As sharp, and as clear as HDTV (High Definition Television) is now, it will amazingly, improve over the next few months and years. When High Definition DVD Players begin to be sold, (some video junkies have purchased early HD DVD models from Europe) consumers who already have 1080p High-Definition television sets will be able to see for the first time, a full HDTV image. There is some confusion surrounding the varieties of HDTV’s. All of the standards below are considered High Definition:
1280×720p @ 24fps (frames per second)
1280×720p @ 30fps
1280×720p @ 60fps
1366×768p @ 30fps
1920×1080p @ 24fps
1920×1080i @ 30fps
1920×1080p @30fps
The numbers refer to the number of pixels or (picture elements) on the screen, horizontally and vertically, and the frames per second mean how often the screen is refreshed, at a rate much faster than the human eye can detect. Chances are, if you have purchased an HDTV within the last few years it is one of the above standards with the exception of the 1920×1080p models. These sets, ostensibly with the highest definition possible so far, are just hitting stores. There is some confusion, because no one is broadcasting in what is called 1080p right now. The best satellite and cable broadcasts are coming in the 1080i format, which means that first half of the screen is refreshed and then the second half.
1080p will refresh the entire screen at one pass, and as mentioned above will be available on the new HD DVD players. Arguments rage on subjects such as whether 720p (progressive scan) is better than 1080i (interlaced scan), but that is looking only at part of what is important about a HDTV display. Generally speaking, the more pixels the better. Until recently, the best resolution was 1366×768, and the newest 1920×1080 sets can offer better resolution, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a better picture. There are other important issues with picture quality that can override the importance of raw numbers of pixels. Those are things that the shopper can decide for themselves, such as the ability to produce deep blacks, contrast, brightness, color and fast refreshing of the screen.
So even though 1080p alone cannot guarantee excellent picture quality, it is probably a good starting place for the shopper who wants to do their own research by looking at a number of different brands and models and asking friends and family for recommendations. There are so many types of HDTV’s today, and the list will keep growing. Some of the main types are Plasma, LCD, rear projection, front projector, SED, LCoS. There are over 50 brands of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) alone! Sony’s PlayStation 3 is expected to support 1080p, so some consumers will use that of part of their home entertainment system to watch
to the new high-def DVD’s. Do your research, and take someone along with a good eye for detail and don’t be pressured to buy something you don’t feel sure about.
A leader in technology reporting, Julia Hall has published articles about the latest digital devices and gadgets for over ten years. After graduating from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering, Julia turned down huge salaries from some of the most recognized fortune 500 companies in the world to pursue her dream of becoming a leading consumer advocate. Julia uses her expertise to cut through the too good to be true deals offered by high tech companies to reveal the real steals and the real duds that we’re bombarded with daily. If you enjoy staying on the cutting edge of technology, whether for business or pleasure, but find yourself occasionally confused by the overwhelming information out there let Julia be your guide.
Tags: computers, electronics, entertainment, technology, TV
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