Any new technology always seems to perplex us. New terminologies and meanings can make us feel that we need to have a PHD in technology - just to buy something as simple as a television! There is a better way! In this article, you will easily discover what you need to know about these HDTV formats.

In this article about HDTV formats, you will soon discover:

• What Is A HDTV Format?

• The 4 Different Formats

• The Difference Between I And P

• What Is The Best HDTV Format?

• What Is A HDTV Format?

A high definition television format deals with the resolution of the television. Resolution basically boils down to quality that you get. It is determined by lines and pixels.

You look at a television and see an image. That image is drawn in lines, and each line has a number of dots on it, which are called pixels. This basic understanding will serve in understanding the formats.

• The 4 Different Formats

There are 4 primary different formats when it comes to high definition television technology, they are:

• 1080p

• 1080i

• 720p

• 720i

1080p has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. That equates to 2,073,600 pixels or little dots on the screen to produce the image!

1080i has the same amount of resolution and pixels as 1080p HDTV sets; however there is a marked difference that it is interlaced.

720p has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. That equates to 921,600 pixels or little dots on the screen! Likewise 720i has the same amount of resolution and pixels, but the technology is running with interlaced.

• The Difference Between I And P

You may be wondering why there is a 1080p and a 1080i, and also a 720p, and 720i? What is the difference between the P and the I?

The difference comes down to how they display the images. The images you see on the television may seem like they flow like it appears, however the truth is that the images are drawn line by line.

Interlaced or the I, functions by drawing each alternative line. Whereas the P which stands for progressive draws each line one after the other.

• What Is The Best HDTV Format?

The key difference between the HD formats is going to be based on 2 factors. The first is the resolution, so 1080 will beat 720 in quality based on resolution. The other factor comes down to the interlaced and progressive realm.

Because the interlaced television technology draws each alternative line, it generally causes flicker as can be seen in old style television sets. Old style television sets use interlaced technology, and this is not good especially when you try to connect a computer up to the television! Progressive is much better and much smoother, but it comes down to price. If price is not an issue, progressive will give you maximum benefit.