not to wear them outside.

Afterthought, wearing them outside would also cause your pupils to dialate somewhat (less visible light) rendering them more vulnerable to UV while making you feel less vulnerable.