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by Amy Jorgensen
High-definition televisions provide a higher resolution image than standard-definition televisions. Typically, HDTVs are available in three types: 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. The 720p and 1080i resolution TVs are quickly being replaced with 1080p as the industry standard, but there are still a lot of them on the market. Here are some comparison points for both 1080i and 1080p televisions to help you decide which will work best for you.
What the numbers mean. In both 1080p and 1080i HDTVs, "1080" refers to the number of lines that make up an image on the screen. Each line is made up of tiny colored dots called pixels. The greater the number of lines, the better the resolution or clarity of the image. A 1080p HDTV displays 1,080 lines of pixels, whereas a regular television uses only 480 lines. Both versions of 1080i and 1080p HDTVs are superior to the 720p HDTV and to SDTV.
What the letters mean. The difference between 1080i and 1080p HDTV resolution is seen in the way the lines appear on the screen. The "i" in 1080i or 720i stands for interlaced, meaning the odd-numbered lines appear on the screen followed by the even-numbered lines. The HDTV "interlaces" the lines together to produce an image. This happens faster than your eyes can detect, so you only see the full image. The "p" in 1080p or 720p stands for progressive scan, which means that lines appear sequentially on the screen. For this reason, the latter is said to have a sharper, cleaner image.
Cost differences. When the technology was first released, a 1080p HDTV was significantly more expensive than 1080i HDTVs. The price of all HDTVs has dropped dramatically in recent years, however. You'll find great deals on both 1080i and 1080p HDTVs, so the price difference is negligible in most cases.
Programming availability. Although 1080p picture clarity might be higher than 1080i, the resolution of the video source being used also matters. Most HDTV broadcasts go no higher than 1080i. Most video games are currently made in 720p, but a few are available in 1080p. Blu-ray players do support 1080p, and more Blu-ray discs are being made to take advantage of this capability. Some on-demand cable and satellite providers offer programming in high definition as well. The 1080p resolution and image quality are quickly being adopted by manufacturers and content providers, so look for more content for HDTVs that take full advantage of this technology.
