Originally posted by: rh71
Why is it that when people say HDTV, it seems to have to be wide-screen? A regular big-screen can't be termed HDTV, but called "projection" ? A projection TV can be HDTV-capable, no?
Curious as to why/when people use these terms. Confused.
HDTV is a certain resolution, normally 1080i or 720P (no need to get into what i or P means). for a TV to be HDTV capable, it must be able to show, in a widescreen format, 1080 lines interlaced, or 720 lines progressive. 1080i is the more prevalent standard by the way.
a regular big screen cannot be called HDTV capable, if it cannot display at least 1080 lines or 720P. of course this is a loose standard. there are standard shaped TV's (i.e. not widescreen) that claim to be HDTV ready. while they will accept an HDTV signal, and display a nice picture, if it isn't widescreen it isnt' technically an HDTV, more of a EDTV (enhanced definition) because it might have 1080 lines to display, but once it drops into widescreen mode, the black bars on top and bottom take up some of those lines, unless hit has 16:9 squeeze (man, its getting to complicated).
in short, HDTV sets do not have to be widescreen, but they should be. a regular big screen cannot be called HDTV. all of those big TV's are called projection, rear projection to be more precise, including HDTV and non-HDTV sets. also, you do not need to have a pure HDTV set to appreciate HDTV. an EDTV set, like a lot of plasmas, should suffice, since they will look excellent with DVD's, as well as superb with HDTV, and HDTV just doesn't make up much programming yet. gateway selling plasma's for $3000 now.