As a result of this advance, there are now a growing number of Televisions available that are termed "1080p Compatible". However, what does this mean?
What is Classified as a 1080p TV
Any HDTV than can display a 1080p image, regardless if it is done via a 1080p direct input and/or internal processing of the HDTV itself can be classified as a 1080p TV.
Not all 1080p televisions are created equal
Although your TV may have 1080p processing, this does not mean that your TV will accept a 1080p input source. Most TVs with 1080p capability execute this function by upscaling 480p, 720p, and 1080i input sources to 1080p for display on the screen. In essence, the 1080p function on your TV may be done with internal scaling or processing only and not be able to accept 1080p external source.
In order to take advantage of 1080p upscaling output from a DVD player, the HDTV must have both 1080p native display capability and be able to accept a 1080p signal from an external source.
In determining whether your 1080p compatible television achieves the 1080p result via internal scaling only, or can also accept 1080p signals from an external source, such as a DVD player with 1080p output, consult your user manual, which should explain what type your TV is. If you are still not sure, you can confirm this with tech support for your specific brand/model of 1080p compatible television.
Of course, another way to confirm this is to connect a DVD player with 1080p output capability to your Television via an HDMI, DVI, or Component (whichever output is designated for 1080p). Set the output of the DVD player to 1080p and see if you get an image on the screen.
1080p/60 vs 1080p/24
Access to 1080p is not only determined by whether your HDTV has the ability to access a 1080p signal directly, but also what format of 1080p your HDTV will accept.
Almost all HDTVs that accept a 1080p input signal directly can accept what is known as 1080p/60. 1080p/60 represents a 1080p signal transferred and displayed at a rate of 60 frames-per-second (30 frames displayed twice per second). This is a standard progressive scan 1920x1080 pixel video signal.
However, with the advent of Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, a new variation of 1080p is being promoted and implemented: 1080p/24. What 1080p/24 represents is the frame rate of standard 35mm film transferred directly in its native 24 frames-per-second from a source (such as a film on a Blu-ray or HD-DVD disc). This means that in order to display this image on an HDTV, the HDTV has to have the ability to display 1080p resolution at 24 frames per second.
Up to this point, most Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD players read the 1080p/24 format information off of the disc and then reprocesses it so that it will be able to output the signal as 1080p/60, thus making it compatible with most 1080p input compatible HDTVs.
However, LG (with others to follow) are starting to introduce Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD players that output 1080p/24 off the disc directly and sends that signal unchanged to an HDTV. In this case, if the HDTV cannot process or display the 1080p/24 signal directly, the Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player will then reprocess the 1080p/24 signal to 1080i so that the HDTV will recognize the signal. If the HDTV is 1080p/60 capable, the HDTV will reprocess the 1080i signal to 1080p/60 in order to be able to display the image on the screen.
Before You Buy a 1080p Capable HDTV
If you are considering the purchase of a 1080p-capable television, you can do three things before you make your buying decision:
1. In many cases you can actually download the user manual from the Manufacturer's website.
2. The store should have the user manual available for inspection - if not - walk out.
3. You can check the basic TV specifications on the Manufacturer's site - which should indicate the 1080p spec, and whether it references 1080p processing only or also includes 1080p input capability.
4. If you have further questions regarding your purchase, contact Tech Support for the model 1080p HDTV you are considering.
Final Take
Although 1080p has several faces, as a consumer, don't let this confuse you. If you are considering the purchase of an HDTV smaller than 40-inches, the actual visual difference between the three main high definition resolutuions, 1080p, 1080i, and 720p are minimal if noticable at all.
The larger the screen size, the more noticable the difference between 1080p and other resolutions. If you are considering a purchase of an HDTV with a screen size of 40-inches or larger, go for 1080p if you can afford it, and also consider a set that has 1080p/24 capability.
For additional information on 1080p, especially its similarities and differences with 1080i, check out my companion article: 1080i vs 1080p - Similarities and Differences Between 1080i and 1080p.
