# HDTV definition question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639 "2008-08-20T04:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/21 "2008-08-21T14:31:24Z")
Even if you don’t get full 1080p, at least get 1366 x 768 or whatever, that’s the proper horizontal to vertical aspect ratio. I have a 1024 x 768 plasma. It really doesn’t matter in day-to-day viewing, but if you want to hook a PC up to it, then everything is stretched out horizontally. I would think there’s a way to fix that, but this technical dude hasn’t figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/22 "2008-08-22T00:56:59Z")
I haven’t noticed much of a heat issue with my Panasonic 1080i plasma. The picture does kick ass though (I can’t tell the difference between i and p for several hundred dollars). ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/23 "2008-08-22T03:42:09Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Even if you don’t get full 1080p, at least get 1366 x 768 or whatever, that’s the proper horizontal to vertical aspect ratio. I have a 1024 x 768 plasma. It really doesn’t matter in day-to-day viewing, but if you want to hook a PC up to it, then everything is stretched out horizontally. I would think there’s a way to fix that, but this technical dude hasn’t figured it out. [/QUOTE] I have my screen resolution set at 1280x768 from the Control Panel. Picture fits the 16:9 format perfectly. Could go higher res, but then couldn’t read the monitor from across the room. Had trouble with the stretching at work, too, when we all changed to flat-panel monitors, then did the same change in resolution and now it’s great. Puzzling if you’ve already tried that… ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/24 "2008-08-22T14:48:36Z")
[QUOTE=SeaDragonTattoo] I have my screen resolution set at 1280x768 from the Control Panel. Picture fits the 16:9 format perfectly. Could go higher res, but then couldn’t read the monitor from across the room. Had trouble with the stretching at work, too, when we all changed to flat-panel monitors, then did the same change in resolution and now it’s great. Puzzling if you’ve already tried that… [/QUOTE] It’s been a while since I had my PC and TV in the same room to try it. I’m pretty sure I tried all the common resolutions. I’m sort of overly-sensitive to the picture being stretched, so even if it was only stretched a little I wouldn’t have liked it. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/25 "2008-08-22T14:56:38Z")
Just to clarify: 720p is 1280 x 720 1080p/i is 1920 x 1080 So **Control-Z** ’s and **SeaDragonTattoo** ’s sets above very close to 720p rez (but slightly, trivially off). The picture aspect for 720p and 1080 is 1.7777etc. **Control-Z** ’s set is 1.778646, **SeaDragonTattoo** ’s is 1.67. Close enough. I don’t think this is true any longer, but 1080 HD plasma sets used to do some tricks to display 1080 content, like show only 1/2 the vertical resolution, i.e 1920 x 540, and stretch the picture vertically. The interpolated lines blended together fairly well from what I saw, although I expect text would be a bit odd looking. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/26 "2008-08-22T17:10:08Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] I have a 23-inch HD computer monitor (1920 x 1200) with video inputs. All you need to do is to upgrade one of your computer systems, and then plug in your cable/satellite/OTA-converter/DVD/BD box on the side. You’ll also need some amplified speakers. [/QUOTE] [This Samsung](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8817505&type=product&id=1206749957578) seems good and I’ve been using 5.1 surround sound on my box for a couple years. [This](http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Gateway-GT5662-Desktop-PC-GT5662/sem/rpsm/oid/201071/catOid/-12962/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) is what it would connect to. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/27 "2008-08-22T17:19:28Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] Just to clarify: 720p is 1280 x 720 1080p/i is 1920 x 1080 So **Control-Z** ’s and **SeaDragonTattoo** ’s sets above very close to 720p rez (but slightly, trivially off). The picture aspect for 720p and 1080 is 1.7777etc. **Control-Z** ’s set is 1.778646, **SeaDragonTattoo** ’s is 1.67. Close enough. [/QUOTE] Unless I’m misunderstanding what you’re calculating, isn’t 1024x768 a 1.33 pixel aspect ratio? The actual set is widescreen and acts as such, but the pixel resolution is 1024x768. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/28 "2008-08-22T17:46:02Z")
Oh, wow! [This Samsung](http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-T220HD-22-Widescreen-HDTV-Monitor-T220HD/sem/rpsm/oid/217983/catOid/-12965/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) has a built-in tuner! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/29 "2008-08-22T18:13:07Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] It’s been a while since I had my PC and TV in the same room to try it. I’m pretty sure I tried all the common resolutions. I’m sort of overly-sensitive to the picture being stretched, so even if it was only stretched a little I wouldn’t have liked it. [/QUOTE] Now that you mention it, my TV does have an “auto-adjust” feature that does it’s thing whenever I switch sources, so even though I’ve got the computer’s resolution set at 1280x768, the TV must be doing sometihing extra that makes it look fabulous, making the adjustment to it’s native 1080p resolution, so I guess I’m not being nearly as helpful as I thought I was. Sorry. Oh, and me, too on the sensitive-to-stretching thing. I hate it! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/30 "2008-08-22T18:37:42Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Unless I’m misunderstanding what you’re calculating, isn’t 1024x768 a 1.33 pixel aspect ratio? The actual set is widescreen and acts as such, but the pixel resolution is 1024x768. [/QUOTE] You’re quite right – I’d misread the posts as you having a 1366 x 768 set. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/31 "2008-08-22T18:47:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Oh, wow! [This Samsung](http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-T220HD-22-Widescreen-HDTV-Monitor-T220HD/sem/rpsm/oid/217983/catOid/-12965/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) has a built-in tuner! [/QUOTE] Seriously thinking about getting this but from Amazon, which has the same price as CC’s sale + rebate. The integrated tuner would be best for me so I don’t have to move my PS2. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/32 "2008-08-22T18:51:17Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Oh, wow! [This Samsung](http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-T220HD-22-Widescreen-HDTV-Monitor-T220HD/sem/rpsm/oid/217983/catOid/-12965/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do) has a built-in tuner! [/QUOTE] > [@Circuit City](#): > > Built-in 1080p HDTV tuner Interesting, considering there are no 1080p broadcasts. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/33 "2008-08-22T18:57:33Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] Interesting, considering there are no 1080p broadcasts. [/QUOTE] It [also has](http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3920261&Sku=S203-2267&SRCCODE=CNETCMPUSA&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjC2WHaCjCVqHCjCdwwp) two HDMI connectors, along with VGA, DVI, analog audio, digital audio, component audio/video, and a standard cable jack. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/34 "2008-08-22T19:34:44Z")
And a 1080p HDTV tuner! Talk about future proof! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/35 "2008-08-22T20:14:28Z")
And there’s a whole series up to 26"! If I didn’t already have a monitor, I’d think about getting this one. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/36 "2008-08-22T20:45:25Z")
I’ll be using the 22" as a second monitor for the Gateway, like I was doing with the TV before it. My PS2 stopped playing DVDs for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/37 "2008-08-22T22:57:37Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] I have a 1024 x 768 plasma. It really doesn’t matter in day-to-day viewing, but if you want to hook a PC up to it, then everything is stretched out horizontally. I would think there’s a way to fix that, but this technical dude hasn’t figured it out. [/QUOTE] That won’t be a factor for me as the video screen will be strictly video – disk or (if I ever get it) cable/satellite. Likewise, I don’t watch movies on the 'puter (if only because I have a CD drive, not a DVD drive in same) > [@Michaleen Flynn](#): > > When I drinks whisky I drinks whisky, and when I drinks water I drinks water. I just checked: I would have to upgrade the DVD player, too. The one I got now hasn’t any HDMI jacks on it. Serves me out for cheaping out when I got it last year. How much are Blu-ray players going for now? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/38 "2008-08-23T00:27:46Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] I just checked: I would have to upgrade the DVD player, too. The one I got now hasn’t any HDMI jacks on it. Serves me out for cheaping out when I got it last year. How much are Blu-ray players going for now? [/QUOTE] Too much still, IMHO, though there are refurbs available in the $200 range. I got a beautiful Denon progressive-scan 1080 up-converter (refurbished) with HDMI output, from eCost for all of $68 with shipping. I love it - definitely not the same as a Blu-ray, but acceptable in the place of one for now. It gets the most possible from a standard DVD. The TV itself does a fair job of upscaling the standard DVD player with the component connection but the Denon’s picture is so much better. I’m happy with it for now, probably just for another year or so. And the more HDMI inputs you can get on your TV the better. I already had to get an HDMI router for mine, 3 inputs, and will go up to 4 when I get the Blu-ray. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/39 "2008-08-23T04:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] I just checked: I would have to upgrade the DVD player, too. The one I got now hasn’t any HDMI jacks on it. [/QUOTE] You can use the component video out from the DVD player to the HD monitor component input, assuming it has one (very high probability) This generally works fine, depending on which component is doing the upsampling, and how well they do it. In any case, component video has enough bandwidth for HD, but it does involve an analog/digital conversion. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639/40 "2008-08-23T14:34:33Z")
Yep I have my TivoHD hooked up by component video, and the 1080i HD picture is beautiful. Plus the component cable, if you don’t have one, is probably cheaper. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdtv-definition-question/460639.md?page=3)