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TVs: 720p vs. 1080p - I am totally confused... in: Reviews

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   posted: Jun. 2, 2008 @ 5:01p
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I was hoping somebody could tell me if it was worth buying a 1080p TV or not. I am currently a graduate student with about $1400-$1750 to spend on a TV and want ~46 in TV.

Originally, I was totally convinced I needed a 1080p because Blu-Ray displays on 1080p (I believe) and the DVDs looked so cool at Best Buy even though I was unlikely to buy a Blu-Ray DVD player until it fell dramatically in price.

I have done quite a bit of research and am still having trouble discerning what I should buy. The key questions I have are:

1. Currently, is cable HD broadcast in 720p or 1080p?
1b. If it is currently in 720p, is it likely that it moves to 1080p anytime soon?
2. To watch HD TV in all its glory does 1080p make the picture look better than 720p? Is this correlated to how far away I am when I am watching the TV?
3. Does Blu-Ray display in 1080p? Will it display in 720p?
4. Considering I will not be doing any hard core gaming and/or programming, does 720p make more sense than 1080p?

5. Are there any bells and whistles I should make sure my TV has regardless if it is 720p or 1080p (e.g. 120 Hz, at least 10000:1 dynamic contrast, etc)?

After that, I am open to any TV suggestions you guys may have!

Thanks so much for your help!

   posted: Jun. 2, 2008 @ 5:01p

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   posted: Jun. 3, 2008 @ 2:17p
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I am not the "expert" you are looking for, but seeing as you are getting no replys i will chime in.

I have a 32" 720p Aquas. I get Cable HD and it looks amazing on it, your screen will be much bigger so you might see a noticable difference in the 720 vs 1080 war

PS if you want to get a Blu ray, get the PS3 now and you will get a Blu ray player and $100 GC from WalMart

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   posted: Jun. 30, 2008 @ 5:42p
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Thanks for your reply.

For those of you that are still confused, I have done quite a bit of research and come up with some interesting findings to my questions.

1. HD Cable is broadcast in 1080i and is unlikely to move to 1080p for 5+ years
2. 1080p basically upscales pictures below this quality to actually create more pixels and a clearer picture for large screens.
3. Blu-Ray does display in 1080p and will play on a 720p TV
4. It really depends on the size of the TV and your adoption of Blu ray. Below 42 inches, it definitely does not make sense to go to 1080p unless you are going to buy blu ray. Above 42 inches, you will be able to notice a slight difference till about 50 inches and a large difference after that.
5. 120Hz is considered a great improvement for quick moving screens like those in sports. Otherwise it is difficult to notice.

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   posted: Jul. 9, 2008 @ 12:06p
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anything under 32" will look great in 720P.
you wouldnt really notice the difference if your tv under 32" was 1080P.

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   posted: Aug. 21, 2008 @ 2:58p
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All HD Cable is NOT 1080i...
A lot of HD Cable programming is broadcast in 720p or 1080i. Depends on the network and the cameras used at the time. Check EngdgetHD if you're unsure...
EngadgetHD listing for Aug20

 

I have a (3 year old) 720p 46" tv and a newer 61" 1080p tv. From your couch, it is difficult to see the difference in 720 and 1080, even from a Blu-Ray disc. Once you get within a couple of feet, you can tell the detail, but you watch your TV from your couch...not from 2 feet away.

Regardless of the resolution of programming, most TVs these days have very good processors that will interpolate up/down to the native resolution of the screen.

For the kind of money you're talking about, you can get a very nice 46" to 60" 1080p DLP screen. The only reason to stay with a 720p screen is to save some coin.

And PLEASE don't go and get an Olevia or some other such off-brand. Stick with the Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Pioneers, etc. of the world and you will be OK.

Message edited by: xder345 on 2008-08-21 15:04:45 CDT
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   posted: Sep. 9, 2008 @ 2:02p
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might as well get a 1080p tv. Panasonic and Pioneer is always considered one of the best. I believe Pioneer is pulling out of the business. Sharp aquos is also very good. If you're on a budget, you can get a Vizio whose reputation is going up. I believe you can get a 50 inch vizio at costco for around $1500. Costco adds an additional two year warranty on their tvs; that's the best place to buy in my opinion

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