1080i or 1080p

[Blanchflower]

Buying a new TV - I don't have Sky HD (don't even have Sky) and won't be watching any HD television unless it becomes free. I don't play computer games. I do watch DVDs but I don't know what blu-ray is and I don't know whether my DVD player is capable of watching HD DVDs. I just rent them out of Xtravision.

Basically I don't give a **** whether my TV is 1080i or 1080p and so I intend to go for 1080i in order to save money.

BUT ...My fear is that at some point 1080i will be phased out - is there any danger of this happening and people with 1080i sets having to upgrade to 1080p?

(I doubt it, because I think you can still watch 1080p pictures on 1080i ... but I have this lingering fear - memories of Betamax, etc.)

[paul_oshea]

1080p all the way. 1080i is crap - ok i'm exaggerating there.

i got this tele for 750, with separates and an amp. Haven't looked back yet. This isn't my exact model, mine has slightly better features ( such as contrast ratio etc ) and its also only 32" http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000Q66KD4/ciaouk-ce-21/ref=nosim


Eventually it will happen Blanch, but the thing is they will but probably phase out at the same time ( such as when super HD comes in ), and so you will want not necessarily need to get a new one, as obvious as it is technology is always changing and therefore you will always have to buy a new tele/pc whatever at some stage.
I have seen the difference in picture in 1080i and 1080p, its not huge but for PC resolution through hdmi input there is a difference.

To finish up, 1080p is progressive simply meaning that more frames are displayed a second and so you dont get that jumpy look that you see with PCs on the tele, but there is no such thing as 1080p films or 1080i films, its just a form of resolution.

[Blanchflower]

Thanks Paul, but if I don't really care about a subtle difference in picture (on programmes I don't even watch anyway!), I'm not convinced that it's worth paying extra. I'm buying a 32" and it seems the difference is difficult to discern unless you have a massive screen. What do you reckon?

[paul_oshea]

Thanks Paul, but if I don't really care about a subtle difference in picture (on programmes I don't even watch anyway!), I'm not convinced that it's worth paying extra. I'm buying a 32" and it seems the difference is difficult to discern unless you have a massive screen. What do you reckon?

ok well i have only properly checked out the difference between 32" and 37" sammies and phillips. The only real difference I noticed was when I hooked up the computer to both, but even set to the best resolution on the 1080p teles the picture was still a bit "jumpy"/blurry. However films definitely played with less blotch on both.

If you are getting a 32", you don't seem to fussed about getting the big tele and all the lark that goes with it, and are simply getting one as a necessity to watch TV, rather than a want. So, If I were you I would just go with the cheap option.

BUT! The thing is BBC are bringing out a free HD channel, which will be followed shortly by ITV and then they will all eventually folllow suit. If you are willing to buy another tv in 4-5 years then go with the cheaper option. That would be my humble advice anyhow :)

[Blanchflower]

Thanks - I've no intention of plugging the computer in.

And even if BBC and ITV bring out HDTV, as long as I can still watch it on my 1080i, that is fine. My only fear is the 1080i set becoming redundant (i.e. unable to receive HD pictures if 1080i is phased out at some point).

[anto1208]

from my limited knowledge on the subject 1080i is a version of 720p that your tv just makes bigger on screen . 1080p is the top of the range but if you dont have a HD imput its worthless and most HD imputs at the moment are made for 720/1080i most blue rays most PS3 games etc etc.

So to answer your question 720p is fine 1080i is fine ( same thing only bigger screen ) 1080p pointless at the moment really pointless if you arent going to get a HD imput its like having a ferrari and putting deisel in it.

Go for it but its pointless.

If you dont have a HD imput your picture quality will go right down its hard to watch matches on compared to your old fasioned big chunky TV. Your DVD player wont play HD DVD's you will need a HD DVD ( which has been scrapped so its not recomended unless you get it for a few £ )

The TV will allways work with your normal RTE arial there is no fear there untill the analog service is turned off at which point you will have to pay sky for your RTE unless they get free to air working over here. but 1080i will never be faced out in the forseable future

[Blanchflower]

If you dont have a HD imput your picture quality will go right down its hard to watch matches on compared to your old fasioned big chunky TV. Your DVD player wont play HD DVD's you will need a HD DVD ( which has been scrapped so its not recomended unless you get it for a few £ )

I'm confused!:( You say 1080p is pointless - which makes sense as I won't be watching any HD in the foreseeable future - but now you're scaring me by saying that if I don't have HD an HD-ready TV will ruin my picture quality??


The TV will allways work with your normal RTE arial there is no fear there untill the analog service is turned off at which point you will have to pay sky for your RTE unless they get free to air working over here. but 1080i will never be faced out in the forseable future
I don't have RTE

[paul_oshea]

I'm confused! You say 1080p is pointless - which makes sense as I won't be watching any HD in the foreseeable future - but now you're scaring me by saying that if I don't have HD an HD-ready TV will ruin my picture quality??


Any 1080i that you are looking at must have been HD ready, i think he confused the situation a little here. He is saying that your picture quality would go down if you opted to use the HD capabilities of your TV i.e. HDMI input or HD Channels.

[Blanchflower]

Any 1080i that you are looking at must have been HD ready, i think he confused the situation a little here. He is saying that your picture quality would go down if you opted to use the HD capabilities of your TV i.e. HDMI input or HD Channels.
So if I'm watching ordinary TV the picture is fine, but if - say in the future there is HD Freeview - I watch an HD programme the quality will reduce???

Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of buying an HD-ready TV??

[beautifulrock]

Any 1080i that you are looking at must have been HD ready, i think he confused the situation a little here. He is saying that your picture quality would go down if you opted to use the HD capabilities of your TV i.e. HDMI input or HD Channels.

What now even I am confused and I thought I knew about this stuff. :confused:

[Blanchflower]

I'm planning to buy my new set on Saturday and now I don't know what to do!

[passinginterest]

Basically if you have a big old clunky TV you might notice a reduction in quality if you switch to a HD TV without a HD input, this is due to the refresh rate of the pixels which on cheaper versions can't really keep up with very fast movement. I got a 37" Sony HD a while back and I use it with conventional DVD and cable TV and the quality is still fine as long as you don't sit too close. Very occasionally you might notice a bit of blurring during a match or something but overall it's very good.

Don't worry too much about it. It's unlikely you'll notice any major difference when you get the new TV, and if you do decide to get HD-TV or gaming or blu ray 720p or 1080i will be fine, unless you're a really hardcore gamer or movie buff who'll be painfully aware of every frame.

[anto1208]

I'm planning to buy my new set on Saturday and now I don't know what to do!

It gets confussing with all the numbers and imputs

Say you have the old fashioned TV at the moment ( big chunky one ) with a standard connection corus/NTL/DVD player the picture quality will be good .

Now if you buy a flat screen TV and plug the same connection in to the new TV the picture quality wont be as good as the old fashioned tv. It wont be terrible but it will be a little worse.

But if you in the future if you do upgrade to a digital HD connection such as skyHD or free view the picture quality on your new TV will be outstanding. it will be sharper smoother and more colourfull.

Its all down to the imput, The TV you are looking at will work with any connection but the better the imput the better the picture.

What imput do you have now ?

What TV are you thinking of getting the cheaper ones are just that cheap the best ones are Sony Bravia but are expensive , the best of the 2nd tier ones are LG or Samsung

this is a good tv good price they deliver in a few days for about 15 euro.

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=333288

But dont worry about it your TV will allways work fine and be even better if you get HD.

[Blanchflower]

Basically if you have a big old clunky TV
I do.


you might notice a reduction in quality if you switch to a HD TV without a HD input
Oh dear. But it's not possible to buy a new TV that isn't LCD or Plasma and (I assume) isn't HD-ready.

I always thought it was the LCD and Plasma screens which were crap (compared to CRT), rather than the HD-ready factor. I also assume that the screen quality is much improved now (although most flat-screen TVs I see do have quite poor quality).

[Blanchflower]

What imput do you have now ?

Freeview.



What TV are you thinking of getting the cheaper ones are just that cheap the best ones are Sony Bravia but are expensive , the best of the 2nd tier ones are LG or Samsung


A Panasonic 32" - as recommended by Which?

[anto1208]

I do.


Oh dear. But it's not possible to buy a new TV that isn't LCD or Plasma and (I assume) isn't HD-ready.

I always thought it was the LCD and Plasma screens which were crap (compared to CRT), rather than the HD-ready factor. I also assume that the screen quality is much improved now (although most flat-screen TVs I see do have quite poor quality).


The HD ready thing doesnt affect the picture quality its the LCD / PLASMA aspect of the tv ( you can get HD ready big chunky TV's )the flat screens cant convert the imput type you have into a quality as good as your old tv can. Look at the display in shops thats what yours will be like they will be hooked up to the same connection type.

Buying a HD ready TV with out having HD imput is pointless unless you plan to upgrade, I have the old fashioned TV in the sitting room for watching normal TV on as its brilliant, and the 42" plasma is only used for the HD gaming as the picture quality is amazing with HD its too poor for watching TV . yours will be ok because 32" is quite small.

[anto1208]

Also the shop will prob try to sell you extended warrenty with the TV saying it has a 1 year manufactuers warrenty but they will cover it for 3 years for 200 euro . dont take it in Ireland all electrical good have to be covered for 3 years by the manufactuer/shop they will try to tell you its not but it is.

Any one with a xbox 360 will tell you they know all about machines breaking down and your rights !!!

[Blanchflower]

Buying a HD ready TV with out having HD imput is pointless unless you plan to upgrade
I agree but (a) it's impossible to buy a new TV which isn't Plasma or LCD; (b) you may as well buy an HD-ready one; and (c) I reckon there will be HD Freeview eventually, which I will watch (might not be for a few years).



, I have the old fashioned TV in the sitting room for watching normal TV on as its brilliant, and the 42" plasma is only used for the HD gaming as the picture quality is amazing with HD its too poor for watching TV . yours will be ok because 32" is quite small.
Thanks.

I have always thought it weird why people (who don't play games) buy huge plasma and LCD TVs when the picture is so poor.