Verified answer

First of all, and no offense to whoever wrote this, but a bigger tv isn't going to show a bigger difference regardless of bandwidth. This is because the resolution is per sq. in. as opposed to spanning the entire screen.

720p = 720 lines per square inch. P stands for progressive meaning every single line is refreshed every single frame at about 60 frames per second. This is as opposed to i which stands for interlaced meaning ever other line is refreshed ever other frame.

1080p is the same thing, but with 1080 lines every inch.

Yes, there is a big difference, but unfortunately, unless you have particularly good eyesight, you won't be able to see it. typically, only younger children can clearly tell the difference. The biggest thing you will likely notice is that the color correction is better on a 1080p.

So is it worth the difference?

If you want the best? Absolutely. But in all honesty, I can't tell you if we're ever going to use it in the near future on anything but gaming systems.

Why?

The reason we're moving to high definition is because the FCC is selling off the analogue bandwidth (normal def.) to cell phone companies which means we have to use digital bandwidth, which gives us a better resolution. But keep in mind, this resolution only come in 720p or 1080i NOT 1080p. The FCC isn't pushing for a 1080p signal because it takes twice the bandwidth and therefor costs more money that they don't want to spend. IF the FCC isn't pushing for it, i can safely say that i don't think it will happen in the near future.

HD is nothing new. Japan has been using it for over a decade now and haven't moved to a 1080p signal. If the USA does it, it will be because certain individuals pay more for it.

Movies will most likely not be moving that way because in order to get a 1080p movie, you would have to shoot it with a 1080p camera. These cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars. When it's not necessary, they probably won't do it. To get Television in 1080p, the network producers would have to do the same thing. Again, not something that's likely to happen.

And here's the real kicker. Make sure you do your research. Just because the panel is capable of 1080p doesn't mean that the inputs in the back are.

And i know Blu Ray players are capable of inputting a 1080p signal. That means nothing. Just because it can, doesn't mean it will. Why? Because blu ray isn't designed to produce that high of a signal. It was produced to put more on a disk.

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If the above is the "laser eye" if a HD dvd player or a regular dvd player, then the below is the eye of a blu ray player.

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BIG difference. But it was created so that a HD movie could still have all the bonus features on there. Look at an HD disk vs a Blu Ray disk. The blu ray still has all of your bonus features. HD has little or none. IF we move to 1080p, then blu ray will have less features defeating its purpose.

So personally, no 1080p televisions aren't worth it. They may be in five years, but for now, NO.

I'll attempt to positioned the techno babble into laymans phrases. The handiest change among 720p and 1080p is of path the image change, however the change is so minute you'll be able to infrequently inform the change, and I suppose you might want a tv reveal in way over 32" to be capable to quite see the change. Maybe extra. It's well to have the 1080p head room which possibly capable to give on Blu-Ray DVDs, however the one truly change is 1080p photographs are reasonably sharper. In quick: No, there wont be a tremendous change.

Bigger TV, bigger difference. For an average income joe like me who can't afford anything bigger than 32inches, no real difference.

If you're into bigger screen, 50 inches and above, 1080P is the 'holy grail' of video, as many reviewers have called it.

If you have a good projector, all the more you'll benefit with the added resolution. It's not as gargantuan a contrast as SDTV vs HDTV though!

Some really interesting discussions on this all over...here's one to get you started.