HDTV HELP

[They Adam Bradley]

So i have to get a new tv and im wondering about the Basics. I basically use it for watching movies and playing 360. My old tv had 1080i and I always used it, but im hearing there is basically no difference between 1080i and 720p. Me being the idiot Iam when it comes to this stuff is wondering?

What are some of the things to look for in a HDTV? is there really a different between the 720 and 1080? Espically when playing for 360?

any help would be great... i definitly dont want to purchase another one and have to take it back

[gmanquik]

BE CAREFUL WITH HD. You can't even use the HD advantages from the 360 or your movie player if your cable provider or sattelite provider doesn't offer it. It sounds a little awkward, but if you don't have HD service, then you are just wasting your money. I would suggest that if you're buying it just for the 360 and movies, then don't even bother. Save the money.

[Mr. Backlund]

Here's the very basic overview.....

1) 720 vs 1080:

This deals with how many horizontal lines. 720 will have a display of 1,280 x 720 vs. 1080's display of 1,920 x 1,080. This all deals with resolution and, obviously, the more detail you can put on a screen, the better. 1080 displays 2 million pixels vs. 720's 1 million.

2) I vs. P

This deals with how the image is actually shown. P is progressive scan, and sets with this display will show each frame on television for 1/30th of a second. I is for interlaced, which will display every other line for 1/60th of a second and then switch to the other lines. Because of the speed it interlaces, your brain will just put the picture together. Progressive scan is considered superior for fast moving thigns (ie sports and videogames).

So what's ideal?

Depends on what you want out of your television set and how much you want to pay for it. The reality is, most HD shows on television offer 720p or 1080i, despite 1080p being considered the "Holy Grail" of HD. The problem is it uses too much bandwith to send the signal, but it will upscale things. I know the 360 can do games in 1080p and if you own the HD-DVD add-on, it too will display in 1080p, but it all comes back to cost and actual need.

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

Basically: 1080p is the best, but you can get a 1080i with a bigger screen for the same price, so I'd go for that. And I've got a 40 inch 1080p. Your 360 games will look great, but unless you can get HD cable, DONT DO IT, because everything you watch will look like S***

[Batman]

godz said:

Basically: 1080p is the best, but you can get a 1080i with a bigger screen for the same price, so I'd go for that. And I've got a 40 inch 1080p. Your 360 games will look great, but unless you can get HD cable, DONT DO IT, because everything you watch will look like S***

When I first got my HDTV, I was stunned by how bad it looked... It took a couple days, but Time Warner exchanged my old DVR box for an HD DVR box at no cost. The extra HD channel package is pretty cheap too, I think.

[They Adam Bradley]

well i had an hdtv for a year until i had to take it back. I dont really expect to get awesome picture from watching satellite. I dont mind having normal television picture withouth HD programing. I DO have to have an HDTV for my 360 though, I am so use to playing games on an HDTV that when I play them on my tv im using now ( until i get a new one) I cant even play it because its like a GIANT step back... So buying an HDTV to me just for the 360 and not HD programing at the moment is a GOOD idea. From what I have read, there isnt a HUGE different between 1080i and 720p for 360 gaming?