Congratulations! You have just made the decision to buy a home theater system, or perhaps you have one already and are thinking of upgrading. One of your big decisions may be whether to buy a 3D television? But do you really need one; and just what is there to watch in 3D anyway?

3D technology is till relatively new, although several major television manufacturers are offering this option, including Mitsubishi and Samsung. Other major electronics manufacturers, such as Sony, Panasonic and Philips have plans to offer 3D television this year or next. One advantage of waiting for 3D television is that, like most other types of new technology, the price will almost certainly go down over time.

If you do invest in a 3D television, you still have to wear a special pair of glasses in order to get the effect, which some people, especially those who wear prescription glasses anyway, can find uncomfortable. The TV companies would like to be able to offer the feature without having to wear special glasses and it’s simply a question of when this will happen.

If you aren’t technologically minded, you may find it confusing that there are actually different types of 3D television available, although most experts consider so-called active shutter technology to be the best option. You still have to wear special glasses, although this option has the advantage that your existing system doesn’t need to be significantly modified; it’s also less expensive than other options.

However, you will need to replace the batteries in the glasses every so often with the active shutter system. This may be an issue if you watch a lot of TV or plan to invite a group of friends over to see your new toy. And of course, you don’t want a dead battery in the middle of the big game.

Before you rush out and buy a 3D television, you should be aware that there is not that much on at the moment to watch in three dimensions, although all that will probably change in the next year or two. Direct TV has just introduced three 3D channels and the sports channel ESPN is offering the 2010 World Cup. And even if you are just watching in the standard two dimensions, some 3D televisions provide better picture quality anyway.

3D television is undoubtedly here to stay and three things are fairly certain: the quality of the product will improve, prices will go down and there will be more programming available. Whether you need to have 3D TV now is something only you can decide. Many people consider it gimmicky and the effect is wasted on talk shows and news programs. But there’s no doubt that sporting events, travel shows and blockbuster movies can look better in three dimensions, rather than two.

By: Patrick Boswell