Are 1080p HDTVs any better than 1080i?
In terms of television, no. Currently, no broadcast networks send 1080p signals. So buying a 1080p HDTV wouldn’t be required to take full advantage of television broadcasts. Theoretically, it wouldn’t hurt to purchase a 1080p television in the event broadcasters change to 1080p resolution. If you own or are planning on purchasing a next generation video game system (Playstation 3, Xbox 360) or video disc player (HD DVD and Blu-ray), it may be a good idea to go 1080p as these devices are equipped to utilize this resolution. The difference between 1080p and 1080i is in how the picture is drawn on the screen. The “i” stands for “interlaced,” which uses two (odd/even) fields of half the picture’s overall resolution to display a full frame. When alternated, the eye does not perceive anything other than a full picture. This is how television has been transmitted for years, and current analog television is referred to 480i. The “p” refers to “progressive,” meaning the full picture is drawn fr
