I'd like to buy a high-definition television, but the numbers are confusing.?

Question

Some sets are 720p, and others are 1080i. Is there more to it than simply different resolution? If not, why doesn't everyone buy 1080i?

Answer 1

While there are many standards for transmission, a high definition fixed pixel (plasma, LCD or DLP) set only displays ONE. This is called the "native" format of the set. Watever comes in is converted to that format for display. ALL fixed-pixel set display in progressive-scan ('p') mode, even if the input is interlaced ("i"). So really, it all comes down to only TWO choices (not really that difficult) as long as you are considering one of the three types of sets mentioned above. There is 720p and 1080p. Until recently, 1080p was rare, and fixed-pixel sets were almost all 720p. Now, however you can get LCD (both flat panel and projection) and DLP (projection only) in 1080p. Again, the choice is simple: if you can afford it, 1080p is better. No need to be confused. Don't worry about what the station is broadcasting, it will look fine on your TV, and besides there's nothing you can do about it. Most of the time you won't know or care what's coming in, you'll just enjoy the beautiful picture.

Answer 2

Yeah, any new technology is a bit of a mess until the standards become standardized.

Basically, normal TV is 480i. The 'i' stands for interlaced, and so in North American NTSC, 60 fields make up every second of TV. A field contains half the resolution of a frame, so essentially two fields makes a frame, and TV is about 30 frames a second.

A good DVD player can produce 480p. The 'p' stands for progressive. In this format, the whole frame is drawn in one shot. No fields. It's also about 30 frames a second, but because the entire frame is drawn at once, it has a slightly sharper, more film-like quality.

So the next two HDTV formats are 720p (greater resolution, progressive scan) and 1080i (greater still resolution, interlaced image).

Interestingly, because an interlaced image can be de-interlaced and turned into progressive, a 1080i image can be converted into a 540p image.

So any TV that could display 720p, could also display 1080i as 540p, scaled up to 720p. Just like blowing up an image on your computer screen.

However, now that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD have come on scene, there exists a 1080p format.

A 720p TV can display this signal, but you won't be getting the full 1080p resolution. You also might not notice, as 720p is pretty good.

Any TV that can do more than 480p qualifies for the little HDTV logo. If you want to future-proof you TV against emerging formats, make sure you get a 1080p capable HDTV, although these are the most expensive.

You might be able to get a 720p TV now, and a 1080p later for the price difference. Up to you.

Answer 3

1081i is and interlaced display meaning that 540 lines are refreshed each scan good TV 720p is a projessive scan so 720 lines are refreshed each time better for fast moving DVD scenes and games

Answer 4

Dear confuse customer,
when ever I want to buy a T.V. set that is High Definition I first read about the set and what brand is best here's the website where I read about any electronics and it's free.
www.consumerguide.com.
Goodluck.

Answer 5

don't try to understand all that stuff, just give importance to size, if u like small, take it, or if u like it big, take it..why bother all the digital crap man..we want luxury and not codes for all those electronics..just go for it and u'll get to know them..