The other TV thread notes that standard DVD is 480i. What will HD DVD and Blue Ray be? If they will be 1080p, it sounds like that might help the arguement to hold out for the 1080p TV.

Great question!!! Anybody???

1080p is what I found at this link...

HD-DVD&Blu-Ray

I have heard over and over that the spec will be 1080i, with DD 5.1 and DTS as STANDARD.

There has been much discussion of the fact that the high-def DVDs on the horizon will NOT be encoded in 1080p - and even if they were, there are no devices (either TVs or DVD players, aside frmo HTCPs which can "upconvert" the signal in the computer) currently being made that will either output or input a 1080p signal.

As usual, I have nothing to cite to or link to for my claims. Maybe someone else can help out here.

If it is 1080i then I am less concerned about getting a 1080p tv. Whatever I get I want to future proof, because I don't plan on a replacing what I get for 10+ years.

Good point - but don't forget that a 1080p monitor will still resolve a 1080i signal more smoothly, with less flicker and without bothersome combing errors. It is just like with a 480p television deinterlacing 480i DVD materials. The 480p set does make the 480i image appear smoother, with less motion artifacts. Despite the apparent lack of 1080p signals or inputs currently scheduled for release, it could make 1080i broadcast HD and 1080i encoded HD-DVDs look even better... I guess it remains to be seen whether the difference will, well, make a difference.

Zarak,

At this juncture, they will be 1080i, and given the increased bandwidth requirements (or increased data storage required on either of the HD disc formats) for what is a very modest, barely visible improvement, I doubt that will change. We're enthusiasts, remember, but lots of mainstream consumers are quite happy with existing DVD resolution and aren't all that blown away at the differences between DVD (480i) and HD (720p or 1080i).

My son (age 23), for example, gets frustrated at the slower channel loading that occurs with the HD channels and prefers to go to the non-HD channels because he can surf faster. He doesn't care about the differences in clarity. It drives me crazy!

But lots of people are like him. They see the dramatic improvement that DVD brought over videotape, which, by comparison is really awful. The difference between DVD and HD resolution isn't all that dramatic, and between 1080i and 1080p, is like, so subtle most consumers wouldn't notice it or even care.

Just something to keep in mind.

Regards,

Excellent post Alan.

In reply to:

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lots of mainstream consumers are quite happy with existing DVD resolution

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That fact as well as two competing formats and the additional problem of early adopters with no HDMI/DVI connections being shut out of the new formats, spell a big problem for Blu-ray and HD-DVD, at least initially.

Capn is correct that DTS and DD are both standard (about time for DTS).

I read an article last night that I referenced in the 720p vs. 1080p thread in this forum where the author of the article stated that 1080p would be on HiDef discs. He didn't state which format (HD-DVD or Blu-Ray), but maybe he meant that it would be available, which is different than a "standard".

As for 1080p display doing a great job with 1080i, you sure would think so, but in their tests of the latest Mitsubishi 1080p TV, they said that it had some flaws when displaying 1080i, which surprised them a little, so don't take it as everything that can do 1080p will do 1080i perfectly.

I think that it is mainly a technology issue that will quickly be resolved. It doesn't seem to make any logic sense to me why it would struggle with 1080i, but I didn't have the TV in front of me.

This doesn't answer the question as to which if any of the HD discs will be encoded in 1080p and how displays would handle them, but note that the Blu-ray application standards (sec 3.3, p17)include provision for both 1080i and 1080p applications.