Is 720p a better picture than 1080i...and how do you get 1080p?

Question

My TV is capable of 1080p but when watching HD channels, it sais maximum is 1080i

Answer 1

To answer your main question, 720p CAN BE better than 1080i, but usually 1080i is better (by better, I mean higher resolution). A 1080i picture contains 1920x1080 pixels, twice as many as the 1280x720 pixels in a 720p picture. If the image were stationary, there is no question that the 1080i picture is better. However, because not all of the 1080i pixels appear on the screen at the same time, if the image is moving, the edges will show artifacts and in fact only have 540 lines of resolution. This is why broadcasters who emphasize sports programming opted for 720p which does not have this problem.

When you say your TV is capable of 1080p, that means your TV displays 1080p. It may not accept 1080p as input (so far only available as output from some video game and the new high-def DVD players). That means it converts 1080i (as well as anything else) to 1080p. That conversion (from 1080i) is called "de-interlacing" and that can vary in quality between set manufacturers and models. When done properly, de-interlacing 1080i to 1080p can produce a remarkably good result; not as good as true 1080p, but quite good (especially for slowly changing images). So if you get a 1080p set, you are really watching 1080p all the time, no matter what is being sent to the TV.

Answer 2

What TV do you have? While many Tv's say they are 1080p only a very few will accept a native 1080p feed. Most will take a 1080i or 720p signal and upconvert it to 1080p. Although by doing so a little is lost in the conversion.

If indeed you do have a true 1080p tv then only a Blu Ray DVD player connected with a HDMI cable will get you the 1080p look you are after.

The Xbox 360 does NOT broadcast in 1080p it is only a 720p source as of now, which is still fantastic!

Hope this helps

Answer 3

1080p viewing usually requires a 1080p source, which right now are scarcer than hen's teeth. Just wait, within the next 12 to 18 months, things will be changing. What happens below 1080 vertical resolution (scan lines) depends on the setting of your set, Most HD channes are still 720p that is being "upconverted" to 1080i, (Dish is 1080i for new movies) which is about as good as your set can make it, under the circumstances.

Eventually consumer demand and competition will force them all to upgrade to 1080p

Answer 4

No one is broadcasting in 1080p. If you have an Xbox 360 or PS3, you can take advantage of 1080p. Also, some DVD's are in 1080p

Answer 5

They are just forms of picture size. Since you probably have a big tv, you can play things 1080i. No, 1080 is much better than 720. for example, if you are playing certani games, the game will have a number cpacity on the back.