IMHO people should not get caught up on 1080p versus 1080i, especially if you don’t know the technical differences between the two, are on a budget (who isn’t in these hard economic times), or you will not be using this for double duty, as a computer monitor and/or TV.
First clue that it does not matter, if you don’t know what the “p” in 1080p or the “i” in 1080i are abbreviations for.
Second thing, if you don’t know what screen size it takes before 1080p makes a noticeable difference (to the average consumer, which I assume most Wooters are).
Third, if you can’t explain the technology and differences between 1080p and 1080i.
Fourth, if you don’t know about hertz (HZ), progressive scan, field rate (frame rate), aspect ratio, and interlaced when talking the talk at a neighborhood get-together.
Unless you are really into audio and video, 720p is all you will ever need. Even though I am the accidental owner of four 1080p HDTVs (got them dirt cheap at CostCo), I am in this category.
It’s like wine. Some people know why others sniff wine, sniff the cork and swish wine in the mouth.
Me, all I know is that if I’m on a date where I want to impress, when she says “bring the wine” I should not bring wine that’s in a cardboard carton.
And if in a restaurant I simply tell the waiter to select a wine for us that he would drink (and that’s because I don’t know swill from fine wine).
Getting caught up on 1080i versus p is also like buying a digital camera based on megapixels, the higher the better, one thinks.
OK, end of finger wagging.
Bonus Comment: Here’s some reading that may chop off my finger used for the above wagging:
http://reviews.cnet.com/720p-vs-1080p-hdtv/
Here’s the author’s conclusion, if you don’t want to press the link:
*If you’re just making the leap to HDTV and find the higher end sets out of your price range, you shouldn’t feel bad about going with an entry-level 720p model (just getting HD programming is going to make a huge difference).
Also, in a lot of cases, folks are looking at 720p TVs as second sets for bedrooms or playrooms, and in a tough economy, a few hundred bucks makes a big difference.
Personally, if I were choosing between the 720p 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50X1 and the 1080p Panasonic TC-P50S1 for a bedroom, I’d strongly consider going with the cheaper model if it meant saving $600-$700. That savings is enough to buy another 32-inch LCD for another room.
If you’re thinking of going big, really big (a 55-inch or larger screen), or you like to sit really close (closer than 1.5 times the diagonal measurement), the extra resolution may make it worth the difference–as long as you have a pristine, 1080i or 1080p HD source to feed into the set. (To be clear, there are few 720p sets available in large sizes anymore, though a few older models may be kicking around at good discounts).
Finally, it’s a good idea to go with 1080p instead of 720p if you plan to use your TV a lot as a big computer monitor.
That said, if you set your computer to output at 1,920x1,080, you may find that the icons and text on the screen are too small to view from far away (as a result, you may end up zooming the desktop or even changing to a lower resolution). But a 1080p set does give you some added flexibility (and sharpness) when it comes to computer connectivity.
If none of those factors jump out at you as true priorities–and you’re working on a tight budget and want to save some dough–a 720p set is going to do you just fine. HD will still look great on your set, I swear.*
