Do I Need a 1080p HDTV?
Len Rosenbaum plans to buy a small HDTV. Does he need 1080p?
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Monday, June 29, 2009; 12:19 AM
Len Rosenbaum plans to buy a small HDTV. Does he need 1080p?
I'm a big fan of 1080p, but for a set less than 37 inches, I'd say no. You'd have to be sitting awfully close to see any difference in image quality.
Are there compatibility issues? Not really. The FCC-approved standard for HDTV broadcasts doesn't even include 1080p--just 720p and 1080i. Considering all the hassles involved with the recent switch from analog to digital broadcast, I don't think anyone is eager to change broadcast standards any time soon.
As far as I can know, every HDTV sold today can manage 1080i, even if it has to downconvert it to a lower resolution. That's really all it needs to do.
Nor will a Blu-ray player be a problem. They're all capable of outputting at 720p or 1080i.
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