Introducing the Windows 3D PC

While 3D PCs are already possible, they need to be constructed by Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. However, Following Computex, various original equipment manufacturers and hardware manufacturers will provide customers with a new three-dimensional computing experience right out of the box. According to Brandon LeBlanc, windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, NVIDIA has partnered with Microsoft, Alienware, Asus, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, Dell, LG, ViewSonic and additional system builders in order to introduce the 3D PC, a new category of personal computers.

“So what makes a 3D PC? A 3D PC must have, by definition, the following minimum requirements: a pair of 3D active-shutter glasses. A 120Hz 3D-capable display which can be a desktop LCD monitor, a 3D projector, a 3D TV, or a laptop with an integrated 3D-capable LCD. A discrete GPU such as the latest GeForce GPU’s from NVIDIA that are designed to deliver HD content to a 3D display,” LeBlanc revealed.

Customers will be able to buy 3D PCs for prices starting approximately at $1,500 and enjoy 3D content such as games and movies as soon as they boot the machine. The 3D PC is obviously designed to keep up with the increasing trend in 3D entertainment, associated with unique experiences such as Avatar and Alice in Wonderland.

“NVIDIA has invested a lot of time working closely with game developers so that more than 425 PC games work great with NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology. Sony and Fujifilm will be bringing 3D digital cameras to market where consumers can take 3D photos and view them in 3D on their 3D PC. A 3D PC can view the Web in 3D including live streaming of 3D video. And you can watch Blu-ray 3D movies thanks to folks like Cyberlink who will be releasing a version of their software player that will support playback of Blu-ray movies in 3D,” LeBlanc added.

As far as Microsoft is concerned, the Redmond company has labored to make Silverlight 3D-ready. The latest iteration of the technology, Silverlight 4, supports scenarios in which 3D content is streamed to NVIDIA 3D Vision-equipped PCs over the Internet.