Resolution Question

[Cpl_Punnishment]

720p
versus
1080p

noticeable on a 42" Plasma from 6 feet?

I can't decide.

[DarkDay]

No, but hey, placebo? I say go for it if ya can and tell your brain its better. Nothing lost.

[KingGorilla]

Based on inputting what? Most broadcast television, downloads, videogames are rendered in 720p and will be scaled to 1080p on a 1080p set and you will not see a difference, except a higher chance of artifacts and dulling of the image.

If you are speaking about the visual difference between a native 720p video input vs a 1080p video input like on say a blue-ray, it will be marginal on most sets past 5 feet. And you really have to want to see the differences on a movie to see them.

EDIT:
Here is the bottom line, it is not like comparing resolutions on a computer, because except with hi def movies, and computers, the video never changes, just scaling. It is not as if your PS3, Xbox, has a full range of compatible resolutions it outputs at. Just 720p for games(rare few at 1080p) and 1080p for HD-DVD and Blue Ray. It is not like changing resolutions on your monitor between 1024X760 and 1680X1050 or 1029X1200 where you will see more real estate on a desktop, in games. All you will do is stretch the image more on a TV.

[fitbabits]

I'm making no resolutions this year! None.

[Thanasimos]

I'm making no resolutions this year! None.

Really? You seem rather... resolved... about this.

[fitbabits]

Really? You seem rather... resolved... about this.
Nope, my mind is made up. No resolutions from me.

[Orca]

Not from six feet, according to the chart. (http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html)

[Karak]

720p
versus
1080p

noticeable on a 42" Plasma from 6 feet?

I can't decide.

No.
Just no.
If you strained you may be able to see the difference but after installing over 40 of these various systems I can say with good confidence that you would be happy as a cat in catnip with 720p

[Wackman3000]

Unless you hook a PC up to it, where you will HATE the 1368x768 or similar resolution.

I was in the same boat but decided to splurge the extra $100 or so for the 1080p version of my TV since I knew I would want the extra screen real estate for my PC gaming.

[KingGorilla]

I have to disagree, for media center purposes 720p is the butter zone. Hulu, Netflix, Podcasts can look like Dogshit, especially older movies of Sub 480p video. The 1Up Show, for example, is fine at 720p, horrid at 1080p. For PC gaming, year go with a 1080p display.

[J Arcane]

Purely as an anecdotal interjection, but I attempted to surf the internet on a PS3 through a 1080p 50+" set over the weekend, and I was unable to do so very well on account of everything was too damn small to see.

[KingGorilla]

That is more to do with Web sites designed to be read from 2-3 feet away than the TV set itself. This Forum, for example, is set to 12 point font. Not readable at distances. Also, why do so many games use tiny Font, even in HD some of the text is unreadable. Did no one take an office class? Nothing smaller than 20 point font(and that is pushing it).

[Kelegacy]

Anything under 50", and especially that distance, you won't see a difference. I wish I had gone with 720p on my 46" just to save cash.

[Stmfuller]

Purely as an anecdotal interjection, but I attempted to surf the internet on a PS3 through a 1080p 50+" set over the weekend, and I was unable to do so very well on account of everything was too damn small to see.

I suffer this problem with my 42" 1080p TV and the computer I have hooked up to it. In order to check out CoG etc I have to zoom quite a bit. But you know what's awesome? Playing with a computer from the comfort of your favorite chair/couch.
That's awesome.

anyway, 720p vs 1080p. Well, my ps3 runs games in their native format and a majority of them are 720p, but blu-ray runs native at 1080p, and if you have a computer hooked up to the tv, that can run 1080p...so I guess the question one should ask themselves is what resolution are they most going to run?
whether you can "see" the difference or not is up to you, but it's damn nice to be able to run those resolutions.

[Khrymsyn]

If computer... go 1080p... You can still run games at lower rez if your vid card doesn't have the oomph.

For video or HT, go with 720. Save the cash and get another video game =)

[Cpl_Punnishment]

ok, to clarify...
this will be my "Fun" tv

Xbox 360
PS3
and Bluray (PS3)

RARELY if ever... PC synched wireless via one of those cool usb dongle things.

I plan on wall mounting and adding a usb port to a wall outlet connected to the tv.

if that makes any sense.

[Wackman3000]

Meh, for $100 more and the piece of mind that I acquired a newer plasma with full HD seemed worth it to me, even if I can't tell the difference in certain instances.

All in all, any HDTV will make you far happier than a regular tube, that much is guaranteed.

Happy hunting!

[Tron]

I can tell the difference but that's just my eyes.

[Stmfuller]

ok, to clarify...
this will be my "Fun" tv

Xbox 360
PS3
and Bluray (PS3)

RARELY if ever... PC synched wireless via one of those cool usb dongle things.

I plan on wall mounting and adding a usb port to a wall outlet connected to the tv.

if that makes any sense.

so 360 runs at 1080p (i assume you have hdmi) so 1 for 1080
PS3 can run 1080 but most of the games run at 720p to 1 for 1080 1 for 720
Bluray is a native 1080p product so 1 for 720p 2 for 1080p
check your resolution max on the graphics card. I'm sure you'll be able to hit 1080p there too.

My suggestion is 1080p