Which Samsung TV do I buy? 720p or 1080p?

Hi, I hope someone can help me clear up a few question I have regarding the
purchase of a new LCD TV.

I do know that I want to buy a Samsung LCD TV, of either 37" or 40" size.
The main issue is, do I buy one that is 720p or 1080p?

My question is, will I benefit from a better picture with the 1080p model
when watching normal Freview channels? I dont have Sky HD and I am unlikely
to be getting it any time soon. What I am considering buying is a Humax
Foxsat HDR to use with freesat.

I am also confused with the description of many Samsung TVs. The 1080p
models are clearly marked as being 1080p, but there are many others that
just say 1366 x 768 as the resolution... Is 1366 x 768 a standard 720p
model, and if so, what is the resolution of the 1080p models.

There is something else bugging me now too. I have started noticing the odd
model that is 100Hz.... Is this really worth thinking about as I thought
that LCD panels were flicker free... I know our current TV is 100Hz, but
that one is a old CRT model.

As you can see, I am really confused about all this.

Any advice would be extremely welcomed. Thanks

"John Mason" wrote in message
...
Hi, I hope someone can help me clear up a few question I have regarding
the
purchase of a new LCD TV.

I do know that I want to buy a Samsung LCD TV, of either 37" or 40" size.
The main issue is, do I buy one that is 720p or 1080p?

My question is, will I benefit from a better picture with the 1080p model
when watching normal Freview channels? I dont have Sky HD and I am
unlikely
to be getting it any time soon. What I am considering buying is a Humax
Foxsat HDR to use with freesat.

I am also confused with the description of many Samsung TVs. The 1080p
models are clearly marked as being 1080p, but there are many others that
just say 1366 x 768 as the resolution... Is 1366 x 768 a standard 720p
model, and if so, what is the resolution of the 1080p models.

There is something else bugging me now too. I have started noticing the
odd
model that is 100Hz.... Is this really worth thinking about as I
thought
that LCD panels were flicker free... I know our current TV is 100Hz, but
that one is a old CRT model.

As you can see, I am really confused about all this.

Any advice would be extremely welcomed. Thanks






Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have approx
twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future proof yourself
and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung, even though my only
source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox 360. Sky will probably
never transmit video in 1080p due to the bandwidth required. Only source of
1080p is blueray or the redundant HD-DVD format.

"Slider" wrote in message ...

Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have approx
twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future proof yourself
and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung, even though my only
source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox 360. Sky will probably
never transmit video in 1080p due to the bandwidth required. Only source
of
1080p is blueray or the redundant HD-DVD format.


Thanks for the reply... Does the fact that it has twice the number of
pixels mean that the displayed picture wil be better on freeview (or indeed
any other source I might feed it)? I might consider using the TV as a PC
monitor from time to time.

Thanks again

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:32:02 +0100, "John Mason"
wrote:


"Slider" wrote in message ...

Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have approx
twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future proof yourself
and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung, even though my only
source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox 360. Sky will probably
never transmit video in 1080p due to the bandwidth required. Only source
of
1080p is blueray or the redundant HD-DVD format.


Thanks for the reply... Does the fact that it has twice the number of
pixels mean that the displayed picture wil be better on freeview (or indeed
any other source I might feed it)? I might consider using the TV as a PC
monitor from time to time.

Thanks again

It's unlikely that you will notice much difference with Freeview with
either 720p or 1080p. DVD can benefit if you have a player capable of
upscaling to 1080p. Also, your PC should also benefit from the extra
resolution. 1080p sets are getting cheaper now, so t's best to
future-proof if you can afford it.

Marky P.

"John Mason" wrote in message
...

"Slider" wrote in message ...

Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have approx
twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future proof
yourself
and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung, even though my only
source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox 360. Sky will probably
never transmit video in 1080p due to the bandwidth required. Only
source
of
1080p is blueray or the redundant HD-DVD format.


Thanks for the reply... Does the fact that it has twice the number of
pixels mean that the displayed picture wil be better on freeview (or
indeed
any other source I might feed it)? I might consider using the TV as a PC
monitor from time to time.

Thanks again



my 720's work fine as PC Monitors.. 40" and 42".. If your wanting to use it
as a monitor I would suggest you opt for 1080 as you find some games have
aspects that are too large, and the only way to get them "smaller" on the
screen is to use a higher res.

"Slider" wrote in message ...



Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have approx
twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future proof yourself
and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung, even though my only
source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox 360. Sky will probably
never transmit video in 1080p due to the bandwidth required. Only source
of 1080p is blueray or the redundant HD-DVD format.



you also need a 1080p tv if you want to get the best out of 1080i
broadcasts - i.e all uk HD broadcasts.


--
Gareth.

that fly...... is your magic wand....

"John Mason" wrote in message
...


Thanks for the reply... Does the fact that it has twice the number of
pixels mean that the displayed picture wil be better on freeview (or
indeed
any other source I might feed it)?



nope - because the extra pixels will be conjured up out of the picture
info - there will be no improvement.
example - connect up an ancient computer like a commodore 64 or a zx
spectrum and the fact that your tv will scale it up to 1080p will not make
it look like a ps3.



--
Gareth.

that fly...... is your magic wand....

There is something else bugging me now too. I have started noticing the
odd
model that is 100Hz.... Is this really worth thinking about as I
thought
that LCD panels were flicker free... I know our current TV is 100Hz, but
that one is a old CRT model.

You are right: 100Hz scanning was introduced for CRT sets because lots of
people - myself included - can see a 50Hz flicker very strongly on the
larger screens. Personally I found it so disturbing I simply had to have a
100Hz set.

The case for 100Hz scanning on LCD or plasma is *much* less convincing
because - as you say - neither generate flicker anyway.

All it does is give the *potential* to update the picture 100 times per
second instead of 50 times. Bear in mind that no commonly available video
source generates frames that fast (normal broadcast TV and UK DVDs are 25
frames per second, or 50 interlaced fields per second).

The only use to which those extra frames can currently be put is to show
interpolated frames, generated inside the TV as part of a motion-smoothing
feature. A picture rate of 25 frames per second is OK for most purposes,
but fast pans always look jumpy, and this is simply a feature of the frame
rate. You will see the jumpy effect on fast pans at the cinema, too. Hence
most modern TVs with 100Hz refresh offer motion smoothing. Remember,
though, it is generating "artificial" frames, and in-TV digital processing
can sometimes have unwanted side effects.

I would recommend you read the review mags before buying a TV, to get a feel
for how successfully the various features work.

Let me just summarise the key points:

1/ The frame rate of broadcast TV, a film at the cinema, and of any normal
video source such as DVDs, is always 24 or 25 frames per second.

This is quite separate from the *refresh* rate of the picture. Basic TVs
effectively refresh (or "draw") each frame twice (actually, alternate
horizontal lines for each refresh). Cinemas flash the projector light two
or three times per frame, again to reduce flicker.

2/ Older (50Hz) CRT TVs simply draw the picture as it comes in - refreshing
in time with the interlaced fields (50 times per second).

3/ Some of the early 100Hz CRT TVs simply drew each frame twice, reducing
flicker but not offering any other advantages.

4/ Later 100Hz TVs introduced digital processing to provide motion smoothing
(by interpolating frames - effectively doubling the frame rate).

5/ 100Hz refresh on LCD and plasma does not reduce flicker, because they
don't flicker anyway.

6/ However, 100Hz refresh on LCD and plasma does allow for better motion
smoothing. How well it is actually implemented is another story.

I hope this is of some help.

SteveT

The dog from that film you saw wrote:

"Slider" wrote in message ...



Full HD (1080p) tv's have a resolution of 1920 x 1080. They have
approx twice the number of pixels than a 720p tv. I would future
proof yourself and opt for a 1080p model. I have a 1080p Samsung,
even though my only source of HD is streaming videos through an Xbox
360. Sky will probably never transmit video in 1080p due to the
bandwidth required. Only source of 1080p is blueray or the redundant
HD-DVD format.



you also need a 1080p tv if you want to get the best out of 1080i
broadcasts - i.e all uk HD broadcasts.


I'd like a bit more info on the 100Mz part. Like th o.p. I thought that
would only apply to crt sets, such as my Panny which is 100Mz. Would an
LCD set really benefit? I have seen them advertised.

Bob

"John Mason" wrote in message
...
Hi, I hope someone can help me clear up a few question I have regarding
the
purchase of a new LCD TV.

I do know that I want to buy a Samsung LCD TV, of either 37" or 40" size.
The main issue is, do I buy one that is 720p or 1080p?

My question is, will I benefit from a better picture with the 1080p model
when watching normal Freview channels? I dont have Sky HD and I am
unlikely
to be getting it any time soon. What I am considering buying is a Humax
Foxsat HDR to use with freesat.

I am also confused with the description of many Samsung TVs. The 1080p
models are clearly marked as being 1080p, but there are many others that
just say 1366 x 768 as the resolution... Is 1366 x 768 a standard 720p
model, and if so, what is the resolution of the 1080p models.

There is something else bugging me now too. I have started noticing the
odd
model that is 100Hz.... Is this really worth thinking about as I
thought
that LCD panels were flicker free... I know our current TV is 100Hz, but
that one is a old CRT model.

As you can see, I am really confused about all this.

Any advice would be extremely welcomed. Thanks




Further to what has been said, TAKE YOUR TIME when considering where you buy
from, how much you pay and what additional warranty is available.

Beware and note that those 5 year warranties advertised are in fact 4
additional years over the standard 12 months.

I purchased my Tosh from a company way to far away, mail order and in hind
sight would/should have looked local as many shops now offer price
matching............then if anything goes wrong you can take it to their
door or at least go see the whites of their eyes.

And finally, KEEP THE BOX even though it might be large, its a reet pain in
the arse if and when you might need to return it or have it collected,
finding a good transit box.