1080i vs 1080p vs 720p

[D()M]

Im looking at getting a HDTV this weekend and am not sure the differences between all of the resolutions out there. I know 1080p is the best quality but im on a budget. My range is $1000 - $1500 and I get a discount at Circuit City so thats where im planning on going. One question I have is with 1080i VS 720p, which is better? I am looking for a TV 47" and up that will be nice quality and play my Xbox360 in HD. Also what is the disadvantage of getting a HD monitor?

Here are a few TVs that I found online:
Hitachi 57" CRT Projection HD Monitor (57F59A) - 1080i / $1199
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-57-CRT-Projection-HD-Monitor-57F59A/sem/rpsm/oid/150394/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

Samsung 50" DLP Projection HDTV (HL-S5086W) - 720p / $1699 - $200
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-50-DLP-Projection-HDTV-HL-S5086W/sem/rpsm/oid/144714/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

Hitachi 65" CRT Projection HD Monitor (65F59A) - 1080i / $1699 - $200
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Hitachi-65-CRT-Projection-HD-Monitor-65F59A/sem/rpsm/oid/151066/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

Vizio 50" Plasma HDTV (P50HDTV10A) - 720p / $1999 - $500
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Vizio-50-Plasma-HDTV-P50HDTV10A/sem/rpsm/oid/161719/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

Sony 46" Grand WEGA™ LCD Projection TV (KDF-46E2000) - 720p / $1499
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-46-Grand-WEGA-LCD-Projection-TV-KDF-46E2000/sem/rpsm/oid/157550/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

[Gremlin]

I like the Samsung DLP :)

[Silly]

I like the Samsung DLP :)


Way to not answer his question... :P


Not that I'm going to answer it either, but I just thought I'd :poke: a little :D

The basic differences between 1080i/p and 720p are resolution. 1080p and 720p are "progressive scan" resolutions, which means that the entire screen is redrawn every frame. I think 1080p is something like 1900x1028 and 720p is around 1300x720. 1080i is the same resolution as 1080p, but it's interlaced. Interlaced means that only half of the [horizontal] lines on the screen are drawn every frame, and the next frame the other half are drawn. It's the same thing that a normal analog TV does now. In theory the brain smears the two updates into one and you can't tell... But, at least for an analog TV, it's usually what makes the screen "flicker" if you've ever noticed that...

Personally I think 1080p is more of an ePenos kind of thing, and 720p/1080i is just fine. However, I have to say that if/when I upgrade to an HDTV I will most likely go for one that does 1080p.. What can I say, I'm just an ePenos kind of guy :D

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is don't worry so much about the resolution. There are many more things that will affect your enjoyment of the TV more. Look at the brightness, contrast, viewing angle, and even the astnhetics of the TV. If it looks like shit to you I don't think you're ever goign to get past that to even notice what resolution it's at..

[D()M]

Thanks Silly, what about when its described at a "monitor". What exactly is it missing with that? I notice that you can get a way larger size and cheaper with the monitor ones.

[Gremlin]

Thanks Silly, what about when its described at a "monitor". What exactly is it missing with that? I notice that you can get a way larger size and cheaper with the monitor ones.


I think you can hook your computer to it as well.

[Silly]

No, I think you can hook most to your computer (with a DVI input or a DVI->HDMI converter if those work). What you don't get is the HD tuner (or any tuner). If you're not going to watch any over the air stations (HD or regular), like say if you've got an HD cable box/satelite box, then you really don't need it... But I think it's one of those things that you'd say 'I don't need that' now, and then down the road you'd be kicking yourself for not getting one... You can allways pick one up later, though, pretty cheap: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-HD-Tuner-DTB-H260F/sem/rpsm/oid/164855/catOid/-15608/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[Poncho]

A monitor is just that... a monitor only. Like silly said... NO tv tuner built in. Now... personally this is NOT a big deal for me. Really think about the last time that you used any "over the air" channels. If you use them for HD... then smack yourself and get HD over sat or cable. :D Also... you can always buy a TV tuner down the road for a few hundred bucks if you find the need for one... you won't BTW. Just make sure that it has all the inputs that you need.

[D()M]

Cool, thanks for advice :) I think with that I just need to decide whats best for me. I think im gonna go with 1080i. I have a satellite tuner buts its not HD yet. Im gonna talk to Dish Network first.. Thanks again!

[Gremlin]

1080i sucks :poke:

[termdec]

Looks like the basics have been covered. IMO, 720 is too low res, 1080i is a lot better but I can notice the interlace, 1080p is orgasmic, and DLP > * for screens over 40".

[Poncho]

and DLP > * for screens over 40".


WRONG!!!!

Price for what you get... sure, but in terms of pure picture quality there are better TVs out there. Front projection is the best, but difficult to use, then you've got GOOD plasmas for picture quality, but there are drawbacks, then LCDs, which are probably the best in terms of ease of use and quality for any situation, THEN you've got your DLPs which are decent and cheap.

[Gremlin]

Poncho you are wrong :D

I have this one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705897&st=samsung+6187&type=product&id=1138085317167) and watching Discovery HD makes you drool :D Honestly my nephew has 1080i and did not impress me that much.

[Poncho]

Poncho you are wrong :D

I have this one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705897&st=samsung+6187&type=product&id=1138085317167) and watching Discovery HD makes you drool :D Honestly my nephew has 1080i and did not impress me that much.


What... because you own it it's better? :rolleyes: I'm talking about the technology here... and I'M RIGHT. It's common knowledge to people who have done the research on the subject. If you compare that DLP to a shitty LCD... sure, the DLP will be better. But if you compare a high end LCD to that the LCD will blow it out of the water.

[Gremlin]

Who cares about LCD :P :poke: Second i am not saying if i own it means it good :rolleyes: I am happy with what i have :D

[Poncho]

Who cares about LCD :P :poke: Second i am not saying if i own it means it good :rolleyes: I am happy with what i have :D


First... LCD is probably the best for usability, but it's expensive when you get into the larger sizes. But if you want to hook up a media center PC to it.... NOTHING compares to an LCD.

Second... did I ever say that DLP sucks? No... I was just pointing out that it's the "lesser" of the newer technology TVs. I agree that it has it's place, it's biggest selling point is the price, but is it better than any other especially at > 40"? THat's a big HELL NO!

[termdec]

WRONG!!!!

Price for what you get... sure, but in terms of pure picture quality there are better TVs out there. Front projection is the best, but difficult to use, then you've got GOOD plasmas for picture quality, but there are drawbacks, then LCDs, which are probably the best in terms of ease of use and quality for any situation, THEN you've got your DLPs which are decent and cheap.


This is true, I used 40"+ to divide things because when I was shopping the bigger plasma and LCDs were still ridiculously expensive. Looks like they've come down some, if you have the cash to drop on one they're what you should go for.

[fishmonger]

When I bought my 50" Samsung DLP, it was significantly better than every LCD I looked at. I could see the "screen door" on the LCDs, and it bugged the crap out of me.

LCDs now may be better than 3 years ago, but that was my experience. It seemed on AVSForum at the time that many other people had the same viewpoint I did.

I'd just go shopping & buy the one that looks best to you & fits your budget. Don't get too caught up in technology, most all of these HDTVs look splendid. The technology doesn't matter in the end, you're not watching the electronics behind the screen.

[Poncho]

When I bought my 50" Samsung DLP, it was significantly better than every LCD I looked at. I could see the "screen door" on the LCDs, and it bugged the crap out of me.

LCDs now may be better than 3 years ago, but that was my experience. It seemed on AVSForum at the time that many other people had the same viewpoint I did.



Yea, LCD tech has come A LONG way in the past couple years. Really... look at any Sharp AQUOS LCD TV and you'll be amazed at the quality. Of course... they're pricey, but it's a beautiful picture.

[Burden]

I want a Samsung DLP. I almost bought one the other day. In my opinion its your best bang for you buck.

[DeadLamb]

Really think about the last time that you used any "over the air" channels. If you use them for HD... then smack yourself and get HD over sat or cable. :D

that is just wrong info..

As far as network programing etc OTA Hd IS the only way to get everything right now, period.. Comcast etc STILL does not have all the networks in HD.. Plus OTA Hd is full 19.4meg pure HD and many of the cable HD station are shit sub 10meg streams.. You only have to run them past TSreader to get the bit rates..

It's why you can record a HD tv show for one hour and it's near 9 gigs then record a HD film off say showtime and the two hour film is also 9gig..

OTA Hd is a simple must have IMO.. Monitors are a waste of money right now being by law anything over I think 32 inches has to have a QMA etc tuner built in.. PLUS by law the cable company can't encode local HD stations.. so you don't even have to bother to pay the extra $$ for the "hd" package you can just run the cable, no box, right into the tv if you have a tuner built in.

Great for down the line a few years when your "super new tv" is now your junky bed room one due to an up grade..

1080P is marketing hype only.. There is zero plans for any network right now to broad cast that res so who really cares?

As far as 720p vs 1080i over all it depends mostly on the show and how it's lit.. 720 tends to better on sports but then ABC shows for the most part look like ass.. 1080i WHOOPS ass for say the anything on CBS but then looks lame for many CW shows..

ABC, FOX are 720p. CW, NBC, PBS, CBS, MYnetwork are all 1080i, of course you can only get all of them OTA right now.

DLP imo sucks total ass right now.. then again I'm one of the sort that can pick up flicker etc and on my friend's newest of new gen DLP if I look away I see nothing but rainbow lines blur past.. total junk unless one is just the sort who can't see those color issues.

like say for fishmonger having issues with the LCD but not the DLP.. you really need to see the screens to tell what works best for your own eyes. If I was going to buy a screen right now it would be a sharp LCD, odds are the $1300 37 inch at costco being it has a cpu port too..

[Poncho]

that is just wrong info..

As far as network programing etc OTA Hd IS the only way to get everything right now, period.. Comcast etc STILL does not have all the networks in HD..


Ummmm..... I get all the network channels with Comcast.

[DeadLamb]

Ummmm..... I get all the network channels with Comcast.

yeah I know we get all the networks in standard def, but not everything in HD, that's why I said "all the networks in HD"... :P

a few months back they did not even have HD cbs, they do now but they still don't have HD CW or MyNetwork tv.. At least they did not last time I checked the web site and scanned with my HD tuner..

clearly no one watches Mynetwork but CW still has a few good shows and ya know I would rather have the option to not watch a tv show in HD then zero option to get it at all in HD.. due to :stalker: issues etc..

never mind that HD OTA is free and getting a tv with out a tuner is just buying old tech less you really step up to a $$$$$ higher end monitor.. Not even sure you can buy those in town anyways, just mail order..

plus as I said, OTA is pure high bit rate.. I really do think cable and sat HD is going to go to crap in the next few years if they keep looking to piggy back on the streams too much , splitting the 19meg feed into two stations at near 10meg.. LAME..

[DeadLamb]

think I posted this before.. but again, it's really, really good marketing to make a 1080p set for more $$$.. Sort of like the whole BS new Hemi thing..

1080P — Time for a Reality Check! — July 1, 2005
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/reality.html

bottom line, if D()M has a bad door lock, FLG might be having a tv give away next LAN! Well not a give away, maybe a water drinking contest for a tv? We are still kicking around ideas and planning.. always planning.. and watching.. :blink:

[FAngel]

I have this Vizio model from Costco:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11165569&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&N=4001381&Mo=13&pos=0&No=7&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=3314&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&Sp=C&ec=&topnav=
Much better than the Circuit City model your looking at and it's great. Plus you can return it no questions asked at Costco if you dont like it. I've found that Costco is usually cheaper than the rest by far even with discounts at other stores.

[Poncho]

yeah I know we get all the networks in standard def, but not everything in HD, that's why I said "all the networks in HD"... :P



No... I meant "all the networks in HD." They're there...I have them, I watch them. :D

[DeadLamb]

No... I meant "all the networks in HD." They're there...I have them, I watch them. :D

I'm still calling bs! :popcorn: :tinfoil:

I still don't see everything listed on comcasts site, I've never seen all of them at my friends condo, with his hd comcast and a plasma tv. I still can't tune in HD CW or Mynetwork tv (58) in HD off comcast as of a few weeks ago.. ( Might of scanned right past it of course)

AND most of all we both know you have never watched a show on CW, never mind ch 58 in your life so as far as you know there is still a wb and UPN :P

but then as I said every new tv over 32 inches has a tuner now by law so the whole point is sort of mute and free HD is always going to be FTW over pay..

sidenote. Wow did that combine of WB and UPN totally flop.. whole areas don't have it and the rating for what was meant to be the best of both is lower then they were for just the single networks.. whoops to the power of $$$$$ lost..

sidenote2. the LOL factor of watching people take plasmas out of costco.. The boxes all have like 5+ ^^^^ "Keep upright" ^^^^ this side up etc etc tags.. as they flop it on it's side, on a roller cart and put some paper towels on top of the box..

[Defiant One]

I still can't tune in HD CW or Mynetwork tv (58) in HD off comcast as of a few weeks ago..

I get one or the other, not sure which at the moment....but Ch.10's HD just black-screens through Comcast.

the LOL factor of watching people take plasmas out of costco.. The boxes all have like 5+ ^^^^ "Keep upright" ^^^^ this side up etc etc tags.. as they flop it on it's side, on a roller cart

OMG...I've seen it too!!! And here I thought it was just local stupidity! :lol:

[honestplayer]

wow, $1499 for the Sony LCD?!!

grab that one. i have a Samsung version LCD and all i can say is no regrets. better 'black' giving you a seriously cooler picture, brightness and 100% contrast, and these suckers will never "burn in" nor die out faster than those plasma's.

edit: opps, projection tv. i'd say spend a bit more on a smaller 32"-40" LCD - the Samsung and Sony's pwn. Beleive it or not, I compared them to the Vizios?sp? at Costco and the Costco's arent too bad either. My wife and I plan to get a bigger ++50" something TV this Christmas and we're pretty much going with whatever's at Costco now when we get it this year. My pro install guy verified it as well when i asked him about Costco, he told me that pretty much all the pro's think that the Costco line is first rate stuff.

btw - i am hooked up to the computer via the 2nd HDMI - with an DVI to HDMI adapter. the other is hooked up to an AVR which splits between the HDTV DVD player and the HDTV cable box with DVR/recording.

[D()M]

Well the game plan fell apart when I walked in Circuit City. Anything in the price range I wanted pretty much sucked. It seemed like I would have to sacrafice something (quality, tuner, size, etc) to fit that range. I found a deal I could not refuse:

Mitsubishi 57" DLP Projection HDTV (WD-Y57) - Reg. $2,699 Sale Price $1,999 + $400 for stand.
Link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Mitsubishi-57-DLP-Projection-HDTV-WD-Y57/sem/rpsm/oid/156665/catOid/-12867/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution
• 2 HDMI inputs
• Built-in HDTV tuner • 6-Color Light Engine
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• Plush1080p processor

Since I did not have the HD receiver from Dish Network yet I ran down to Radio Shack and picked up an HD antenna and got to watch the Superbowl in HD. I looked awsome especially since this was the first thing I have really watched in HD. Xbox 360 also was very impressive. As for the 1080p, there is nothing that supports this yet, not even my 360 until Xbox360 version 2 so I don't know if it was worth it.

[masque]

Even though its too late, does it support HDCP? If not you're screwed if you want to buy HDDVD or Blu-Ray.

[termdec]

think I posted this before.. but again, it's really, really good marketing to make a 1080p set for more $$$.. Sort of like the whole BS new Hemi thing..

1080P — Time for a Reality Check! — July 1, 2005
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/reality.html

Uh, have you ever played a 360 or PS3 or watched an HD-DVD/Blu Ray on 1080P? Huge difference

[Gremlin]

Played PS3 on mine which is a 1080p and played it on my nephews 1080i, you will notice a difference.

[DeadLamb]

watched an HD-DVD/Blu Ray on 1080P? Huge difference

huge dif? Not really and have you even seen true 1080p? Being as of right now next to no tv can even show it.. .. and again, there is no plans right now for anything to be broadcast in 1080p etc.. it's just really great hype..

go read that link again, the guy is dead on IMO and better informed then most.

but it's good hype, much like those up sample DVD players make some think the make normal DVD look like HD.. it does not, it's jut that modern DVD encodes etc are just that much better then older films. New film like say Crank, with bright lighting etc just looks way better then dark older grainy DVD's.. it's still a 720x480 mpg, I don't care how your DVD player "up samples" it you can't -make- info out of nothing, it's still a 720x480 mpg..

I can post tons of screen caps of a range of HD films, tv shows etc, everything from 720p to 1080i etc and they all look different.. it's not the "p" that makes a show look good, it's how it's filmed..

CSI Miami for example looks just amazing in 1080i, so much color on screen..

[DeadLamb]

I found a deal I could not refuse.

well that's cool... main thing is you found something you liked.. the budget issue kills most with the tv anyways..

if we could all buy just what we wanted (like gremlin or mykul) with out that pesty "budget" issue I think many would have a wall covered with TVs.. :cool:

I think mykul has like 4 50inch plasmas in the garage or it might be zero.. I don't really rem, just that it's a number between 0 and 4

[masque]

but it's good hype, much like those up sample DVD players make some think the make normal DVD look like HD.. it does not, it's jut that modern DVD encodes etc are just that much better then older films. New film like say Crank, with bright lighting etc just looks way better then dark older grainy DVD's.. it's still a 720x480 mpg, I don't care how your DVD player "up samples" it you can't -make- info out of nothing, it's still a 720x480 mpg..

Our upsampled DVD's look better than a straight DVD player hooked up. I assume this is because the software doing the conversion is a lot better on the DVD player than on the TV.

[DeadLamb]

because the software doing the conversion is a lot better on the DVD player than on the TV.

yeah the same thing happens with cpu DVD players too, like if you want to do the whole home theater PC thing..

does anyone do that here? I know a few tried and I think they get pissed off with it.. I know mykul was building a big video jukebox a while back, with divx rips (of films he owns of course)

[masque]

does anyone do that here? I know a few tried and I think they get pissed off with it..

I haven't done a dedicated system yet, but I've certainly played around with various PC's jacked into an HDTV. It works well enough. I'm probably going to make a MythTV box this summer so I don't have to torrent as much next year.

[Gremlin]

Saw CSI: Miami it had nice color too :D