Laptop Thoughts: News & Reviews on Laptops, Netbooks, Slates, and More.

"Does the world really need 3D mobile devices? No, but companies are going to keep putting them out. That's why the LG Optimus Pad, announced at MWC 2011, garnered so much attention today."

3D video recording on a tablet/phone may just be the ultimate in "Why? Because I can". Personally I cannot think of a single situation were recording video in the old school red/green 3D would provide any real benefit. Would I do it if I could? Probably. Would I go out of my way to buy a device capable of it? Probably not. The capability of recording true 3D video on a mobile device is very cool for sure but it may be just a bit too gimmicky to really sell a device. What about you? Any of you guys who can't wait to get some 3D on your next mobile device? Click through for a video of the device in action.

"I received a letter that ends, as far as I am concerned, the discussion about 3D. It doesn't work with our brains and it never will. The notion that we are asked to pay a premium to witness an inferior and inherently brain-confusing image is outrageous. The case is closed."

I've got to agree. I see 3D as nothing more than a novelty and fad that will die off just as it has during its past iterations. Unless you are dealing with interactive media (like gaming) the attempt at immersion serves as more of a distraction than as an enhancement to a quality story. And anyway, we all know that 3D is a poor substitute for holograms and a holodeck. ;)

"It's in theaters and the latest TVs, so why not laptops, too? 3D technology is creeping into all types of consumer electronics, and Lenovo is getting into the game with the IdeaPad Y560d, the company's first 3D notebook. Using TriDef technology and a bundled pair of glasses, the Y560d ($1,399 through Lenovo.com, as low as $1,099 through online retailers) lets you watch movies, enjoy photos, and play the latest games in 3D."

A 15-inch, 6.2-pound entertainment laptop with an added bonus of a passive 3D display, the Y560D is able to display 3D video, play 3D games, and display 3D photos, all for about $1100. Styling is in the 'love it or hate it' category, and performance is near the head of the pack. This system uses lower-cost passive TriDef 3D technology, providing a true 3D experience using glasses, but also a (subjectively) lesser experience than with a system equipped with NVidia's 3D Vision active technology and shutter glasses. In fact, the reviewer complained that he got queasy after using different 3D modes, so it appears that this technology is still 'version one' quality. 3D gaming, while good, appears still in its infancy, and 3D viewing of non-3D movies had some viewing problems. 3D photo viewing worked well for pictures taken with a 3D camera, but 2D photos were nothing special. Lenovo offers a 2D version of this laptop, the Y560, for a few hundred dollars less, and the only real option is adding 8GB of RAM. Bottom line: A powerful laptop, with great graphics, very good sound, a good price for 3D, but with mediocre battery performance, and for a 15-inch laptop, a bit on the heavy side.