Help me buy a new TV-- how badly do I need 1080p?

[OBCT]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

i was under the impression that unless you are using larger than 42 inchs, then 1080p is unnecessary.

See photon's image above.

Both screen size and viewing distance are factors.

[Shazam]

120Hz. Pffft. 240Hz is where it's at.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by prarieboy

A little off topic but does anyone have an opinion on what to set my cable box at?? Should the out put be set to 720P or 1080i?

I have a 52" 1080 P LCD Samsung at 120 Hz as well as a 50" Samsung Plasma at 720P.

Any comments would be appreciated.

PS it's a Shaw Cable box

it depends some tv's look better when its set to 720p some look better set to 1080i, try both and see which one looks better, (the picture should be better with 720 p because its a progressive signal vs 1080i interlace signal)

[photon]

Yeah and it also depends on the individual box and TV and which is doing the necessary conversions (if any).

Try it different ways and see what looks best.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Madman

Quite tactful.

Let me guess, you are an electronics salesman. Futureshop or Best Buy?

Its not like we're telling the guy to buy an HD DVD player or a Betamax machine. Its a TV; and the last time I checked, TVs weren't going anywhere - 1080p or not. Buying a 34" or 40" 1080p TV at the premium they are at right now compared to their 720p counterpart, just to be prepared for what may be more prevalent in 5-10 years is a terrible way to buy a TV. (Just as the guy who bought a 34" CRT 16:9 Toshiba HDTV TV 10 years ago when they first came out and paid out the nose. But hey, at least he wasn't out to lunch)

Not to mention, (again), that at a 34" level the average consumer would be hard pressed to tell the difference between 720p/1080i and 1080p.

Buy a 720p TV, save your money and in 5-10 years when 1080p is more "prevalent", then you can buy the latest and greatest TV technology at that time.

No, but I'd love to sell you a new camera

I don't really understand how you can say 'may' become more prevalent. It will, and has. Waiting for technology is a losing game every time.

[MJK]

I have always been a believer that if you are going to shell out $1500 or so for a LCD tv, you might as well spend the extra $100-$200 and get the best which is 1080p. At least that always gives you the option of using it down the road if you want too.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

For sports you will notice a difference (Hockey, Football,Soccer) Movies you notice some difference for example an action bluray movie.

120hz have come down quite a bit i have seen 46 inch samsung for $1800, i payed $2000 for an 47 inch last may

at the end I say shell out a couple hundred bucks for 120hz especially when if watch hockey

I have a 120hz LCD and it handles hockey well with the True Motion turned on and I'd also recommend it for sports. Either that or go plasma as some think the 120hz looks artificial. Some call it the "soap opera effect".

[PsYcNeT]

For real tho, this TV is fantastic at the price. My fiances father got it last week and I've been hooking every electronic item I have up to it to test it, and I gotta say, for the price...wow.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...30&catid=26554

For real. $1400 52" 1080p 30,000:1 dynamic contrast, 2,000:1 true contrast, 5 ms refresh rate...

I played TF2 (PC) on it earlier today, and man it eats up video games.

Easily the best non 120 hz TV i've seen to have little to no ghosting.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

bell is going 100% 1080p with there hd channels by this summer using 8psk just like dish network has with there turbo hd.

I would like to see proof of that claim. Yeah, they are going 8psk, but no way are they going 100% 1080p anytime soon. They are going to add a whack of new HD channels instead.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by psicodude

I would like to see proof of that claim. Yeah, they are going 8psk, but no way are they going 100% 1080p anytime soon. They are going to add a whack of new HD channels instead.

Yeah, none of the broadcasters are going to 1080p in the foreseeable future so how can a provider put out 1080p except for some downloads. A 1080p TV will upconvert the lower signal to 1080p and some will do it better than others.

[GoFlamesGo89]

Wow, there is some great info and lots to think about in this thread.

For those following, the closest viewing seat on the couch is about 8' away, so and all others farther out. So from the graph that photon put up, it sounds like the 1080p might not be too noticeable. Having said that, there are a number of compelling reasons to make sure were not obsolete any time soon.

Needless to say this needs some more thinking, and since we're not in too much of a hurry we'll spend some time looking at TVs in stores (and maybe bringing a couple home )

Thanks again to everyone!

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

it depends some tv's look better when its set to 720p some look better set to 1080i, try both and see which one looks better, (the picture should be better with 720 p because its a progressive signal vs 1080i interlace signal)

Shaw's HD is natively 1080i.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=87543

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Waiting for technology is a losing game every time.

wrong, its the way to save money.
paying when its relatively new on the market costs $$$$

[kukkudo]

http://www.audioholics.com/news/indu...k-1080p-august
heres the link for dish network and going 1080p, as an employee for bell canada they have said there looking to launch this Q3 or Q4

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

http://www.audioholics.com/news/indu...k-1080p-august
heres the link for dish network and going 1080p, as an employee for bell canada they have said there looking to launch this Q3 or Q4

They only do that for their video on demand service, which downloads the movie to your PVR (which I hear can take hours). This is basically the same as renting a Blue Ray movie from Blockbuster, minus the driving and standing in line.

You are making it sounds like we will be watching American Idol in 1080p in 3 months, which is a flat out lie. Broadcast television in 1080p is YEARS away. Broadcast television in 1080p in Canada, is probably years away after that.

[Cliche]

Originally Posted by flamesfan6

wrong, its the way to save money.
paying when its relatively new on the market costs $$$$

And by the time it's come down in price, something better has always come out.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cliche

And by the time it's come down in price, something better has always come out.

Yeah true, but for best value when buying electronics I've heard and I try to practise it, buy two or three levels below the so called latest and greatest.

The latest and greatest for LCDs are LED backlights and 240hz, so I'd look at a normal backlit 1080p TV with 120hz.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by OBCT

I know a guy who bought a 720p plasma two years ago thinking he'd never go Blu-Ray and wouldn't want any better for high-definition TV programming thru the life of display.

Just yesterday, he bought a new 1080p Samsung LCD w/ 120Hz to accompany a brand new PS3. Needless to say, he got bit by the upgrade bug. He's now enjoying Blu-Ray Discs and (although still extremely limited where we are) terrestrial HD television in full 1080p native resolutions. I don't know if you'd have similar second thoughts after going 720p, and I'm not even suggesting that you should. I just found it interesting that this guy was resolute on his 720p for about a year when he bought it, and then the regret (ie. upgrade-itis) slowly crept in.

It's a tough call, for sure. Me, I would definitely "splurge" on a.) 1080p resolution, b.) 120Hz refresh rate, and c.) top brand name manufacturer (different depending on plasma vs. LCD). Whatever you choose - have fun!!

You make a good point. Although you don't need 1080p right now, it is always nice to know you have it, and with the prices, you can't go wrong buying one. 1080p displays have dropped tremendously in the past few years.

The one thing I don't think you need is the 120Hz framerate, to me it looks ridiculous, as the image moves too fluid. I personally don't like the look of it. To my knowledge it isn't the refresh rate, it is the framerate. The refresh rate is different, usually calculated in ms.

Also, I don't think we will be seeing tv in 1080p anytime soon. Studio's aren't going to be producing their stuff in 1080p, and a upscaled 1080i to 1080p picture won't look that different, if it isn't made to be in 1080p.

[HOOT]

If it's only $100-150 then why not? At least you know that TV will be good for the next 5+ years as top picture quality.

Either way you go I don't think you are making the wrong decision, the difference between 1080i and 1080p picture quality wise probably won't be a big deal for the use it sounds like you need the TV for.

The downstairs one I would probably prepare for the future.

[greerb]

bell is going 100% 1080p with there hd channels by this summer using 8psk just like dish network has with there turbo hd.

- There is no broadcasters that broadcast 1080p.
- DN's Turbo HD IS NOT 1080p, trust me. It is an HD only service. If Bell/Canada had enough HD channels to offer this I would subsribe to it in a heartbeat.
- DN offers 1080p downloads of movies, you have to be connected to the internet to receive these.
8psk will only offer bell slightly more bandwidth and will probably add a couple more HD channels, and possibly decrease the compression. Once they switch to mpeg-4 they will be able to add even more HD channels.

As for 1080p, I would look around for deals, there won't be much difference in price between a 720p and a 1080p TV in those sizes, and it is very possible you might even get a free Blu-Ray player if you go with a 1080p TV.