High definition video

[jemsite]

yes.

assuming a decent, even $99 level DVD player, you're outputting 480i from S-video wheras component can output 480p. should be somewhat better as you're sending more info over to the HDTV which then upscales to 720p or whatever native resolution your HDTV is... glen

[shredmaster]

Originally Posted by dex

I've got a stupid* number of DVDs (over 600) so I'm not going to be replacing them with BluRay releases or anything but I will replace the 40-50 films I really like.

if each one averaging $10, some more, maybe some less, you spent easily $6000 on DVDs. woah. it's easy to do. my cousin is the same way. i rarely buy them...only the ones i really want in the collection. i think i have maybe 50?

[dex]

What puzzles me a little bit is why people buy 720p sets when $200-300 more will get you an actual HD set capable of displaying the 1080i or 1080p (1920x1080) natively?

Looking at me, TVs normally last me good 5-6 years before I upgrade so I wouldn't get a 720p set (99% of Hi-Def plasmas and rear projection TVs + 70% of LCD TVs) when all hi def TV services and the 2 hi def disc formats are coming out at 1080.

Your plasma is downscaling the broadcast to fit it on the screen and by the same token your new HD-DVD or BluRay (which you WILL get in 18-24 months time at the latest) image will be downscaled to fit on the plasma.

Same with game consoles, Xbox360 and PS3 can do 1080.

I'm genuinely interested if this is due to lack of research and knowledge or short sightedness on the part of the buyers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

[Wis Redz of Silvanost]

Originally Posted by shredmaster

if each one averaging $10, some more, maybe some less, you spent easily $6000 on DVDs. woah. it's easy to do. my cousin is the same way. i rarely buy them...only the ones i really want in the collection. i think i have maybe 50?

That's not so anormal actually. If dex loves to watch movies (he definitely does) then it is perhaps a small amount that he has paid. Some of us adore to have a lot of guitars and therefore diverse tone possibilities while some of us are addicted to music (me). Still others could be addicted to buy books (again me ) I can easily say that I have spent over 2k for my music cd collection and nearly as much as that for my fantasy book collection

To answer your question dex, I do not think that people are that informed about what they buy anymore. They have internet to make purchases, and as far as the average buyer is concerned the screen size is the deciding factor along with a good price. I don't think many people know what it is that they are buying. While the screen size is important, resolution is just as important. Therefore I can safely say that (generally speaking of course) the lack of research and knowledge stems from the fact that a lot of buyers are shortsighted, have too much money on their hands and of course laziness...

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by dex

What puzzles me a little bit is why people buy 720p sets when $200-300 more will get you an actual HD set capable of displaying the 1080i or 1080p (1920x1080) natively?

720p >> 1080i sets which are 540p glorified sets. 1080i set equals subpar HDTV (that often can't properly display a 1080i/60 signal even)

Now, I see your point if we're talking native 1080p panel, but there are only a HANDFUL of HDTVs that properly handle 1920x1080p 1:1 pixel mapping.

For $300 more buy the 1080p flatscreen vs 1280x768 leftover panel.

That said it's more than just pixels and resolution.... my 1280x720p DLP HDTV projector displays a better picture of HD sources showing an 8 FOOT WIDE image than my 24" 1080p LCD monitor does... glen

[jim777]

I was looking into getting a new, big TV in March, but a bunch of people have told me to just wait until the end ofthe year and get an SEC TV. I don't know anything about any of this really, as I almost never watch anything other than cartoons (hey, 4 kids!). So, is it worth waiting for? I figured I'd be in for about 15-1800 on the TV.

jim

[dex]

I don't know Glen, after watching PAL TV all my life (576i) only during the past 2 years have a "progressive scan" TV sets become available and you need a progressive scan DVD player that can de-interlace DVDs so you can enjoy a tiny improvement in pic quality.

A unit that can handle 1080i natively will still have twice the resolution of the free TV channels I get here.

You've probably had your projector for a while now but if you were on the market to get a new one today would you still go for a 720p?

All new hd-dvds and bluray discs will be encoded in 1080p and 9/10 people won't be able to see the difference between 1080i and 720p.
I'm really wondering about people buying brand new sets now, not 2-3 years ago.

Here in Britain Sky HD only started broadcasting HD less than ayear ago so there was never an incentive to get a decent TV but now with Xbox360, PS3, hd-dvd, bluray and a whole bunch of HD channels - go for the 1080p.

Buying a 720p plasma today is the same as going for a 1366x768 monitor when a little bit more money will buy you 1920x1080 screen.
All else being equal when it comes to resolution more = better.

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by dex

I don't know Glen, after watching PAL TV all my life (576i) only during the past 2 years have a "progressive scan" TV sets become available and you need a progressive scan DVD player that can de-interlace DVDs so you can enjoy a tiny improvement in pic quality..

I dont' follow you... most TVs dont properly deinterlace. 1080i is a mismosh for PAL stuff too.

Originally Posted by dex

A unit that can handle 1080i natively will still have twice the resolution of the free TV channels I get here.

that is like saying i ate a hamburger twice as good as McDonalds. Yuk.

I've seen DVDs (720x480 anamorphic enhanced) that look better than 1920x1080i HDTV broadcasts.

Again, i have both a 1920x1080p panel and 1280x720p projector

Originally Posted by dex

You've probably had your projector for a while now but if you were on the market to get a new one today would you still go for a 720p?

considering there are only THREE 1080p DLP PJs sold under $10,000USD today the answer is resounding YES.

projectors (front like mine or rear) with lenses are alot different in regards to fill rate than fixed pixel direct view panels.

Originally Posted by dex

All new hd-dvds and bluray discs will be encoded in 1080p and 9/10 people won't be able to see the difference between 1080i and 720p. I'm really wondering about people buying brand new sets now, not 2-3 years ago.

Here in Britain Sky HD only started broadcasting HD less than ayear ago so there was never an incentive to get a decent TV but now with Xbox360, PS3, hd-dvd, bluray and a whole bunch of HD channels - go for the 1080p.

SkyHD is 25fps (50Hz) which is very lame. Good resolution however.

Originally Posted by dex

Buying a 720p plasma today is the same as going for a 1366x768 monitor when a little bit more money will buy you 1920x1080 screen. All else being equal when it comes to resolution more = better.

Which is what i said in my post above, but "ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL" is a huge variable. I've seen 960x480p Projectors outperform 1280x720p native panels showing HDTV

i'd wager 9 out of 10 viewers would not discern 720p from 1080p panel at normal viewing with an average HDTV broadcast (which is 720p or 1080i)... glen

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by jim777

I was looking into getting a new, big TV in March, but a bunch of people have told me to just wait until the end ofthe year and get an SEC TV. I don't know anything about any of this really, as I almost never watch anything other than cartoons (hey, 4 kids!). So, is it worth waiting for? I figured I'd be in for about 15-1800 on the TV.

jim

SED tvs haven't been released and have been delays. end of year you'll find name brand 1080p native TVs with lots of inputs (HDMI, VGA, component needed) at that price, depending on size... glen

[dex]

I was just saying after watching 576i (TV and DVD here in the UK) for many, many years I can't wait for the 1080i tv broadcasts and the 1080p hi def players.

Fair play though, if TV is your thing then 720p might be good enough.
Watching stuff I've bought or rented is my thing and if the disc had 1080p on it I won't be settling for watching it on a 720p screen.

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by dex

I was just saying after watching 576i (TV and DVD here in the UK) for many, many years I can't wait for the 1080i tv broadcasts and the 1080p hi def players.

i hear you but your posts sorta indicate you're a HDTV newbie. 1080i/p can bring along problems, such as original poor source video. just look at the reaction to some of the early bluray titles like The Fifth Element... disasterous but 1080p

Originally Posted by dex

Fair play though, if TV is your thing then 720p might be good enough. Watching stuff I've bought or rented is my thing and if the disc had 1080p on it I won't be settling for watching it on a 720p screen.

that is another thing is downressing gives better quality then upressing... a crummy 720p TV is a crummy 720p TV, a crummy 1080p Tv is a crummy TV... 1080p alone makes for nothing special except some extra bits onscreen. ...glen

[kent k]

I'm looking to buy a new tv too and am wondering about the connections. Hopefully you guys can help me. All the ones I'm looking at have HDMI connections, but my cable box (comcast hdtv-ready) only has DVI and component out. Can I go with a DVI to HDMI cable? Should I just use DVI to DVI (the tv should have one of those too) or just use component cables?

Should I see if comcast has a newer box with an HDMI out? Would I be losing any quality by not using HDMI exclusively?

[elcid]

Just use component, HDMI is evil.

[jemsite]

all comcast's boxes have component and either DVI or HDMI and are HDCP compliant (not that i'd consider HDCP a "feature" LOL).

The more compact 34xx comcast has HDMI
The bulkier older 64xx has DVI or HDMI

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_...VR/Connections

good rule of thumb is you don't gain or lose quality with HDMI vs Component vs DVI with Cableboxes. PC and HD-DVD/Bluray is another story.

These are the MANDATORY inputs of a HDTV you buy today
* HDMI
* VGA and/or DVI-I (allows analog DVI from PC and add)
* Component

If it lacks HDMI (has only DVI even if it has HDCP compliant) then pass on the TV as it's older and nothing to write home about.

Trust me you'll want to be able to hookup a laptop computer to your HDTV and do full resolution (for movies, photos, etc. and that requires VGA for the most part - or DVI-I analog/digital (where you can buy an adapter to go from VGA to DVI-I analog... glen

[kent k]

Ok thanks guys, I appreciate it.