Watch 3-D movies at home

Fresno, CA With the blockbuster 3-D movie "Avatar" and so many TV manufacturers planning to start selling 3-D TVs soon, you might be wondering, "Am I going to have to buy another TV?"

The success of Avatar's computer-generated breakthrough 3-D images has plenty of people talking.

And 3-D was the big buzz at this year's consumer electronics show.

Panasonic, one of several manufacturers designing 3-D TVs is even taking its prototypes on tour across the country.

"Well, if you've seen 3-D in the theater and you really like it there, wait 'til you see it at home," Peter Fannon said.

Consumer reports says the prototypes look promising.

"Many of the 3-D demos that we've seen represent a clear step forward from the previous generations that we've tested. They seem to deliver very good three-dimensional depth and resolution, especially with animated content," Jim Willcox said.

But at consumer reports' labs the verdict is still out until testers can get the new 3-D TVs in house.

"We'll be evaluating the quality of the 3-D, as well as seeing how well these TVs perform as conventional sets. After all, we won't be watching everything in 3-D. At this point 3-D is more of a feature, not a replacement for standard TVs," Willcox said.

As for the cost, it's expected there will be a 20 to 25 percent premium for these 3-D TVs.

"And remember, you're also going to have to pay for glasses. Some manufacturers may bundle a pair or two with the TV, but additional glasses are probably going to cost anywhere from $60 to $200," Willcox said.

Consumer reports' take, you've got plenty of time before you need to think about buying a 3-D TV.

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