HDTV 1080p vs 720pYour One-Stop Hub for 1080p and 720p HDTV Information

The world of high definition television (HDTV) is the new technologies, new concepts and new slogans full. One of the most compelling slogan “1080p,” the name of the highest possible resolution on an HDTV. If you HDTV, you have heard this term often, and can be convinced that owning a 1080p set is critical to your happiness. Perhaps, but there are several other factors into account, which are equally importantResolution.

Take a moment you think about what 1080p really means. The 1080 featured refers to the number of pixel lines in the show and the TV display. The other common default resolution is 720 lines of pixels. Ideally, the resolution of distribution and in accordance with resolution, but the TV will make adjustments if they do not.

The letter P stands for progressive, which means that each 1 / 60 seconds, a full image is sent to your TV. If the problemThe popular standard is 1080i, which means it interlaced, so each 1 / 60 seconds, you get half a picture. This is the bandwidth in the mission save.

Every HDTV has a progressive view, so that he receives interlaced 1080i content, it sticks together two consecutive half-frames, however, a whole picture show takes twice as long, and can watch fast moving sports or films to be rough. Therefore 1080p HDTVs are a little excited about: it can accept 1080 lines of pixels,60 times per second, so that they have the fine resolution and smooth motion.

So it is fine-1080p is obviously better than the other standard information display, 720p/1080i. But that does not mean that once the hype. If you are not willing to anything but a 1080p set, here considers four factors that might make you reconsider:
Source Input: you take full advantage of a 1080p claim if you have 1080p input, and that’s still pretty rare.720p input, you need to broadcast, DVD players and even most HD-DVD and Blu-ray looks just as well set to 720p. 1080i input will be a little better set to 1080p, but because it will not be set to a lower resolution.
Screen Size: One result of the change from 720 lines to 1080 lines, is that the pixels are smaller on the same screen size. On the sets smaller than 50 inches are incredibly small pixel resolution, what you have, so itreally no advantage to 1080p on these sets at normal viewing distances.
Cost: If you have an HDTV plasma for the deep color saturation, contrast ratio and high otherwise really prefer to pay a premium for a 1080p set into consideration. It is almost impossible to distinguish between a 720p and 1080p Plasma Plasma 40 to 50-inch differentiate.
Other qualitative factors: All things being equal, the resolution is 1080p better than 720p. But the thing is, everything else is not usuallysame. Other factors such as contrast ratio, black level, color saturation, high signal quality, and the general quality of HDTV are actually more important than the screen resolution. It would be foolish to choose an overall lower and probably more expensive, just because it is a cool feature.

A day in the future, if there is a little more advanced 1080p HDTV standard is likely to be used in every sentence, and it will make a decision to purchase lessProcess. But now it is important to take advice from manufacturers with a grain of salt and consider all options.

When you are considering buying an HDTV might be confused about which model to choose. 1080p HDTV is not the same as 720p HDTV and the seller may get you to buy the second because it is cheaper. Both TVs are not the same and their characteristics differ considerably. When you choose a plasma TV HD 1080p resolution gives 2,074,000 pixels per image. This TV brings with it a wonderful experience the perfect combination of quality picture and sound that has gained popularity in the market today.

TV 720p resolution is very economical for those who want high-definition television at reasonable prices. 720 indicates the vertical scanning of 720 lines of resolution and 720p, there are 720 vertical lines and 1280 horizontal lines that give the full resolution television quality 720x 1280. The “P” is present in 720 stands for progressive scan, which shows how lines of resolution are set. The lines of resolution on this TV are updated simultaneously. The traditional TV has lines of resolution, which are intimately linked. The odd lines are refreshed first, followed by even lines. This makes the photographic image in progress.

The 1080p Plasma HDTV using progressive scanning and is considered the full high-definition TV in the market today. At the highest resolution, and is marked to be the best on the market today. The picture quality is very clear and very similar to those in Blu Ray. You can connect the HD 1080p plasma TV to a computer and also serve as a monitor. In this case, you can get a resolution is almost doubled. You’ll also have the advantage of having multiple windows that open on one side. It is an advantage that the HDTV 1080p Plasma HDTV has more than 720p. 720p HDTV is not compatible computer and, if you want to connect your TV to a computer, you should go for plasma 1080p HDTV. It also gives the pleasure to play on your computer as well.

The quality of the image has the same 1080p resolution, which is the same technology 2K digital camera and so it comes as a definition of “Full High” When you buy a HD TV and have the means to ‘go for the best, you should go for plasma 1080p, giving you the best return on your investment. If you are on a small budget, you can go for 720p HDTV, but you miss the advanced features you have in 1080p Plasma HDTV. The age of high definition is now in place and its time to replace the standard TV to HDTV 1080p Plasma TV richer and better.

Lamentably, in the current console generation, Nintendo decided to turn away from the popular strategy of juicing the visual capabilities of its hardware to eye-searing levels. YouTube user renebarahona recently gave us a taste of what HD Wii would have been like by cranking up the visuals of a few titles to 720p using the Dolphin emulator on PC. We’ve got two examples, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, posted after the break (be sure to turn on HD mode).

We’re not advocating the shameless emularceny of Wii titles, though it is interesting to see how these games look with a bit extra graphical endowment. To use a standard rate of exchange, it’s about the visual equivalent of three GameCubes duct-taped together — maybe even three-and-a-half. We’re not quite certain.

lousy economy has retailers eager to romance you with deals on high-definition televisions. If you’re in the market, here are some tips:

Find the right price.
“It definitely pays to shop around. But absolutely set a budget first,” says Alfred Poor, author of the online publication “HDTV Almanac,” available at hdtvprofessor.com.

Think about how much you’re willing to spend and scour newspaper circulars and Web sites for prices and special offers. If you plan to finance, budget payments so you pay off the total before any promotion period ends, to avoid hefty interest charges. Also factor in additional costs, such as a media stand, cables and/or delivery. And check to see whether the seller meets or beats a competitor’s price.

Don’t be afraid to go big.
As you marvel at the HDTVs in the showroom, think about how the perfect screen will look in your living room. Then think bigger. “The general rule of thumb is people typically buy too small,” says Richard Fisher, A/V science director of the Web mag HDTV Magazine (hdtvmagazine.com).

Of course, you want a TV that will fit your viewing area without overwhelming it. Fisher says your viewing distance from TV screen to sofa should be four to five times the television’s height. So if a model you like is 2 feet tall, expect to view it from about 8 to 10 feet away. Take a ruler or measuring tape to the store if it helps.

The big two:
LCD and plasma. LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma (which is phosphorus based) are your two main HDTV options.

LCD TVs come in various screen sizes, so you should find one that’s right for even the shortest viewing distance. LCDs typically use less energy than plasma TVs and generally weigh less, so they’re easier to mount on walls. LCDs also handle bright rooms better than plasmas thanks to a brighter picture.

LCD traditionally got knocked for not registering true blacks and blurring fast-motion action, but today’s LCDs can better handle those issues. For the best color on an LCD, Fisher says look for one with LED backlighting or WCG (wide color gamut) technology. For better fast motion, he says look for an LCD that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. Expect to pay a bit more for such features.

Plasma TVs typically provide richer colors and contrast than LCDs. They likewise handle fast-motion better than inexpensive LCDs, Fisher says.

Plasma TVs still weigh considerably more than LCD sets, with screen sizes often starting at 42 inches. Plasmas also tend to reflect in brighter rooms, so you might want to consider a plasma TV with an anti-glare screen. Oh, and Fisher says plasma is the most power-hungry display you can buy.

Think about HD content.
A high-definition TV doesn’t magically transform audio and video into HD quality – you need to feed it HD content. Fisher recommends you upgrade to HD channels from your cable or satellite provider. And do ask about HD-capable DVRs so you can record HD programming.

Poor also suggests you avoid DVD players that “upconvert” standard DVDs to near-HD quality. He notes the technology built into a quality HDTV should do that job on its own.

What to know about HDMI.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI gives you high-def audio and video via a single cable. To accommodate HDMI-friendly devices, make sure the HDTV you purchase has two or more HDMI slots.

HDMI cables in stores can be expensive, often starting at $30 and exceeding $100. Poor says skip those pricey cables and instead buy the cheapest HDMI cable you can find on the Internet. That way you’re only looking at $10 to $15 for a 3- to 6-foot cable. “If it works, you’re done,” Poor says.

Fisher also suggests you skip the pricey HDMI cables, but only if you’re connecting devices close to your HDTV. If you plan to run HDMI cable more than 10 feet, Fisher says, you’re probably better off with the pricier stuff. Whatever cable you buy, Fisher says make sure it’s HDMI 1.3 certified.

Plasma or LCD? Both are suitable, but each tends to be suited to different viewing requirements, CableOrganizer argues.

LCD, or liquid crystal display, has good color saturation levels and can be easily viewed even in rooms with high levels of ambient light. It is great for gamers, LCD screens are wall-mountable, and available in sizes up to 46 inches (diagonal).

Plasma display technology is considered to offer color-saturated images with excellent black levels. That makes it a good choice for home theater buffs who want the largest-possible screens. Plasma screens generally are more expensive, but come in sizes up to 60 inches.

Screen resolution also varies from 720 progressive to 1080 interlace and 1080 progressive, with resolution increasing in that order. Even though 720p is the lowest resolution within the HDTV standard, it delivers impressive pictures on screens that are less than 40 inches in size.

1080i is a good option for people who enjoy watching slower-moving programming with lots of close-ups, such as documentaries, non-action movies, and prime-time dramas.

1080p combines a rapid frame rate with high pixel density for the best high-definition pictures available. With the exception of Blu-ray, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and a relatively small amount of satellite TV programming, there’s not much true 1080p content out there right now, though. Although they’re backward-compatible with the lower resolutions, 1080p screens can’t live up to their full potential unless they’re displaying true high definition content.

Generally speaking, progressive scan is better for viewing fast-action movies, sporting events and video games.

CableOrganizer also argues that although HDMI cables are recommended for the best image quality, a steep price tag (News – Alert) isn’t always a reliable indicator of a high-quality HDMI connection. For example, the below price comparison between CableOrganizer.com’s HDMI cables and those from five leading A/V retailers suggest that there can be a $129.00 price difference between the most and least expensive models.

In fact, consumers can receive the same quality of performance and manufacture from a $7 cable as from one that costs anywhere from five to 19 times as much, CableOrganizer argues.

To ensure that a high-definition screen looks as impressive as it possibly can, don’t forget to compliment it with some well-thought-out wire clutter management, CableOrganizer argues. Managing HDTV cables not only hides them from view, but also prevents them from becoming tangled and disorganized.

One advisable HDTV cable manager is the Wiring Solution, a channel that installs vertically below wall-mounted screens to cover equipment-to-TV cable runs, and can be easily painted to disappear into your décor. CableOrganizer also highly recommends surface raceway, a type of latching channel that can be used in just about any configuration to route cables short distances, or even around an entire room. Like the Wiring Solution, raceway is easily paintable, and thanks to pre-installed self-adhesive backing, it has the added advantage of tool and screw-free installation.

Panasonic Corporation of North America (NYSE: PC) , the industry leader in high definition Plasma and LCD televisions, introduced its expanded line of VIERA HDTVs at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. Building upon its award winning portfolio of high definition televisions, Panasonic will broaden its offering in 2009 by introducing new screen sizes in both Plasma and LCD lines with a new 54-inch class plasma and 19-inch class LCD. In addition, VIERA will extend its unique technology features, such as the acclaimed VIERA CAST(R) web menu, to additional model lines.

VIERA CAST, originally launched in 2008, will broaden its entertainment offering with the addition of Amazon’s VOD streaming video service. Panasonic also extended the prestigious THX(R) Certified Display to three product lines. With a continuing emphasis on improving the television’s performance and reducing the impact on the planet’s carbon footprint, Panasonic’s 2009 line of VIERA HDTVs have improved their energy efficiency vs. last year’s models, while also improving the overall picture performance of the HDTVs.

Year after year, Panasonic has been dedicated to bringing new picture improving technologies to HDTVs and 2009′s line-up continues that trend. With the digital transition on the horizon and an increased awareness among consumers of high definition, consumers now demand blacker blacks, faster response times and the billions of colors that Panasonic VIERA HDTVs deliver.

In 2008, Panasonic offered one VIERA HDTV series that had innovative internet enabled VIERA CAST feature. In 2009, it will be extended to three series – The Z1 series, the V10 series and the G10 series. In addition to the continuation of such favorite entertainment sites as Google’s YouTube(TM), Picasa(TM) Web Album, Bloomberg and weather service; a consumer will now have an access to HD movie rental via Amazon Video-on-Demand. Panasonic has also improved VIERA CAST interface by implementing quick keyword input (like a cell phone) to help retrieve favorite content faster and easier. Panasonic HDTVs VIERA Link – a technology that utilizes HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) and allows a consumer to operate all VIERA Link(TM) compatible A/V components using only the TV’s remote control and helpful on-screen menus. In addition to operating a VIERA HDTV, video source (Blu-ray and DVD player) and home theater receiver; VIERA Link permits operation of a network camera, ideal for monitoring of a home/nursery*. A VIERA Link capable Network Camera BL-C210A can be connected to a VIERA HDTV and controlled via VIERA Link remote. Users can then watch their child, pet and/or property by installing the camera and networking to the VIERA HDTV via Ethernet cable. The BL-C210A will be available in the United States in the summer of 2009.

As in 2008, all Panasonic VIERA HDTVs feature VIERA Image Viewer(TM) a function for easy viewing of digital still photos and in some models, the ability to play back AVCHD video recorded on SD card.

For 2009, VIERA Plasma HDTVs are rated, as in 2008, to have a lifespan of 100,000 hours. This is more than 30 years of viewing when watched for 8 hours a day, before the TV reaches half brightness. To further improve picture quality, VIERA HDTVs feature some breakthrough consumer innovations like 600Hz Sub-field Drive and Infinite Black panel with improved contrast ratios. In 2008, Panasonic offered VIERA HDTV models that were THX certified and in 2009, the prestigious certification will be extended to 8 VIERA models (The V10 series and the G10 series). THX Ltd. works closely with Panasonic from initial product design phase to the final product rollout in the market. THX certification ensures that each display can present all HD and standard definition content to the maximum resolution with accurate color and luminance levels.

Panasonic’s commitment to improving the environment was confirmed this year as all of its 2009 VIERA HDTVs qualified for Energy Star certification. As in the past, VIERA Plasma HDTVs are lead and mercury free.

“Panasonic’s superior quality, connectivity and service continues to distinguish the VIERA line,” said Bob Perry, Executive Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Not only have our VIERA HDTVs received critical acclaim from consumer and trade publications, but Panasonic has maintained the market lead for the majority of the last three years. Panasonic has never rested on its laurels and the 2009 VIERA line continues that thinking. This year Panasonic has created the ‘Neo-PDP’ line with a brighter panel, double luminance efficiency, deeper blacks with improved contrast ratio and 1080 TV lines of Moving Picture Resolution. Our corporate philosophy of Ideas for Life is borne out by our attention to the consumer- to provide the ultimate entertainment experience in an easy to use format. That is why we have expanded our VIERA CAST feature and continued to improve the functionality of VIERA Link.”

Looking back at the 1080i vs. 720p debate, Electronic House breaks down the broadcast formats we’re left with for our televised HD. With the major players locked down and millions of dollars of equipment already in place it’s basically a check of where the dust has settled (ABC & Fox on 720p, most others on 1080i.) These days our worries usually tend more towards overcompression and other maladies potentially affecting the signal than its native resolution — at least until 1080p & 3D hit the stage.

Read

By The Best Plasma TV

Is 1080p worth the extra money? Do I miss something if I buy a plasma TV that is just 720p? What are the differences between 720p vs 1080p and which one is better for me? I will answer these questions in this guide and more than just telling you what are the differences between 720p and 1080p I will actually show you so you see with your own eyes. This is a guide where the expression “an image is worth a thousand words” applies perfectly.

To read and see more, click here…

The 1080p vs 720p, or 720p vs 1080p, resolution decision [(1,920 x 1,080 pixels) vs (1,280 x 720)] should be made with an appreciation that resolution is not the only factor contributing to picture quality. In fact, resolution comes fourth in a recent SMPTE (Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers) study which ranked contrast ratio, color saturation, color temperature or greyscale ahead of it in ranking picture aspects the human eye sees in order of importance.

Two factors influence which resolution is more appropriate namely,

Screen size and Viewing distance.

In general terms, the closer you sit to the on-screen image the more detail you can see as the image fills more of your field of vision. So the closer you are getting to the display/screen the higher the resolution should be getting to maintain picture quality. Moving away from the display/screen reduces the discernible difference between resolutions eg. 1080p vs 720p.

Below is a table matching up various screen sizes with the optimum viewing distances for 720p or 1080p resolutions.

Screen Size

(diagonal) 1080p Resolution

optimum viewing distance 720p Resolution

optimum viewing distance

32 inches 50.21(4.2 feet, 1.3m) 75.31(6.3 feet, 1.9m)

42 inches 65.89 inches (5.5 feet, 1.7m) 98.83 (8.2 feet, 2.5m)

58 inches 91.01inches (7.6 feet, 2.3m) 136.51(11.4 feet, 3.4m)

100 inches 156.9inches(13.0 feet,4.0m) 235.34(19.6 feet, 6.0m)

120 inches 188.26 inches (15.7 feet, 4.8m) 282.35(23.5 feet, 7.2m)

A chart of optimal viewing distances in one inch increments is available from HDGuru.

1080p vs 720p Choice for Front Projectors

From the table above it can be seen that the optimum viewing distance for common projected images sizes (100 and 120 inch diagonal) the optimum viewing distance is going to be outside the home theater room. In fact, you even need a large home theater to sit at the optimum viewing distance for 1080p – there is a case for even higher resolutions to be available. So for optimum viewing, you need to purchase a 1080 resolution projector and sit a good distance from the screen.

Keep in mind though that if you choose 720p and are not sitting at the optimum recommended distance then the picture quality is only going to be slightly reduced not vastly reduced. Both 1080p and 720p can deliver excellent picture quality.

1080p vs 720p Choice for HDTV

While you could consider what consider what video sources you might have available (eg. Sony Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have 1080p games) or the advantage of selecting 1080p to future proof your situation, for determining if 1080p will have any visual advantage over 720p have a look at the following simple chart from Carlton Bale. The chart shows how close you need to sit to be able to detect the benefits of a higher resolution screen. For an answer see where your likely seating distance will fall given your television room layout.

Another factor which will influence a choice between 1080p and 720p for a HDTV is the generally limited range of features in comparison to 1080p models.

The question I am most frequently asked about this resolution comparison is, “Should I get 1080p resolution in my LCD Television?” There are a few obvious questions I ask in response:

What size is the TV?

Are you using it for professional editing?

Do you have a Sony Playstation 3 or XBox 360 for gaming (both consoles have 1080p games and the PS3 is also a Blu Ray player)?

Do you have a Sony Blu Ray DVD player?

Generally, the answer to the above questions is, “no” and the answer to whether or not the consumer should get a 1080p display is usually no as well. It’s just not worth the extra $$. Here’s why:

The 1080p question is really the result of a technology battle between LCD and Plasma. Higher resolutions are easier for LCD manufacturers to produce, and more cost effective. It’s a specification bragging battle as in, “we’ve got the 1080p resolution and you don’t.” Now that plasma manufacturers have caught up let’s analyze what is does for you the consumer.

Unless you are into video editing, or extreme graphic computer use, 1080p does hardly anything at all except hit you in the pocket book! It took years of pressure for broadcasters to finally produce 1080i or 720p and there are NO plans to pump out 1080p on cable, satellite, or broadcast. There is ONE DVD format that puts out a 1080p signal and that is Blu Ray. Blu Ray, is a great DVD technology and the picture quality is awesome, however it’s no better than 1080i or 720p in my opinion. I base this opinion on some pretty thorough testing. Recently, our staff reviewed a 65″ Panasonic 1080p plasma, a 52″ Sharp 1080p LCD and a Sony 46″ 1080p LCD TV. We viewed several movies via the Sony Blu Ray player which conveniently has a resolution toggle button on the remote control. In order to perform a fair test of 1080i vs. 1080p we sent participants out of the room after having shown them the DVDs with both resolutions several times. Then we called them back in with one of the resolutions displaying and asked them whether it was the 1080p or 1080i signal. We repeated this process 10 times and, guess what? They had no clue and could not differentiate at all between the two. This feedback came from a team who knows TVs. In fact they seemed to favor the 1080i signal slightly (60/40). It’s incredibly difficult to see the difference even in a side by side test.

So why make it? Why produce 1080p? So you’ll pony up and buy it crazy!! Spend more money! Open up that billfold! The manufacturers need to produce products that will sell for more in an environment of ever falling TV prices. That, and the aforementioned LCD vs. Plasma battle.

So what to buy? Find yourself a nice 1366 X 768 TV produced by a Tier 1 manufacturer and let it go at that. Put the $1000 you will save into a good set of speakers and receiver for your home theater. A 1080p display does not look any better than a 720p (1080i) TV when viewing 1) A High Definition signal via cable, satellite or broadcast 2) a DVD signal 3) And the biggest question of all, “Does it even look better with the limited Blu Ray content available?” 4) A lowly non-HD cable or satellite signal may view better on the lower resolution 1080i (720p) LCD TV due to the fact that a 1080p display will have to perform some extreme up conversion to get to its native resolution.

By Phil lozen

It’s a long-running debate: 720p vs. 1080i. There are plenty of people on both sides of the resolution fence, including all the major networks.

For broadcast networks, there are two choices when it comes to HD telecasts: 720p and 1080i (the ATSC standard also covers 1080p but no one is broadcasting in that format currently). We breakdown the differences in the two formats and examine which TV networks use which format and why.

Posted by Eric Benderoff; originally published as a Tech Buzz column

Don’t fret if there wasn’t an HDTV under your tree. (Let’s pretend it would have fit.)

If you were like me this holiday season, it took considerable effort to get beyond the TV department at the nation’s retailers. I was there to shop for others, but boy, those TV prices were tempting.

Prices for flat-panel TVs were so low that one really had to consider whether a tight holiday budget could be stretched a bit further.

Well, guess what? You’ll find those deals next month too, as you get ready for your Super Bowl party or the Oscar bash after that. They’ll stay this low into the spring too, when baseball returns. And next fall, when new TV dramas premiere and pro football return, prices will still tempt you.

Indeed, the low prices for these highly desirable goodies will never go higher. And when the 2009 holiday season rolls around, prepare for another price drop.

“It’s really astounding that you can buy a 32-inch LCD TV right now for what a similar size CRT tube [a.k.a. that old boxy technology] cost three years ago,” said Paul Gagnon, director of North American TV research at DisplaySearch, which studies TV manufacturing.

At any retailer, 32-inch flat panels (LCD and plasma) are plentiful in the $500 range.

Better, you can find 42-inch TVs, the sweet spot for HDTV sales, from major brands for about $700. That includes both the older 720p resolution—for less—and the newer 1080p models, known as full HD, for a little more.

Two years ago, you would have been delighted to find a 50-inch 720p LCD TV for about $2,000—and only from lesser-known brands. Today, 50-inch 1080p models from most major brands can be found for about $1,000.

Heck, the cost of hanging these flat-screen gems on the wall might be more than the TV.

What happened? Our nation’s economic woes combined with a consumer tech adage (prices always go lower) to accelerate price cuts over the past two months.

“The change was so sudden that it caught everybody in the supply chain off guard,” Gagnon said. “At the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, demand just fell off a cliff.”

Prices are 30 percent lower than last holiday season, with much of that decrease arriving recently, and prices have fallen even lower depending on screen size. Deals are plentiful for TVs in the 30- to 40-inch range, but capacity is building for 50-inch models.

“There is excess inventory throughout the entire supply chain right now,” Gagnon said, noting that factories have been producing too many flat panels, warehouses are stuffed with them and they are not moving quickly at the retail level.

He estimates it will take until the middle of next year for inventory levels to adjust. “Then prices will stabilize, but they won’t move upward,” he said.

Indeed, he thinks they will be 20 percent lower for the 2009 holidays than they are right now.

For retailers, a few factors could help shed inventory.

One is the digital TV transition on Feb. 17. That’s when broadcasters will transmit only digital signals. People do not need a new TV for this switch—they need a converter box if they don’t have cable or satellite service—but the change is providing retailers with a good sales hook.

“The DTV transition has created so much hype,” said Mike Abt of Glenview’s Abt Electronics. “That’s helping to push sales. Even if people don’t really think they need a new TV, they still want one.”

Another factor: There’s no reason to wait. “People wanted to wait to go from 720p to 1080p,” Abt said about the higher resolution. “That’s not an issue anymore. There’s nothing new coming down the pipeline.”

So that pipeline has been filling with really nice TVs.

AVS Forum is THE forum for all audio/video fans in the world. Here is the link to their official thread on the 1080p vs 720p discussion.

If this is the year for a big-screen high-definition television under your tree, you’re not alone.

Tumbling prices for the sets make them feel like a relative bargain compared with last holiday season.

“They’re down about one-third from last year, and the amount of features has gone up,” said Stuart Schuster, president of Marvin Electronics in Fort Worth. “It’s a good time for consumers to buy.”

Dan de Grandpre, founder and CEO of DealNews.com., which scours the Internet looking for the best deals every day, said he sees lower HDTV prices showing up regularly.

“It’s the perfect storm,” de Grandpre said in a statement. “Consumers have cut back spending. Stores must slash prices to drive traffic to their stores. And a $2,000 HDTV pops up for $1,199.”

Shopping for a television has become more complex, however, with high-tech names and features that most consumers are still in the dark about.

Things are so bad, in fact, that nearly 20 percent of people with an HDTV think they are watching HD programming but aren’t, according to a recent Leichtman Research Group survey. Three key factors help determine which set to buy: the size, resolution quality and type of technology (plasma, LCD or DLP).

Bigger is better

Schuster advises consumers to go bigger than their old set when they buy HD. A 17-inch TV in your kitchen, for example, should move up to a 26-inch or 32-inch HDTV, Schuster said. A 27-inch set should go to 42- or 52-inch, he advised.

The quality of a screen’s resolution will also affect the calculation of the optimal viewing distance. In general, better resolution means that you can sit closer to a large screen and still get a great picture.

The easiest way to gauge a screen’s resolution is to look at the number of lines of video data needed to fill up a screen. The bigger the number, the better the resolution. Your two choices in HD are 720p and 1080p.

On a 1080p set, for example, 1,080 lines are used to paint the picture on the screen. Standard-definition programming has at most 480 visible lines of detail, according to the CNet’s HDTV Buying Guide. So it’s easy to see why HDTV is so much sharper and clearer.

The higher number of lines means that each of the lines is thinner. Wider lines translate into bigger pixels and lower resolution, which means that you have to sit farther away from a 720p set than a 1080p set to be able to see smooth video images instead of pixels.

Once you pass that threshold where the 720p pixels are not noticeable, there’s little difference in viewing quality when compared with a 1080p set. As a result, shoppers with large viewing distances (more than 15 feet) and/or smaller HDTV sets (under 40 inches) are less likely to see significant immediate benefit from paying premium prices for a 1080p set.

For now, few HDTV programming services can leverage the full capabilities of a set with 1080p resolution. So a 720p system may be all most will need for a while. But five to 10 years from now, you may feel shortchanged as more content is produced and distributed in the 1080p resolution. And Blu-ray disc players and video-game systems like the PlayStation 3 can produce content in 1080p today.

Pick your technology

With a firm grasp on the size and resolution that is right for you, the next challenge is to choose between an LCD, plasma or DLP.

LCD sets typically offer the brightest display available and look the most eye-catching in stores. But these televisions can have trouble processing fast-moving action, which means you may have blurry images while watching sports. The best value for LCD is in sets between 40 and 50 inches diagonally, experts advise.

Plasmas, in contrast, offer better value in sets ranging from 50 to 60 inches diagonally. While not as bright as LCDs, good plasmas are viewed by many as capable of more accurate color reproduction — and hence a better picture — than LCD sets. Plasmas are notorious energy hogs, though, with some models giving off a noticeable level of heat. At the very least, if you want a plasma, look for the EPA’s Energy Star-recommended models for the best efficiency.

Another concern about plasmas is that the glass panes of plasma sets can produce a distracting glare in rooms with lots of windows and lights.

DLP sets, in contrast, have fewer glare concerns and are more energy-efficient because they use the projected light of a bulb to create on-screen images. Even though only a handful of manufacturers still produce sets using DLP technology, they represent the cheapest alternative for those looking for a set with a screen size of 60 inches or more.

Because DLPs produce the dimmest picture of the three primary television-set technologies, they produce the best results when used in dark, enclosed rooms. Also, be aware that viewing quality wanes for those watching a DLP set from the ends of a wide angle.

Now hit the stores

When television shopping, be wary of love at first sight. Upon first seeing a specific set in a retail store, make a note of the product’s model number. If possible, return home without buying on your first visit, and plug the model number into a Web search engine to do some research on the product.

Be aware that some retailers will put expensive high-profit margin sets in darkened “home-theater” sections of the store that can help the expensive models look much better than their counterparts in sections of the store where the overhead light overwhelms a TV display and dilutes its video quality.

Likewise, pay attention to what’s playing on televisions in a retail store. Typically, expensive sets will have on digital animation movies to accentuate the crispness of high-resolution displays. Low-end sets may pale in comparison not because of the quality of their screens but because they are tuned to display lower-resolution content from television stations.

About the only certainty in shopping for televisions today is that sets will continue to get better and cheaper over time. So don’t fret if you miss out on that big-screen this holiday — there’s always next year.