Should I get a 720p HDTV?

bosindy said:
I am no expert when it comes to this stuff, but I think everything in the U.S. gets broadcast in 720. I was watching a friends 46 inch 1080p and it doesn't seem progressive to me. I think the uprezzing does this. So when I watch a 720p, broadcast on HBO or whatever it looks better. The 1080i (uprezzed) has that ultra real look. Maybe she needs to change something on the tv. Does this make sense.
Click to expand...

No, most stuff in the US is broadcast at 1080i.

Your friend may have a 120Hz TV which makes movies look like live video. It's horrible.
 
Well, that's a good point, too -- many boxes, especially satellite boxes, have various display modes, and for some stupid reason, when they're installed on an HDTV, the installer rarely ever sets them to display in HD -- the default seems to be 480p. So, often, customers will have no idea that their signal can look much, much better.
 
Its a sony bravia, I don't think it has 120hz, but I'll check. I notice, the display information says 1080i when I change the channel. I wonder if there is a setting she doesn't have set properly. I took a quick look but couldn't figure it out.
 
David Jimerson said:
Well, that's a good point, too -- many boxes, especially satellite boxes, have various display modes, and for some stupid reason, when they're installed on an HDTV, the installer rarely ever sets them to display in HD -- the default seems to be 480p. So, often, customers will have no idea that their signal can look much, much better.
Click to expand...
So true. I've walked into homes of people I know ( I won't out them here, I'll juts say "In-Laws" :) ) to find out that their DVD player wasn't set to 16:9 on their new plasma. Or their HD PVR was hooked up to their new HDTV via a COMPOSITE cable! :eek:

You should have seen their faces after I set them up properly. Good times. :beer:
 
bosindy said:
Its a sony bravia, I don't think it has 120hz, but I'll check. I notice, the display information says 1080i when I change the channel. I wonder if there is a setting she doesn't have set properly. I took a quick look but couldn't figure it out.
Click to expand...
1080i should still look great on a properly setup TV. Especially from a normal seating distance.

EDIT: You could try setting her HD box to 720p and see if you personally like that look better.

BTW, here's a great article on the subject.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Last edited:
1080p at any size is worth it if you're going to be plugging a computer into it as well, so consider that.
 
Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
Once again, it depends on the size of the TV and the viewing distance. :)
Click to expand...

Not in all cases. Think about the a 32" for example, if it's 720p it's gonna be 1366x768 if 1080 it's gonna be 1920x1080. Now think about the res of your average computer monitor. If you're going to be plugging your computer into your tv to do any kind of web browsing or text reading or anything which res more closely replicates a proper computer display? On a 1366x728 tv everything is gonna be huge on it when it comes to using it at a display, and that's at any distance.

I know because I've got a 1366x768 tv and doing anything computer related on it isn't the greatest experience.

But for anything other than computer use at 42" screen and down 720p vs 1080p is a non-issue.
 
Yes, but you ignored the viewing distance part. Obviously if you are going to use it as some kind of monitor that changes things a bit.

Still, sit back with a wireless keyboard on the couch and things change yet again. I get your point though.

Either way, I think he's looking for practical use.
 
bosindy said:
Its a sony bravia, I don't think it has 120hz, but I'll check. I notice, the display information says 1080i when I change the channel. I wonder if there is a setting she doesn't have set properly. I took a quick look but couldn't figure it out.
Click to expand...

I also have a 1080 Sony bravia. The TV has a 100mhz motion enhancer which is great for watching sport. She needs to change the setting when watching movies - a press of a button. Also has a true 24p cinema feature.

Taking into account all the different color settings, my HPX500 footage looks incredible on this TV, in 480 or 1080. So to OP, if you can swing for 1080 I would, but if you cant 720 is still pretty nice.
 
We went with a 65" 1080P DLP. There's no wall mounting these monsters--it's about 19 inches from front to back and weighs about 90 pounds, but it sits on an entertainment center and takes up half the wall anyway, so wall mounting wouldn't have mattered (plus we have plaster walls--I don't trust them to hold a TV). Viewing distance is about 10 feet+.

We looked at 720P flat screens but decided to go for more resolution and screen size, especially since our living room is long and we'd be sitting further away. If I had to do it all again I'd make the same choice--well, I might go one size up to the 73", but that's a little excessive.

Michael
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top