HDTV question

[space-time]

Some TVs around 30-40" can do 720p but not 1080p, which is fine. But they seem to support 1080i.

So if the screen resolution is 1300 x 768 (I don't remember the exact numbers), it makes sense that the TV is able to display lower resolutions (480, 720) but how does it handle 1080i? will it down-convert? and if so, why not down-convert the 1080p as well?

[MacManMaz]

I believe the i stands for interlaced, and the p stands for progressive. So, you can see that is has nothing to do with pixel dimensions, but rather how they are drawn on the screen. Interlaced (i) draws every other horizontal line first and then starts again from the top drawing the in-between lines each cycle. CRT's are all interlaced, I think. A tv that is only 1080i capable cannot draw 1080 lines all at once top to bottom (progressive). It may be a limitation of the video processor and memory.

[M>B>]

http://www.dtv.gov/

[Chupa Chupa]

It should down-convert the 1080p picture as well, i.e., be blu-ray compatible.

[Article Accelerator]

[quote space-time]Some TVs around 30-40" can do 720p but not 1080p, which is fine. But they seem to support 1080i.

So if the screen resolution is 1300 x 768 (I don't remember the exact numbers), it makes sense that the TV is able to display lower resolutions (480, 720) but how does it handle 1080i? will it down-convert?
Yes,

and if so, why not down-convert the 1080p as well?

Yes, if it will accept a 1080p signal at all.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a set that can't natively (i.e. on-screen) display 1920 x 1080 pixels. That's especially true for larger sets (e.g. 47" and larger) because the chances of configuring your TV room for optimum viewing conditions are higher:

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewi...lator.html

[Maddog]

I don't think there is a big difference in the 720p capable sets and their higher priced brothers, the 1080 sets. If the signal processor in the set is of high quality (and that is really the key issue), then your TV will take the signal it is given and give you the best possible picture with that signal. I would lean towards the higher refresh rates in the newer lines of LCD TV's (the 120hz sets), which I believe is likely to reduce some of the artifacts that you see with some HD signals. However, I don't know this for a fact.