Time for HD.
I have been looking for a new tv and decided to go big. I have a few options and would appreciate some advice. All three are 1080 but whats the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

I am looking at a 57 inch Mitsubishi DLP for $1350, 52 inch Olevia LCD for $1600 and a 50 inch Panasonic plasma for $1650. Any suggestions? Why one over the other?

I'll narrow it down for you: DLP or LCD. Plasmas have brilliant picture, but once the Plasma is out, you have to buy a new one. I'm not sure if it's the same way for DLP, so I'll have someone else help you with that. Plus, I believe plasma screens are glossy... not good for heavily lighted rooms. Too much glare.

Interlaced vs. Progressive... the differences aren't really that far appart. In fact, I don't have a favorite.

Interlaced (1080i) means that (if you would number the lines vertically) all of the odd numbered lines are sent to the display, then all of the even numbered lines. In this way, the lines are "interlaced". Each set of even or odd lines is called a field, and is delivered 30 times a second, Resulting in updating the entire 1080 line frame 30 times per second. Or something like that...

On the same token, progressive (1080p), the lines are delivered in order 1 through 1080, 60 times a second.

I guess, if I had to chose though, I like the idea of Interlaced better. I've got a 37 inch HDTV that dispalays 1080i and I have no qualms what so ever.

I prefer 1080p, myself.

But.. if you're buying a tv, you need to take a lot of things into account.

Glare. Some screens simply give off more glare.
Aspect ratio. Widescreen? If you go widescreen, you're going to get decresed quality on stuff that doesnt adhere to 16:9. You may get a stretched/squished picture, you may get black bars on the sides.
Picture quality. Compare all your choices side by side. Read reviews of each of them if you can't do that.
Lifetime. Don't go plasma if you want something that will last a long time.

Just a few basics for an average viewer to consider.. there's obviously a lot more.

I have a wide... but everything I've hooked up to it will either stretch to the 16:9 ratio or will stay at it's normal resolution with black bars on the left and right. Like with PS1 games on the PS3.

I have a 42 inch LCD HDTV that supports 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, its a cheap brand (Vizio) but it does the trick, especially since it was only $895.99.

I would say with the sizes that you are looking at, it would be best to go with a 1080p. From what I have noticed though, the majority of the XBOX360 games support WAY more resolutions then the PS3. Most of the PS3 games usually only support 720p, but I'm sure there are a few out there.

*Hey question to anybody that knows; Does Grand Theft Auto 4 for the PS3 support 1080p, or is it only in 720p as well?

That's the problem. Some people really dislike the black bars, whether they're top/bottom or left/right.
On the other hand, any picture that gets stretched to fit a 16:9 ratio is taking data that isn't there and forcing it into a non-native resolution which results in decreased picture quality. You may or may not notice it depending on the resolution you're running at and the size of the screen, but it is there.

the back bars bother people? What... do they prefer something else?

Personally, I don't really like widescreen monitors. Like comptuer monitors for example. Widescreen is completely useless. The ONLY use is for watching widescreen movies... of which I don't do all too often.

So if you are going to go with widescreen, learn to put up with the consequences such as a stretched picture or black bars. Personally, I don't see how the black bars even bother people.

I don't understand how it bothers people either, but it does. I really enjoy it.

At any rate, this is just meant to answer questions.. not really go into the why and how people are strange.

I guess it also depends on the source and it's settings where the picture is coming from. A good example of this is if you have a wide screen TV, and you play a widescreen movie on it, there should'nt be any black bars whatsoever right?

Well, I had this problem with my surround sound system and my new HD TV. I was watching a movie on it without changing it to the 16:9 ratio, and so I had a tiny picture with the black bars, but after realizing I needed to change the surround sound system's settings, it was way better.

So guess the point I am trying to make is, if your TV is already a widescreen TV, then there should be no black bars when watching a widescreen movie.

That would normally happen because the source you're watching from isn't in the same ratio as your tv. There is more than just one widescreen ratio, afterall.

I'm still kinda new at this whole progressive scan/interlaced stuff. But I must say, it's very annoying when you have to go out and buy a seperate cable for the PS3's HD support, and even more aggravating when you have to buy one for the Wii as well....stupid 480p cable.

But, even the 480p cable for the Wii makes a HUGE world of difference as far as picture quality goes. Yup, yup, looks way better.

Oh, and while we are at it... HDMI puts out such a better picture than Component Cables. I can understand why Sony didn't package an HDMI cable with the PS3... not many people will use it. The ratio to HD users and standard TV users is still so low that it wouldn't be worth while. Same for Nintendo. I just wish that the Wii had HDMI support.

Are they really that much better? I have been skeptical on the quality, but if what you are saying is true, then I might have to go shopping tonight.

What do you have that is using component that also uses HDMI? If you are using Composite Cables on a PS3 and have a HDTV with a HDMI port... then someone should slap you with a small bass.

For everyone else: Composite = standard AV cables. Component = the 5 end cable (2 for audio, 3 for video)

Hey I should of forewarned you guys of my possible confusion.

I use the Component = the 5 end cable (2 for audio, 3 for video) But isn't there another HD component that plugs in using somekind of computer monitor cable thingy at the end? I don't know, But I have had a new problem for a while. My TV only has two inputs for HD devices, and I have three(PS3, XBOX360, and Wii) I get sick of unplugging these things.

I know there as to be some kind of converter device, but I'm at a loss for what type to look for....oh well, in time perhaps.

Actually, my TV has input for HDMI, Composite, two Component ports, VGA, DTV, and standard coax... I think that's about it... but yeah, I've got my wii, PS3, and laptop hooked up to my TV and I don't have to unplug anything. I just change the source as needed.

To answer your question though, the only two ways to hook up a computer to these TVs is either VGA or DVI without need of a special kind of video card or whatever.

Well that did indeed all help quite a bit. I haven't decided on which one yet but I already found a problem.

I use my computer and win media center for tv so I can have more control over my recordings than with my cable providers dvr and of course more hard drive space. I then stream wirelessly to my 360 in the living room. I have this router but when I rate my connection, it falls just short of being able to stream in HD. Not currently a problem but with my new tv it soon will be. I figure its all the interference of the 6 other wireless networks I can see because I have the router on the other side of the wall about a total of 25 feet away.

I am looking into how to get around this with out having a long ass cable running through the apartment. I was looking at powerline networking but I don't think it would work out in an apartment. I will figure something out.


So far I am leaning towards the LCD and I will head down to best buy and circut city to see them in person. Can't really do that with online stores...

I'll take that "long ass cable" for a stable connection any day.

I don't mind it too much but my GF hates seeing it, I used to use it and ppl have tripped like asses yanking my router or 360, and I went through four of them when my poodle was a puppy as she thought they were for tasties. Although I guess I could get a white one and run it along the ceiling...