Basically,im planning on picking up a HDTV soon,but i really dont know what i should be looking for.I know that 1080p is the best quality of HDTV, but any hdtvs ive looked at purchasing dont say what level they support (720p,1080i,1080p).Many just have contrast ratios and other stuff that i really dont understand.Im basically just looking for someone to give me a run down on this.Im looking to get a 28' set,im in ireland aswell.And ill also want to use it with my xbox360, so hopefully someone can help me out.
Thanks
A bit of preparatory worry is good - when you make your decision, you know you've chosen well. I'm in the UK. Our broadcast standard is 1080i and will be for the foreseeable future. So the issue is, what will you be watching? Your HDTV will pick up the 8+2 sports channels in HD on Sky (lean pickings!) and we can only hope they will increase this++ during this year. With HD players/recorders, Blu-ray in the states is 1080p but will readily convert 1080i media when playing and output to TV. Not sure about Toshiba et al HDTV. But the fact remains, with the cost of these machines when they first come on the market, and the small number of commercial discs available (and available through online DVD rental which is the cheapest way to see a hell of a lot of programs) it will be a while before it's (i) financially feasible for most of us to upgrade our newish players/rcorders to HD anyway (ii) commercial disc availability to make it worthwhile, so it just doesn't sit there, or you keep enjoying the couple of HD discs ad nauseum.
In essence then, our broadcast standard is 1080i, and with this just being the intro of HD, won't change for years till the market really takes off. Even then, players (or the TV itself)will convert old 1080i material to 1080p for 1080p TVs. Most HD programs are going to be on TV and that's the standard 1080i - period. And being standard, when Blu-ray is introduced in UK, even if it does play/record in 1080p, it will have to play 1080i also since all TVs currently sold here are of the interlaced not Progressive scanning type!!!
So pick a few TVs and look up the specifications on the manufacturer's website to make sure they are all 1080 (obviously it will be i ) or ask a reliable showroom salesman, and then zero in.
Terry
Another thing - LCD TVs don't have the problem of a stationary image burning in after a while, (say you are watching SKY and put it on pause and are away longer than you thought.....) - plasma does have that problem. Also, be aware that a largish plasma set weighs a ton - that's why the stands cost about £500 !!!!!!!!!! - they have to be heavy and of strong construction themselves to support the TV. One person can pull a 32 inch LCD out of it's box and set it up. You'll need a technician (and off-sider) to set it all up and operating if you go plasma.
