I know I get confused with all this stuff, and found this article interesting. Hope it helps a few of you out also!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/tv-specs-aren-t-worth-paying-225518304.html

Almost every year, TV manufacturers have touted some shiny new technology as the reason you need to buy a new set: flat screens, HDTV, plasmas, LCDs, 3D TV… but all of these are now old news. Practically the only trick stores have left is to reduce the price. This makes it an ideal year to get a great bargain, but only if you know what to look for — and what to avoid.

Thanks Craig, an interesting review.

I don't agree with the paragraph on resolution.

I have a 40" LCD and can easily distinguish between sports broadcast material

in 720 and 1080.

On the size/distance table.

Does anyone sit a close as 3ft from a TV,

unless you live in a tiny bedsit?

I know my mother's 1080 TV looks awesome with HD in the US. Even the DirecTv menus are designed for HD. Sure wish we had that here.

I've never really tried to compare 1080 vs. 720. I'm a cheapie, so for now, only have 720 TVs. I'm waiting for the LEDs to come down in price.

As for 3 feet...that is a bit unusual.

But I think overall, the article is a good place to start. Obviously, if you are a HiFi nut, you'll be interested in more details.

Obviously, if you are a HiFi nut, you'll be interested in more details.

Not sure about that as High Fidelity is all about sound, but one could of course also argue that both sound and picture quality are about resolution.

I don't agree with the paragraph on resolution.

I have a 40" LCD and can easily distinguish between sports broadcast material

in 720 and 1080.

I haven't tried to compare that myself but I wonder if it's really a fair comparison to compare a 720p singnal vs a 1080p signal on 1080p panel. Wouldn't a more fair comparison be to compare a 720p signal on a panel with only 720p native resolution against a 1080p signal on a panel of the same size that has native 1080p resoltion? I say that because it would seem to me that if you view a 720p signal on a 1080 monitor then there is going to be upscaling of the 720p signal before it can be displayed on the 1080 panel. Thus you wouldn't be comparing 720p directly against 1080p, rather you are comparing the combined effect of 720p + upscaling algorithm to native 1080p. A corollary to that is that I wonder if one would be better off with a 720p set if all of their "HD" source material was going to be in 720p rather than 1080p.

My satellite receiver is indeed upscaling all material to 1080,

even the standard def programmes.

So at least my preception is based on a common standard.

720p on a semi HD TV is an interesting question...........

I would still go for the best, ie 1080 TV

and hope that the broadcast material is up the job.

Not always, is my experience.

I can get Fox Series in SD and HD.

Believe me the feed on the HD channel is often the same as the SD.......

i.e. Cr*p