Samsung Breaks Sub-$1000 3D TV Barrier

[Silversurfer]

Samsung is releasing a new 3D-capable Plasma TV at the sweet price of $989—a full $400 less than its current entry-level 3D set. The 50" PN50C490 sports an odd 1365 x 768p resolution, but hey—cheap(er) 3D.

The PN50C490, available for pre-order now, also offers 3 HDMI 1.4 inputs, a USB port, and ConnectShare for easy digital camera hookups. Dorky Samsung Active 3D glasses are still a must here, alas. [HDGuru]

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[Likay]

We've just got 3d-tv's here but none of them showcased 3d... Two samsung models (don't recall which ones). And only existing in one boutique.

[cybereality]

What kind of crap resolution is that?!?! Not worth the discount.

[snarfbot]

it looks alot like the pn50a450 and pn50b450, introduced a couple years ago, supporting checkerboard 3d, 1365x768 resolution. the pn50b450 was updated with 600hz subfield drive, it was otherwise the same. they sold for 600-700 usd.

the lower end 42" of the series had 1024x768 resolution.

if this one supports page flipped stereo then it should be a step up, but id be sorta suprised if the pn50c450 doesnt support stereo.

[Likay]

I don't mind if the tv isn't 1080, just 720 at least. The 3d image is way more important in terms of ghosting, brightness, and general impression. Passive is of course nice but if active have a better image i'd go for that. I'll keep my dual projectors but it would be nice having a 40"er 3d-tv for handyness.

[Addict3d]

Great priced TV for a casual 3D movie goer and ps3 gamer.

Other than that, the res drop is really unacceptable for anyone who cares about a crisp 3D image. You can get away with that sort of thing in 2D, but it's amazing how much of the effect is loss when the res gets lower.

[tritosine5G]

so is this checkerboard at the end or not ?

LOL chechk out that comment

A darker picture and less detail?

Sorry, but until 3D goes beyond Cameron's playground I don't see much use for it.

Maybe I'm being elitist because I have a Kuro which is the best thing. Ever.

one of my buddies says exactly that : ))) with a KURO . : )))

[ssiu]

They need to make a basic 1080p model (i.e. the equivalent of this 3D PN50C490 model, just add 1080p) for ~$300 more. That is the typical premium of 1080p over 720p models. In other words, their existing PN50C550 and/or PN50C590 should support 3D at the same price. (Since Samsung is not bundling 3D glasses, the extra cost for supporting 3D is really negligible.)

[tritosine5G]

checkerboard = dealbreaker (for gaming)

1080p TV = 720p 3d because hdmi 1.4

hdmi 1.4 sole intention = locking out DLP pj's

hdmi 1.4, samsung,sony = *******-es (240 hz fraud)

[Anthony1]

Currently, with the Playstation 3, we are limited to 720p @ 60 frames to each eye for gaming. Will this TV be able to handle this? If so, this wouldn't be a bad lower cost stop-gap option for the PS3 gamer that would like to dabble in 3D.

The big question with this set, is whether or not this is just basically a PN50A450 or PN50B450 rebadged with some type of internal scaling and hdmi 1.4 frame packed 3D support. What I mean is, I wonder if they took the guts of a PN50B450, and just added in hdmi 1.4 frame packed 3D support, and some type of built in scaler that will scale 1080p 3D to 1366 x 768 3D ? If so, then I don't think this TV would be that great an option, because the ghosting on the PN50A450 was pretty bad.

If the technology is really Checkerbox, then when used with the PS3, we wouldn't really get the full 720p at 60 frames to each eye, would we?

[skrubol]

I'm not sure why everyone is so surprised by that resolution. That's probably the most popular HDTV LCD panel resolution.
If the performance is decent, I don't see what the issue is for gamers. 1080p24 isn't of much use to gamers anyway. Also, I notice loss of resolution more in 2d than in 3d.

[tritosine5G]

Some of us play in 720p on 100" screen 3.5 meter away, and I personally dont want fullHD at all.

Also, I notice loss of resolution more in 2d than in 3d. <-- indeed, in 3d 720p noAA, alias is not even apparent. Minor smoothing is required. Crazy stuff.

[Fredz]

Maybe because gamers like to watch movies sometimes and can't afford two HD TVs ? if I had to buy a 3D HD TV now, I surely wouldn't buy one with a resolution of 1366x768. All the content is in 1080p now (Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, television, etc.), I would wait for an affordable 3D 1080p set instead.

[Anthony1]

I would wait for an affordable 3D 1080p set instead.

That's what I did. I ended up getting the Samsung PN50C680. I got it for $1338 with no tax, free shipping, and no California E-Waste fee. I also got the 3D Starter Kit with the 2 pairs of glasses and Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Blu Ray. It was included as a free bonus. When I got the 3D Starter Kit in the mail, I immediately ebayed the sealed Monsters vs. Aliens disk. It sold for $77 plus $3 shipping. After all the Ebay/Paypall fees and whatnot, I ended up clearing $65 from that sale.

So basically, I actually paid $ 1272 for the TV (out the door), and got two free pairs of glasses. I consider the glasses to be a $60 value (they were brand new, not used), so my $1272 amount should really drop another $120 considering the free glasses. Then, it would be like my out the door price was $1152, and I paid $60 each for two pairs of glasses.

Bottom line, not a bad deal any way you slice it, considering the PN50C680 is 1080p, has outstanding picture quality, a decent AR filter, so far no buzzing, you can stream videos to it, etc, etc. The 3D abilities are outstanding, and basically identical to the VT20 that I owned temporarily.