Ever since I can remember, I have wanted TV glasses. I don't know why - I just think something like that would be really cool. I never really thought anything like that would be invented - it seems to "Jetsons" for most folk - but I think the people at Sony have been reading my mind, because they have come out with the Glasstron.

There are three versions of the Glasstron (that I am aware of): the A35, A55, and the 7000. I have tried the A35, but hope to try the A55 soon.

The A35 looks just like the one pictured on this site - a pair of glasses that resemble Oakleys with cables leading from them to a pack that your TV, VCR, Playstation, DVD, etc. can connect to. When you put the glasses on, it is really amazing: it really is like you are sitting in front of a big screen TV. The glasses don't surround your eyes; they sit a couple of inches from them, so you can still see the world around you. This may seem like a distraction, but it is really a good thing. For me, who gets motion sickness at the drop of a hat, I thought that these would be a nightmare. But because I could see other things around me, I didn't get sick at all. I know this sounds weird - this is really something that you have to experience in person to understand.

Anyway, once the glasses are on and the movie or whatever is playing, it is just terrific. There are earphones that fit right inside your ears that provide true "surround sound". These are cool, too: you can't really hear anything at all until the earphones are in, and then they sound so clear and loud.

The picture quality for DVD playback and digital cable is awesome. clear, colorful, and just about perfect. I have not tried them with a non-digital input source yet, so I cannot report on the quality of, say, a VCR or regular cable input.

As for comfort, they are pretty comfortable. The ones I tried kind of squeezed my head a bit more than I would like, but that is probably adjustable, or will get better the more I use them. The squeezing was not a distraction, however, just a minor annoyance.

There are only a few things that may distract someone wearing the Glasstron. One is that there are cables attached to them, so you cannot move freely without bumping cords. Also, unless you have a portable DVD player or something similar, you are limited to where you can use your Glasstron by where your input source is and the lengths of your cables. Another thing that might bother some people, and I have mentioned before, is that they can cause motion sickness. I didn't have any trouble, but I can see how it can happen. Something that takes getting used to is whenever you move your head, the "screen" moves, too. It is kind of surprising when it happens, because you tend to forget that you aren't watching a real TV, until the whole thing tilts sideways with your head.

Like I said, I tried the A35, which retails for $499. I am going to try the A55 this weekend. The 7000 is the model for use with a computer and can do 1024x768 resolution. The A35 and A55 are limited to 640x480. The 7000's also cost about $2500, so I will be leaving those alone until the price drops a bit.

I am in love with the Glasstron. I cannot wait to use it more. I would recommend to everyone that you at least go and try these out, even if you don't plan on buying. They are so futuristic - so cool - and I know that you will be amazed the instant you put them on.





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