Onix said:
I don't want to really get into this again ... but I must ...
1080i/60 broadcasts, which make up the majority of HD TV content ... can only be resolved by a 1080p TV. '1080i' TV's don't exist. Those CRT's simply cannot resolve that resolution.
Furthermore, 1080p video at 30fps or less (in other words, video and movie content) can be be interlaced to 1080i60 ... and a 1080p display will de-interlace it, displaying the original progressive content.
Those are good points, and
in theory I agree. However, lets not overlook the fact that not all 1080p TVs will excel at deinterlacing 1080i signals. Yes, most television content will be broadcast in 1080i, but what about ABC, Fox, ESPN, and SKY (Britain)? As Im sure you know, they broadcast in 720p. How well will a given 1080p TV scale a 720p signal? Will they scale a 720p signal as well as a 720p TV can display it natively?
The fact is, having a 1080p TV isnt necessarily a guarantee that 1080i/720p broadcast signals will look better than a 720p,
1080i (as marketed), or 1366x768p TV. As Im sure youre aware, the scaler/deinterlacer is of paramount importance. Whether the set is 720p, 768p or 1080p, that scaler/deinterlacer will make all the difference in how good any particular TV will look. Moreover, when you consider how many broadcast streams are bandwidth starved, you better hope that the macroblocking filter on your prospective 1080p TV is well adapted to the task. ;-)
My overarching point remains that 1080p TVs will be more expensive on average, and they arent necessary to watch an HDTV broadcast in either 720p or 1080i. So I dont see how their deinterlacing ability will be a significant selling point when theyll undoubtedly cost more.
BTW, I know this response is belated, and the topic is dead; but I couldnt leave your reply unvisited.