DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg in 3D specs at the Samsung CES event.

The future of 3D television was the big buzz at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, with Toshiba and Samsung going so far as to promise sets that will convert traditional 2D television for 3D viewing, to satisfy the expected demand. But after spending most of the week at the show, and experiencing a range of 3D technologies, I'm not convinced they will represent more than a niche in the home.

There's no doubt that 3D is cool, in the right setting. But my bet is that it won't win over as many everyday viewers as the TV industry apparently thinks -- with the exception of hard-core video gamers, who are already accustomed to using equipment and will think of the glasses more like battle gear.

Those glasses remain an obstacle. Yes, they're a big technological leap over previous generations, and you'll put them on in a dark theater after paying up to see Avatar or another movie in 3D. But no matter how good the industry makes the specs, how many people are going to sit around in their living rooms wearing them?

Samsung and others did show prototype 3D sets at CES that don't require glasses, but they were generally less than impressive and appeared destined mostly for commercial applications.

Internet video on TV, on the other hand, seems like a legitimate grassroots trend, particularly if consumers stay focused on keeping their technology spending under control.

The winner of the annual Last Gadget Standing competition at CES, as determined by the crowd in the room, was the Boxee Box by D-Link, which brings Hulu and other Internet video content into the living room without the need to use a PC as a media server. It's expected to go on sale for less than $200 in the first half of the year, and the company says it won't require any monthly fees.

On the subject of Last Gadget Standing, the winner of the online vote was Redmond-based Microvision's SHOWWX portable laser projector. See my raw video from the event on this page.

Clearwire seemed to be all over the place at CES, with partners and investors including Sprint and Intel showcasing the Kirkland-based company's next-generation WiMax wireless broadband network at their booths and in their latest products. Examples include the Sprint "Overdrive" 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot.

I spoke with one journalist who was testing the Overdrive during the show, and he had nothing but positive things to say about the performance. It sells for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate, with a two-year service agreement.

Products on display at the Clearwire booth at CES included the pictured Speedstream wireless "broadcast truck in a backpack," which uses the WiMax network to send broadcast-quality signals from remote locations. According to staffers at the booth, the package is being marketed to professional broadcasters for about $25,000, although a scaled-back version is expected to be available for advanced consumers for less than $10,000.

Macworld Expo's shift from January to February meant that representatives of Microsoft's Mac Business Unit were able to make a rare trek to CES, when normally they would have been in the midst of their work on the big Mac show.

The group didn't announce any news at CES, but execs including Mac BU GM Eric Wilfrid were in attendance, checking out the latest technologies on display at the show. Macworld Expo begins Feb. 9, without the participation of Apple for the first time this year.