720p or 1080i: poll results
By Kevin C. Tofel 
posted Dec 1st 2005 4:38PM
posted Dec 1st 2005 4:38PM
Well, it wasn't a convincing victory, but a good half of you prefer 1080i resolution over 720p. Over 10% of you just don't care: you like HDTV any which way you can see it! I'm thinking we should run this poll on a semi-regular basis, you know, say every 3 or 4 months? The reason behind that is because we're seeing more networks go high-def in both resolutions and we'll also have more set choices in both 720p and 1080i. I think more people will have an affinity towards one or the other over time. Of course, next time we may have to add 1080p to the mix as well!
You should add TV size and room dimension to the next version of the poll. I've heard that the nearly 1-million pixels of a 720p set saturate the eye if the TV is properly sized for the room. I think the increased resolution of a 1080i set is only an advantage if the TV is too big for the room.
Woo hoo, go 1080i!!
So do you think the first gen of HD-DVD/BluRay stuff will be in 1080i but allow for 1080p images kinda like the first round or two of DVD drives? With most programming coming from a 24fps film source they could still switch back to the 2:3 conversion process used today.
Of those polled how many have 1080 sets?
Just wanted to add my 2 cents....If you ask the 720p vs. 1080i question to anybody that really understands the difference, including myself, than 720p will always be the winner...The best way to understand this is to watch an NFL HD game on CBS, then view a game on FOX...When the action is still, you won't notice a difference...When the camera's are moving though, you'll see that on the 1080i game, the screen begins to show pixels with a sort of tiling effect....That's the biggest benefit to a progressive shot! Sure, some will say "but wait a minute, 1080i has more lines resolution, so it's gotta be better"...in the real world, it's almost impossible to see the difference." some people have said that nightime shows on the major networks look more film-like in 720p, and perhaps, a bit more sharp in 1080i...i tend to agree with that statement. either way, 720p or 1080i....it's all good!
I'm pro 720p also. although my TV is 1080i native, I'v watched on different TV's and even at home, I like ESPN's 720p football broadcasts more than 1080i ones.
Aren't you guys forgetting about the true advantage to 720P in terms of sporting events? 60fps.
"If you ask the 720p vs. 1080i question to anybody that really understands the difference, including myself,"
Well I guess thats the pompous statement of the weeek.
If you want to watch games in 720, thats fine, but dont question the intelligence of those who feel differently. Thats just obnoxious.
I prefer 1080, because the tv I'll be picking up soon will output 1080p. Yes, I know, there are not many 1080p sources, and no, I dont have D-VHS. In fact the tv doesnt have 1080p in, only i. It does put the image on screen progressively, preventing the smearing effect.
Up until these new 1080p sets started coming out, I would tell friends who asked to get a set that could output 720p, that they should ignore the 1080 aspect for the time being. As you said, sports look far better in 720p than 1080i. Now we are in a brave new world, and 1080 IS the way to go.
to me regular tv shows look better in 1080 but sports look better in 720. Whats new? Could 1080 look better if the networks didn't compress it so much?
Are networks broadcasting the same date stream on each? for 720 @5mbs and 1080i@ 5mbs therefore 1080 being further compressed?
I have no idea what the real numbers are, its the concept that I'm speaking about.