TechProbe

For those of you who are not familiar with 3D there are two basic types, "passive" and "active". The LG 25-inch 3D monitor uses the passive type, which in my opinion is much better for home use.

The active glasses are heavy, they require batteries to make them work and, as you can imagine, after a while they become quite heavy. The passive glasses on the other hand, don't require any batteries and are as light as can be.

The glasses provided with the LG Monitor are great. They are so light you don't even realise you are wearing them. When you go to the cinema these are the glasses you are supplied with. They are really cheap to buy at around $15 - $20, compared to the active glasses, which are around $70 - $100.

Weight comparison of active vs passive glasses from LG
(Credit: LG Electronics Australia)

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In recent years, 3D has climaxed to a huge trend, where almost every movie at the cinemas has a 3D alternative. With production of more 3D movies, this experience undoubtedly became sought after in a "home setting". There still unfortunately seems to be a lack of 3D content available in the consumer markets, possibly because it is a fairly new innovation in the TV industry. At the moment, I feel that a need for 3D is not necessary, and doesn't provide a substantial experience over high-definition (HD) content.

I decided to spend my second week with the LG Cinema 3D Monitor watching 3D movies and games through my Sony PlayStation 3. I deliberately set it up in the living room to investigate its appropriateness in a social/family environment.

This week, I watched and played:

• Cars 2 and Tangled in 2D
• Final Destination and Piranha in 3D
• Red Dead Redemption (game) in 2D
• ICO and Shadow of Colossus (game) in 3D

Firstly, I found that the monitor doesn't serve as a substitute for a large-screen television in the living room, and is more suited for the study/bedroom. When looking at personal use of the monitor, I found that it is quite large, and more than adequate for an average bedroom setting. Inbuilt speakers would have been a nice addition, because I found myself either using a headset through the PS3, or dual speakers through the headphone jack, which I found inconvenient.

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This week, I was lucky enough to put the 25-inch LG Cinema 3D monitor through its 2D & 3D paces, and whilst the experience has left me rather sleep deprived, I've also come away with a healthy respect for dragons. As a gamer, I felt my talents could be put to better use exploring the monitor's versatility across console gaming. My game of choice this week was the ridiculously addictive Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, on the Xbox 360 platform. In a nutshell, Skyrim would not appeal to anyone who thinks that Gandalf is actually human. FYI: he's a Miar.

Photo taken whilst streaming HD media via Xbox Live.
(Credit: David Moffatt)

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3D, this is what this monitor is all about and it delivers. Because common exposure to 3D is limited initially to cinemas, having it available on TV and monitors now makes it a household item. How does the LG 3D Cinema monitor hold up?

The LG framed and clip-on glasses that are supplied
(Credit: Austin Lin)

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Monitor in a minute review
(Credit: Andrew Richardson)

While I enjoy 3D cinema movies and the occasional Nintendo 3DS game, I have not availed myself of every option to experience digital 3D, and haven't had a view on 3D's availability on a computer monitor. So this week I decided to explore the high-definition (HD) 2D and 3D movie and console game "plug and play" capability of the LG 25-inch Cinema 3D Monitor via its HDMI connection.

The Sony PS3 is a great Blu-ray player and is 3D movie and game capable. While many suggest using HDMI version 1.4 to connect devices using 3D data, I recall a recent CNET article about how all HDMI cables are the same. Acknowledging CNET's advice, I used a two-year-old 1.5m-long Crest HDMI version 1.3 and then crossed my fingers...

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I have found it very difficult to source 3D content that I can get to work well with an Apple Mac. I can't find any drivers for the Mac and it becomes a bit hit-and-miss on quality depending mainly on the type of 3D content. On the rare occasion I got it to work with a Mac it was fine, but really not worth all the effort. I use an iMac and the white is very white and the black is a deep black. Even in 2D mode the LG Cinema 3D isn't very impressive, the white and black colours are not crisp and the colours not bright. I also found it frustrating that I couldn't get the resolution any higher than 1920x1080.

The Xbox 360, however, is a different story. If you can find 3D content it works very well. I have been playing Sonic Generations in 3D by Sega and the 3D quality is quite good, but a little grainy at times. The biggest problem is limited availability of 3D content and, although it is fun, I can't imagine buying a 3D monitor just for that. I have not been able to find any Xbox 360 3D movies or photos. Unless the 3D market improves enormously I can't see myself buying a 3D monitor just to play a few games on.

The quality of the 2D image of the LG Cinema 3D monitor when connected to the Xbox is average, I think it is lacking in depth and again feel it would benefit if the resolution was higher.

Meanwhile, the cat sits and waits for those 3D fish...
(Credit: Leanne Crisp)

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Initial Impressions and 3D

I was quite eager and excited to start testing this product upon its arrival earlier this week. This is my first LG-branded product, and second 3D-capable product (first being my Nintendo 3DS). I am interested to find out how this monitor compares to my existing monitor and television for entertainment purposes. Personally, I am not enthralled by the hype of 3D, so I am interested to see how I fare with the monitor. The main reasons behind this view are:

1. I get headaches from prolonged 3D use
2. By focusing solely on a 3D experience, I feel it sacrifices the image content quality by means of natural colour reproduction and sharpness; however, I stray from the topic on hand, as this is purely subjective, and comes down to personal preference.

Unboxing

The packaging was neat, compact and had minimum wastage whilst keeping all the parts safe and secure. The handle on top of the box was a nice addition for easy lifting and transportation. The monitor was lighter than expected.
(Credit: Yadav Ravi)

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3D technology: my thoughts

To 3D or not to 3D? That is a very good question! Be it simply going to see the latest blockbuster at the movies, or perhaps deliberating over which next-gen home theatre to get, the option of integrating some type of 3D technology into the experience is never far away. Whilst 3D in itself is nothing new by today's standards, the technology is enjoying a renaissance in recent years, with a solid push into the private consumer market. Arguably, this is where a new and exciting chapter begins for 3D. As an enthusiast of the technology and an avid gamer, I believe that this is where 3D technology will leave its most defining mark. Video games represent the most complete and immersive platform for storytelling bar none. And whilst 3D still struggles to shed a certain novelty perception in other manifestations, its application across the video-game industry is where it will be most influential and embraced by consumers.

First impression: the size and weight were appropriately proportioned, and did not detract from the overall appearance of the unit. (Credit: David Moffat)

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First impression

At first glance, the LG Cinema 3D Monitor is a lot larger than anticipated, with its large box that comes with it. It has a dark, but reflective, black border around the monitor that shines. The joining piece clicks into the monitor with a tight fit, but the base is only connected by a single screw. It feels a tad flimsy in its design, almost as though when the monitor is tapped, the screen would wobble uncontrollably. This could be the result of a slightly weighted monitor and a light base piece. The monitor's weight is moderately acceptable, compared the size of its screen. This weight offers a sense of quality and durability. But, again, it is let down by the wobble and the light base.

Not realising how large the monitor was, the box was larger than expected, and weighed more than expected.
(Credit: Austin Lin)

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At last! A computer monitor bringing life to 2D and 3D digital content!

Last week, I was lucky enough to get a chance to review what I would consider to be a very impressive piece of kit: the LG 25-inch Cinema 3D Monitor. This piece of technology arrived courtesy of LG, and was a full HD, 2D-to-3D and flicker-free 3D 25-inch active matrix TFT LCD powerhouse. Don't let the mountain of acronyms confuse you; what you should really get with this monitor is a great viewing experience when connected to your array of (3D-capable) multimedia devices.

Besides going to the latest 3D cinema blockbusters, the only other pieces of 3D technology I have in my house are my daughter's Nintendo 3DS and a newly acquired Lumix FT3 camera that has a 3D-capable photo mode. While I enjoy 3D movies — and expect to watch these in the coming weeks on this monitor — I have not immersed myself in the 3D experience for anything other than entertainment. Potentially, with this monitor and the right equipment, you could create and display 3D content for work and other purposes. I believe that with technology like this, the limitation is more so, with the content available to be used with it, rather than with the display itself, but I get ahead of myself ...

The unit comes in a relatively compact and well-labelled box.
(Credit: Andrew Richardson)

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