If I buy a HDTV, DLP, rear projection, LCD, that's max display is 720p am I going to notice a difference?

Question

I'm going to be using a satellite receiver and occasionally over the air broadcasts. Thank you!

a difference between 720p and 1080i

Answer 1

Despite the white lies some women use to assuage men's egos size DOES matter! In this case it's the screen size which is the key to the equation and that variable hasn't been given so here's a bit of general advice to aid you.

In screen sizes of 32 inch's and less there will be no difference detectable, at 37 it will be only slight and in the 42 inch range it is noticable but really dependant upon how close you are sitting. At sizes over this you're usually talking 50+ inch screens and it's here that 720p falls flat on it's face, the 'screen door' effect becoming noticable on any picture regardless of signal source be it cable, satellite or DVD.

Sadly it's here that you're most likely at given that it's an RPTV you're looking at and yes, your picture will pay the price. But there is a silver lining to this and it's not what you'd expect, some advice on your pending purchase that you may not be aware of. LCD RPTV is at this point in time is perhaps the WORST way of displaying an image available.

I was recently in the market myself and did a lot of research in this field, better than 6000 posts read on various forums and web sites in fact, the advice of experts in the field as well as your everyday Joe's like you and me taken in to account. The general concencous on LCD RPTV is that it offer a very poor picture, the colors muted and lifeless and the picture itself sort of dead, flat and without true definition. It's only been offered as a way into the large screen size that is presently owned by Plasma, another display option flawed to the point that many manufacturers have already ceased further development and production of such, Sony and Mitsubishi just to drop two BIG names.

Sorry to rain on your parade but I would STRONGLY suggest you continue shopping for another option. If it's a 'Big Screen' you're after then my advice would be to try a High Def CRT RPTV. Despite what those so called 'Experts' down at the local Best Buy or Circuit City will tell you CRT is still the reigning king in the field of display. Sure, it's not the latest but it's still the greatest, an attitude held by folks who live and breath TV every day, folks without a commision check guiding their opinions or coloring their advice.

I'll not go into all the reasons behind this, suffice to say that CRT has it covered on every base, be it gaming performance or simply enjoying the ball game on a lazy afternoon. My advice is to go out and snatch up one of these before they're gone as they're being phased out even as we speak as they're not making the manufacturers enough money compared to the latest crap they're trying to push. But hey, that works in your favor! Circuit City just had a Hitachi 57 inch CRT RPTV on sale for $999, 57 inchs at a full 1080i resolution and a set regarded by the true experts as the deal of the century.

That's enough for me, I'll leave you to make your own choice, just make sure you do the research before plunking down the ducats. Your question here shows you aren't swayed by the herd mentality and that's a GOOD thing so go out and find out more and be confident in your ultimate decision. Good luck and have a great weekend

Answer 2

Difference between 720p and what? The TV's you listed? Of coures, 720p only looks good in a HDTV. Whether it's plasma, lcd, or dlp just make sure it's HD ready. Also, make sure the receiver you get is an HD receiver.