Page 1 of 1080p vs 1080i can you see the difference ?

I`m going to be buying a new HDTV in August (money permitting !!), and am wondering whether I`m likely to need a 1080p set or if a 1080i system will do.
The question is, can you actually SEE a difference.
I`m only a simple viewer, and while I appreciate the technicalities,don`t want to pay for something that I can`t see.
(When I might be able to use the extra to buy a bigger TV!!)

Depends on the size of screen you`re buying and how far away you sit.........

Ste

I`m thinking of a 37" and sitting about 6- 10 feet away
`Course if the difference is trivial, I might get a 42 " !!

I guess it depends on the price range you have, and your needs. For example, do you plan to plug in a Sky HD box, or HD DVD or Blu-ray drive? It`s nice to future proof yourself with a 1080p TV, but generally they are a little more pricey at the minute. But if I had a choice between a 1080i TV, which was £1500 for example, and a 1080p TV with was £1700, I`d pay that little extra to get the full HDTV. Personally, if I was buying another HDTV, I`d go for one with 1080p, but then I`m a techno-whore so I would do anyway.

Even so, 1080i does still look amazing; I`m betting 90% of the HDTV`s you might have seen on display are 1080i.

From what I`ve heard at that viewing distance and that screen size, the difference between 720p and 1080p is indistinguishable to the eye....
Future proofing is a different thing though and you should look at the price difference when you buy...
Lots of stuff in google...
Try here too.
Don`t forget, what will you be watching on it? Certainly you won`t see a difference with SD DVD`s...
See here for an idea of distance/screen size.
Basically, for a viewing distance of 10 feet, you`re up to around 50" before you start to see the difference between 720p and 1080p. Distance of 8ft and it`s still over 42"..

Ste

This item was edited on Monday, 7th May 2007, 15:02

Thanks folks, I was thinking in terms of future proofing, so that when the HD format war finally sorts itself out, I`ve already got the screen and can then go down the HD disc route without too much worry about whether the screen is up to it
I`m also on Virgin Media cable and might, and I emphasise might go down their cable HDTV route.

This item was edited on Monday, 7th May 2007, 17:19

Depends what you want to view as well.
If you can afford 1080p and want to view HD-DVD,then go for it.
If,like me,you don`t intend buying HD-DVD for quite a while (if ever) and your priority is SKY HD,then SKY aren`t going to 1080p for years.
I`ve heard SKY HD 720p/1080i looks crap on a 1080p set as well.
I`m perfectly happy with 1080i on my 32" HD LCD.
I think it`s got to the stage where any improvements are dubious and any difference you notice is down to suggestion and a desire to notice a difference,if you get my drift.
I`d have my doubts as to whether anyone would notice a difference between 1080i and 1080p in a blind (sic) test anyway.
Maybe on a great big set,but not a medium one.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 9th May 2007, 12:13