Is 1080p worth the extra price for a 32'' Toshiba TV ?

[JordanJP]

Hey

Well I'm looking into getting a Toshiba 32'' HDTV for my apartment. However I do have a bit of a dilemma. The TV that I'm looking in getting is being sold at two different stores, the one here : http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=597c0793f2ce9600f458ad5632178553en02 is selling for $480 and the one here is selling for $400 http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-32C100U-32-Inch-Black-Gloss/dp/B0038JED6M/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_topBoth tv's are identical except for one thing, the $480 is 1080p and the $400 is 720p. My question is is it really worth the extra $80 roughly for 1080p ? I've been told and I heard many times that for any TV smaller than 40'' 720p and 1080p are indistinguishable unless you sit very close.

Also I know that toshiba is an excellent brand when it comes to TV's. Anyway I've narrowed my search down to these two beauties ! Tomorrow I'll be making my decision I just need some input.

Thanks

Jordan

 

[Kirsch]

The 40" portion of your post is correct. For a 32" TV you won't really be able to tell the difference watching TV or movies.

However, if you are going to be gaming (PS3 or Xbox360) you will definitely notice a difference between the two even at 32".

 

[Lemur]

1080 has twice as many pixels as 720p. I know the argument, but for $80, I would go 1080. Having said that...

The screen is not that large and you will probably not be sitting right up on the television (which you said). If you are on a tight budget, go with 720. If $80 won't make or break you, go with 1080.

Good luck!

 

[bigmck]

Here is a link that discusses the very question that you asked.
720p vs 1080p

 

[pparks1]

Personally, even at 50 inches or more...the human eye really cannot differentiate the difference between 720p and 1080p...provided the display is accurate calibrated and is presenting source material at 1080p. The only time you really see a difference is when you are far too close to the display and pick out the pixel detail.

Another thing to consider is that if you watch a lot of SDTV...it's actually advantageous to have fewer pixels than more. Nothing makes a crappy signal worse then having more and more of it.

The only reason I would consider paying more for 1080p is if I planned to have the computer connected to the display on a regular basis.

Here is some corroborating information to back up my claims that you won't really see a difference
1080p-720p shoot-out in Athens! - AVS Forum
1080p and the Acuity of Human Vision — Reviews and News from Audioholics

Also, a TV with a better video processing unit running at 720p can often perform better than a 1080p set with less sophisticated circuitry.

 

[Kirsch]

Personally, even at 50 inches or more...the human eye really cannot differentiate the difference between 720p and 1080p...provided the display is accurate calibrated and is presenting source material at 1080p. The only time you really see a difference is when you are far too close to the display and pick out the pixel detail.

Another thing to consider is that if you watch a lot of SDTV...it's actually advantageous to have fewer pixels than more. Nothing makes a crappy signal worse then having more and more of it.

The only reason I would consider paying more for 1080p is if I planned to have the computer connected to the display on a regular basis.

Here is some corroborating information to back up my claims that you won't really see a difference
1080p-720p shoot-out in Athens! - AVS Forum
1080p and the Acuity of Human Vision — Reviews and News from Audioholics

Also, a TV with a better video processing unit running at 720p can often perform better than a 1080p set with less sophisticated circuitry.

Just curious as to what made you think he was hooking up his computer to the TV?

:huh:

 

[pparks1]

Just curious as to what made you think he was hooking up his computer to the TV?

:huh:

Because lots of people do this.

 

[JordanJP]

Just curious as to what made you think he was hooking up his computer to the TV?

:huh:

Because lots of people do this.

Actually you are right I'll be mainly using my tv for my laptop display when watching movies, shows and gaming.

 

[Lemur]

So what did you end up buying?

 

[JordanJP]

So what did you end up buying?

Tomorrow I'll be buying this beauty ! Toshiba 32" 1080p LCD HDTV** (32E200U) : LCD TVs - Future Shop

I might as well spend the 80ish extra bucks and get the best I can with my budget. I don't think I'll be disappointed. Looking forward to buying this !

Should I get the extended warranty ? I don't think I will.

 

[Lemur]

So what did you end up buying?

Tomorrow I'll be buying this beauty ! Toshiba 32" 1080p LCD HDTV** (32E200U) : LCD TVs - Future Shop

I might as well spend the 80ish extra bucks and get the best I can with my budget. I don't think I'll be disappointed. Looking forward to buying this !

Should I get the extended warranty ? I don't think I will.

No, skip the extended warranty.

 

[bigmck]

So what did you end up buying?

Tomorrow I'll be buying this beauty ! Toshiba 32" 1080p LCD HDTV** (32E200U) : LCD TVs - Future Shop

I might as well spend the 80ish extra bucks and get the best I can with my budget. I don't think I'll be disappointed. Looking forward to buying this !

Should I get the extended warranty ? I don't think I will.

Don't get the warranty. TV's last a long time these days.

 

[A Guy]

So what did you end up buying?

Tomorrow I'll be buying this beauty ! Toshiba 32" 1080p LCD HDTV** (32E200U) : LCD TVs - Future Shop

I might as well spend the 80ish extra bucks and get the best I can with my budget. I don't think I'll be disappointed. Looking forward to buying this !

Should I get the extended warranty ? I don't think I will.

Don't get the warranty. TV's last a long time these days.

Lol, I am a TV tech for 18+ years, and I work for a televison repair comapny...TV's break every day. But for $480, unless the warranty is less than $150, I'd just take my chances, and if it does break, get a new one. BTW 85 to 90% of our work is extended warranties. Just FYI. A Guy

 

[bigmck]

Lol, I am a TV tech for 18+ years, and I work for a televison repair comapny...TV's break every day. But for $480, unless the warranty is less than $150, I'd just take my chances, and if it does break, get a new one. BTW 85 to 90% of our work is extended warranties. Just FYI. A Guy

That really surprises me. I have had my current TV seven years and the one before that ten years until I gave it away to buy a big screen. I honestly can not remember the last TV I had that broke and caused me to buy a new one. I guess I am one of the lucky ones.

 

[Wishmaster]

These warrantys they try to sell might be good in certain situations but, for the most part a waste of money I would think.


When I bought my Plasma TV, the salesman was trying to sell a 5yr-$700 extended warranty on it.

He said it sounded like a lot for a warranty but was worth it because the lamps go out on them, they were like $350-$400 a piece to replace.
So they warranty would pay for itself.

I declined.

But I also thought if a Plasma TV goes out .. thats it. Its out.
No replaceable lamps.

Anyone know for sure about this?
Heck, even if they did, I wouldn't pay that much for a warranty. Thats ridiculous IMHO.

 

[pparks1]

Plasma TV's don't use bulbs like projection LCD's and DLP's. I have a plasma and I declined the extended service on my Panasonic. it's been flawless for me thus far.

 

[Fayla]

If the extended warranty is greater than the price of the actual device, then that should be an outright no Besides the rate of TV development makes holding onto a TV for more than 3 years+ semi redundant.

Like, I bought a 32" HD TV last year at about 450 pound. A year on-- (now) if it broke, I could buy a new exact model of this TV for 190-200 pound tops. A much cheaper alternative than the extended warranty I was offered in-store.

 

[bigmck]

Like, I bought a 32" HD TV last year at about 450 pound. A year on-- (now) if it broke, I could buy a new exact model of this TV for 190-200 pound tops. A much cheaper alternative than the extended warranty I was offered in-store.

When I read the above, my first thought was "There is no way a TV can weigh that much".

 

[4Gig]

1080 has twice as many pixels as 720p. I know the argument, but for $80, I would go 1080. Having said that...

The screen is not that large and you will probably not be sitting right up on the television (which you said). If you are on a tight budget, go with 720. If $80 won't make or break you, go with 1080.

Good luck!

720+720=1440 not 1080

It totally depends on the source whether 1080 is better. If the source is 1080, then of course it's going to be better.

For TV purposes, my cable box only has 720p and 1080i as options. The 720p looks better even though my TV is 1080p. My upscaling DVD player supports 1080p which looks great.

Does seem like $80 is not much to get the best resolution and support for more good input devices.

 

[pparks1]

1080 has twice as many pixels as 720p. I know the argument, but for $80, I would go 1080. Having said that...

The screen is not that large and you will probably not be sitting right up on the television (which you said). If you are on a tight budget, go with 720. If $80 won't make or break you, go with 1080.

Good luck!

720+720=1440 not 1080

Not so fast
1280 x 720 = 921,600 pixels
1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600 pixels

So, it's over 2x as many pixels.

With that said, I don't think it really matters based on the vision of almost every human being.