I'm in the market to buy a television & need assistance.

[MURP]

ha.  people actually spend the time to go buy a tv, lug it home, hook it up, then pack it back up, drive back, return it... all to watch the superbowl?   fargin idiots.

[Rome]

As for being able to tell the difference with the naked eye, trust me, I have the Bravia 40" 1080p from Sony and I can tell the difference.  The picture clarity is phenomenal.

No question that HD is clearly superior to SD, but I doubt you can tell the difference between 720p or 1080i and 1080p video, especially since there is no consumer material available at that resolution.

During the demonstration I was shown at Best Buy, you could definitely tell the difference.

1080p blew away 1080i.  720p was superior to 1080i as well.

Granted, it was just my own impression, but that's what I took away from it.

[Wingspan]

As for being able to tell the difference with the naked eye, trust me, I have the Bravia 40" 1080p from Sony and I can tell the difference.  The picture clarity is phenomenal.

No question that HD is clearly superior to SD, but I doubt you can tell the difference between 720p or 1080i and 1080p video, especially since there is no consumer material available at that resolution.

During the demonstration I was shown at Best Buy, you could definitely tell the difference.

1080p blew away 1080i.  720p was superior to 1080i as well.

Granted, it was just my own impression, but that's what I took away from it.

Your impression is exactly what they wanted your impression to be. They have a 1080p source for the 1080p demo. Which they probably dont, because they want to sell the 1080p.

There is nothing, as far as what you would watch on a 1080p screen that is actually 1080p source. For a true demo, you should have been shown the same video, from the same source, on the same TV, with different settings for 1080p, 720p...etc...

Color Depth and Contrast ratio are far more indicitive of the image quality than the resolution. But those arent the buzz words, so you never hear about them.

There are no sources for 1080p content. Cable and satelite companys will never show 1080p content, not unless you wanted to double your cable bill. 720p is pretty much what everything is broadcasted in. It is only upconverted to display on a 1080 screen. HD-DVD and Blue Ray are 1080p sources, but the video on the DVD did not originate as 1080p (unless it was shot digitally). (Same thing with PS3 or xbox 360, they are 1080p sources (well not xBox yet) but they are computer generated images...not live motion video...so the purpose of those on BluRay is the storage space and processing power, not the screen resolution.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

just got it

Next step is that you absolutely must get a DVD to properly adjust the video.

[Wingspan]

just got it

Next step is that you absolutely must get a DVD to properly adjust the video.

Any THX dvd has a good test for that. If you have any of the Star Wars movies on DVD you can run through the test, and adjust the setting with no problem.

[Rome]

As for being able to tell the difference with the naked eye, trust me, I have the Bravia 40" 1080p from Sony and I can tell the difference.  The picture clarity is phenomenal.

No question that HD is clearly superior to SD, but I doubt you can tell the difference between 720p or 1080i and 1080p video, especially since there is no consumer material available at that resolution.

During the demonstration I was shown at Best Buy, you could definitely tell the difference.

1080p blew away 1080i.  720p was superior to 1080i as well.

Granted, it was just my own impression, but that's what I took away from it.

Your impression is exactly what they wanted your impression to be. They have a 1080p source for the 1080p demo. Which they probably dont, because they want to sell the 1080p.

There is nothing, as far as what you would watch on a 1080p screen that is actually 1080p source. For a true demo, you should have been shown the same video, from the same source, on the same TV, with different settings for 1080p, 720p...etc...

Color Depth and Contrast ratio are far more indicitive of the image quality than the resolution. But those arent the buzz words, so you never hear about them.

There are no sources for 1080p content. Cable and satelite companys will never show 1080p content, not unless you wanted to double your cable bill. 720p is pretty much what everything is broadcasted in. It is only upconverted to display on a 1080 screen. HD-DVD and Blue Ray are 1080p sources, but the video on the DVD did not originate as 1080p (unless it was shot digitally). (Same thing with PS3 or xbox 360, they are 1080p sources (well not xBox yet) but they are computer generated images...not live motion video...so the purpose of those on BluRay is the storage space and processing power, not the screen resolution.

Whatever.  It looked better to me.  Whether it was a sales technique or the guy was lying out his ass, I don't know.

I'm happy with the picture and what they claim as being 1080p (PS3 games & the lone Blu-Ray video I have) look spectacular and again, it's my perception that counts.

[Wingspan]

Whatever.  It looked better to me.  Whether it was a sales technique or the guy was lying out his ass, I don't know.

I'm happy with the picture and what they claim as being 1080p (PS3 games & the lone Blu-Ray video I have) look spectacular and again, it's my perception that counts.

True.

That doesnt change the fact that the "1080p" buzz is extremely overhyped.

The PS3 and/or blu ray video would look just as spectacular on 720p or 1080i on a properly calibrated television.

[SunMo]

how do you properly calibrate it?  my tv has a button that i can push and it automatically adjusts itself for best picture, is that good enough?

[Wingspan]

how do you properly calibrate it?  my tv has a button that i can push and it automatically adjusts itself for best picture, is that good enough?

If it looks good to you, then yep.

Otherwise, as FF said above, you can actually buy a DVD that will help with everything.

All HDTVs have your standard settings "Dynamic, Sports, Movies" which are fine. But calibrating it with one of these DVDs gives good contrast results suited for you eyes.

Or the THX thing on any THX movie will pretty much do the same thing. You just move the color sliders around until you see what the DVD says you are supposed to see. It really only takes about 20 minutes.

[Rome]

Hit.   

[MURP]

wow.  I want to calibrate my tv so women step out of it and into the room.

[Seabiscuit36]

Sun, do you have a dvd burner?

[SunMo]

no

[phattymatty]

just helped the ups guy carry the tv up my steps.

boing.

[General_Failure]

Hot delivery guy?