Windows

1080i vs. 720p HDTV

Posted by on Apr 27, 2006 | 19 Comments

I’ve seen 1080p content displayed on a 1080p HDTV set. Couldn’t tell you if it was any better than 720p or 1080i, but I believe it is better – for tomorrow, not necessarily for today. I’m not just spewing forth random numbers, folks – these are formats, one being progressive lines (720p) on a television screen and the other interlaced (1080i). There’s a new format emerging that blends the best of both worlds: 1080p. Remember that your good ol’ television set in the other room is only capable of displaying 480 lines at a time. In the world of content, more is astoundingly better. I won’t argue the benefits of LCD, plasma, DLP, etc. – that’s for a different discussion altogether. I will tell you, however, that spending more money for a set that’s 1080p-compatible today is a waste of money. Wait until there’s more 1080p content available in a few years; don’t put off HD for too much longer if your pocketbook can handle the hit.

“720p is better than 1080i in HDTV because the highest 1080 line formats (1080i60 and 1080p30) as defined in the ATSC standard, deliver only a few more pixels per second than the highest 720p variant (720p60).” Or so says this article on the Facts and Fiction of 1080p. I can tell you that high definition gaming is definitely here to stay – and will only get better over time. I’m having extreme difficulties playing high-action games on a regular ol’ television set because it doesn’t offer the same depth and detail as an HD display does. I want to watch all my programming on our HDTV screen, and am extremely disappointed when a show doesn’t record (or isn’t available) in high-def. I don’t care if it’s available in 720p or 1080i, because my eyes still can’t see which one is better.

There’s a big difference between progressive and interlaced content, mind you. In a “progressive” mode, the image is assembled and presented one frame at a time. In an “interlaced” scenario, odd lines and even lines are displayed one after another in rapid succession – creating the illusion of a full, single frame. Ultimately, progressive is… progressive. You can’t walk into a video store and pick up a VHS copy of your favorite movie easily these days, can you? Most of us have moved on to DVD. There will come a time when all televisions will be able to handle high definition content with ease. And I still remember having a couple of black and white TVs in our house growing up. How did we ever get along without color? You’ll be asking yourself the same thing in another decade. Only, instead of “color,” you’ll wonder how the world ever got along with HD.

[tags]tv,lcd,television,plasma,hdtv,high definition,progressive scan,dlp,1080p,1080i,720p,interlaced[/tags]

  • Angel

    not suprised about your comment.still remember how bad it was well up to the 1980´s to wacht american programs and trying to ajust the colour,and wondering why the picture was not as sharp,not to talk about the jerky movement especially during camara movement due to the drop of five frames every second (25 is compleatly smooth,dont need more) the European Union developes a 1250i HDsystem been the best,but no we have to wait because U,S,A is talking about a newer digital HD system so Europe stop and cancel it´s system waiting for the American response.so finally the Americans come with a two systems, 720p and 1080i.some country,s like Australia are transmitting 720p,1080i and 625p! they argue why 720p if it,s not that much difference from 625p(most countries in world used the 625i systems 25 o 50 cicle) for most of us 720p is not that much improvement, maybe it is to people that are used to waching 525i transmissions like people from the states and there satelites. i admitt that there´s not that much difference if wacth on small to medium size screens,but there is a big difference when seen on large screens.so i hope the 720p losses the battle and we get on with the real HD format on over 1000 lines.Im glad that blue ray and HD DVD have choosen 1080 p system that will make these large screens more popular,i would hate to wacth a big screen video on 720p because the lines and pixel would be to visible to the eye.If we are getting in HD lets get to it properly and not in a half way .by the way there is a big difference in pixels per line in the 1080 even if it´s interlace.hope the future will be 1080p but of course the American´s are more interested in packing more channels in bandwith rather than improving picture quality,so there trying to sell us the 720p system.

  • http://www.myessays.com jack

    I don’t know what TV you are watching, but I’ve got 50″GW3 and a Mits DLP1080i (which plays mostly 720p content) throwing a 110″ screen. On the GW, you can only see the pixels/lines or any articafacts for that matter if you are right up on the screen. On the 110″, you can only see the pixels if you are within about 3 -4 feet of it, which is about 3 times closer than you can comfortably watch it from. I’ll add I have 30/40 vision also.

    On a friends Sam 1080p 60in, I would say the picture looks better, but not clearer in resolution. I would attribute it to the screen and processing.

    In short, if I showed 10 different TVs of varying quality, half of which were playing 720p and the other have 1080p, and you could get 8 out 10 right, I would buy you a 1080p set against $500 of your own dollars.

    1080p is nice, but it’s not revolutionary… a quality display with yield almost indistinguishable pictures of 1080p vs 720p unless its a pure side by side nitpick.

  • KIAN

    On my opinion 1920x1080i is the best than 1360x720p.Example 720p best only on TV with 1360 horizontal lines with 720 or 768 vertical lines,That’s the first T.V format introduced by Plasma and LCD manufacturer with Built in decoder for 720p and 1080i format. Now when you play 720p video at 1920x1080i Television you can notice the jagged within horizontal lines of your television and the 1080p are only addon on the newest and latest TV format .Now if theres plan to by a new television check for the pixel the smallest pixel the best in high defenition. hint TV station broadcast only in1080i and 720p not 1080p

  • http://mycancuntraveldeals.com LeRoi

    I don’t know if I’ve been looking at 720p/1080p vs 720i/1080i TVs in the stores, but I noticed a significant difference in sharpness/details/clarity when going from 720 to 1080.

    I first went up to some low-priced large screen (46″-52″) panel TVs and thought, ‘Wow, great price – and the picture looks good.” But when I moved on to another TV it was like, ‘Wow, who turned the light on?!’ It was much more detailed.

    The difference? Well, there were 2 actually – the first was that the first TV was only 720 HD (not sure i or p) while the ‘night and day’ TV (the much better one) was 1080.

    The second thing I noticed (in general) was that the LCD TVs were clearer, more defined and more vivid compared to the plasmas of similar specs. The plasmas tended to be a little dull by comparison. Although I DO like plasmas. :)

    Anyway, my 2 cents – just from observations. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/Adromeda Cameron Mullett

    16 gigs of ram is a ridiculous amount of ram xD

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      Today, sure. :)

    • http://twitter.com/FrugalGeek The Frugal Geek

      It seems like it would be, but some video editing students might argue it’s just enough. ;) RAM gets eaten up quickly by encoding processes and virtual machines.

      • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

        I’ll take 32 if you have it to spare. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/Adromeda Cameron Mullett

    16 gigs of ram is a ridiculous amount of ram xD

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      Today, sure. :)

    • http://twitter.com/FrugalGeek The Frugal Geek

      It seems like it would be, but some video editing students might argue it’s just enough. ;) RAM gets eaten up quickly by encoding processes and virtual machines.

      • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

        I’ll take 32 if you have it to spare. :)

  • http://twitter.com/mbillow Marc Billow

    Very nice post. It is rarely you see such a quality post with out any major bias. As for the user, he shows a great interest in learning his way around the OS X interface and exploring the functionality. With the noted financials in place I would suggest getting a Mac. If you do have a large project you can always through a copy of Windows in BootCamp or VMWare while still being able to learn how to use OS X.

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      It’s strange, but… most people ask you to help them choose, but they’ve already made up their minds and are seeking justification (thereby, wasting your time).

      • Marc Billow

        I think people are just looking for that feeling of “Well, if the geek likes the product or believes I will than it must be a good purchase.” Waste of time, maybe, but props to the consumer for wanting to make an informed decision.

    • http://twitter.com/FrugalGeek The Frugal Geek

      Thank you for your kind words regarding the article.

  • http://twitter.com/mbillow Marc Billow

    Very nice post. It is rarely you see such a quality post with out any major bias. As for the user, he shows a great interest in learning his way around the OS X interface and exploring the functionality. With the noted financials in place I would suggest getting a Mac. If you do have a large project you can always through a copy of Windows in BootCamp or VMWare while still being able to learn how to use OS X.

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      It’s strange, but… most people ask you to help them choose, but they’ve already made up their minds and are seeking justification (thereby, wasting your time).

    • http://twitter.com/FrugalGeek The Frugal Geek

      Thank you for your kind words regarding the article.