[mdlug] Building a Linux PVR

[Clinton V. Weiss]

If this were Slashdot, this would have be +5 Informative.

I learned a lot from this post, and it just so happens that I've been
shopping for a new TV lately.  This has me curious tho, if 720i is
almost equivalent to some monitor resolutions, why not use it for dual
purposes?  Can a 720i TV be used as a computer monitor, or can a video
card & monitor that supports those resolutions be used as a 720i TV?

On 11/23/06, Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Wolfger <wolfger at gmail.com>
> To: MDLUG's main mailing list <mdlug at mdlug.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 1:21:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [mdlug] Building a Linux PVR
>
> >Another question: Will a standard DVI LCD monitor suffice for HD output, or
> do I need one of the expensive units that >says HD on it?
>
> Yes and No. High Definition Video only refers to the resolution of the
> video.
> There are several different resolutions that qualify as being HD.
> They are 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p.
> Don't be fooled by these numbers though because 1080i is really no better
> than 720p.
> Why you ask?
> Because when your TV receives a 1080i signal it has to down convert it to
> 720p.
> Why you ask?
> Because most TV's are incapable of displaying an Interlaced signal and that
> is what the I stands for in 720i and 1080i.
> So when your TV receives that 1080i signal it has to down convert it to a
> 720p signal to display it as a Progressive Scan signal.
> So if you own one of those great new HD TV's and you bought it because the
> guy/gal in the store up sold you on the idea that 1080i is way better than
> 720p, you where taken for a ride. Just about every none tube based TV is
> Progressive Scan and said TV has to Down Convert 1080i (if that is the
> highest resolution it can display) to 720p to be able to display it on the
> screen. And 720p has a resolution of 1280 x 720, hence the 720p.
>
> So to answer your question, if your DVI LCD monitor can display 1280x720
> without a problem you don't need a new one for HD content as long as that
> content is output at the equivalent of 720p (which in case you missed it is
> 1280x720). And since your display is an LCD monitor it should be Progressive
> Scan.
>
> Oh one more thing, 720i is the equivalent of 480p which is the progressive
> scan equivalent of Standard-definition TV.
>
> Any more questions?????
> Is any of this a little confusing?
> I hate to say it but the TV industry wants you to be confused about all of
> this. It helps them sell TV's.
> Also those new "HD" monitors are just something else the industry is doing
> to try to get you to upgrade your equipment and guess what M$ is in the boat
> with them as far as the forced upgrade cycle goes, Vista will not display
> all of its new eye candy if you are not using an HDMI HD Monitor as your
> display. Forget buying into needing an HD Monitor to display HD video, as
> long as your monitor can display a minimum of 1280x720 you are already
> capable of displaying HD video on it.
>
>
>
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-- 
Clinton V. Weiss
cvweiss at gmail.com
http://www.clintonweiss.com