Lenovo announced today via a press release that by the end of this month you'll be able to purchase a laptop with a 3D capable screen for about $1200.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d will feature a 16:9 HD display that is capable of providing a "3D experience" as described by Lenovo. It is established that you will need "polarizer" glasses in order to view the display in three dimensions, but the technology behind the display is not mentioned. If Lenovo is using circular polarization then there may finally be a reason to hold on to RealD glasses after watching a 3D movie in the theatre. Another advantage of polarized displays is the lack of a requirement to power the glasses. The majority of 3D televisions being released recently use an active shutter technology that requires batteries in the glasses to open and close the LCD shutters to provide the 3D effect. If Lenovo is using polarizing technology, then the glasses will be lighter and much less expensive.
The press release mentions that the Y560d will provide the 3D effect with "compatible 3D movies and games" and that for an extra fee a Blu-ray drive can be added on to the laptop. No examples of these movies or games are mentioned, so it remains to be seen if the technology will be compatible with current 3D movie offerings. It also seems odd that the Blu-ray drive is optional as it appears that Hollywood has positioned Blu-ray as the standard for 3D movies moving forward. In addition, a laptop seems like an odd choice for 3D gaming as the processing power and video-rendering capabilities will likely be less than ideal.
Lenovo isn't the first company to market with a 3D laptop, with Acer, Asus and Toshiba all offering their own 3D enabled notebooks.
The success of 3D in consumer electronics remains to be seen, but with Nintendo throwing their hat in the ring with the Nintendo 3DS and Sony pushing 3D hard at their E3 2010 presentation, it only makes sense that other manufacturers are going to jump on the 3D bandwagon. Personally, I'm thinking (and hoping) that 3D at home is just a fad.
