When buying a television, it is important to learn the difference between full High Definition, HD ready and analog sets with HD converters. Full HD is a term that refers only to sets designated as full HD LCD TV sets or full HD plasma sets.
Full HD - High Definition broadcasts can be received directly only by a set with 1080p pixels. Sometimes this is listed with another number, as in the numbers: 1920 x 1080p. If it is 1080p, then it is either a HD LCD TV set or a full HD plasma set. Unlike analog or HD ready sets, full High Definition LCD TV sets can receive actual high definition television signals at their normal 1080p rate. It can play HD DVDs and blu-ray disks as maximum quality. Like full HD LCD TV sets, full HD plasma sets are fully capable of receiving and displaying 1080p broadcasts.
For blu-ray technology, which is also filmed in this 1080p high definition, these sets are perfectly compatible. These sets reproduce blu-ray disks exactly as they were filmed. Other sets cannot claim quite this high a quality.
HD Ready - HD ready capability exists in sets with a pixel rate of 728i or 1080i. Each set includes a built-in high definition tuner for displaying broadcasts with higher pixel ratings. LCDs and Plasmas have fixed-pixel displays that use pixels to display television images. If the number of pixels is 728, then it has 728 pixels per vertical inch. If the number is 1080, then it has 1080 pixels per vertical inch. Images increase in detail as the pixel number rises.
Set Sizes - HD ready and full HD LCD TV sets can come in smaller sizes. LCD sets actually come in small sizes such as 10 inches. Sizes used to stop as a 42 inch TV but now are as large as 60 inches. HD ready and full HD plasma sets come in 50 or 60 inch sizes usually. It is possible now to get a 42 inch TV plasma set from some manufacturers. Keep in mind that similar size does not mean the same picture quality.
HD Sets - All High Definition televisions are wide-screen. They have a ratio of 16:9 just as the HD broadcasts have a ratio of 16:9. This differs from the analog broadcast, which was a 4:3 ratio. LCDs are always widescreen due to either because they are HD ready sets or full HD LCD TV sets. Thinness is not an aspect of HD broadcast ability. It is simply a reflection of the technology used to make LCDs. Plasma sets are also widescreen, due to HD ready or full HD technology. Again, you cannot measure HD abilities by the thin size of many plasmas. This has little to do with whether or not a set is HD ready or a full HD plasma set.
HD Converter - For analog television users, an High Definition converter is a must. Almost all analog signals have been or are being replaced by digital signals. Only an HD converter can make an HD broadcast into an analog signal. Many users report that an HD converter has improved their analog picture considerably. Still, this is not a full HD picture as defined by manufacturing standards.
HDTV Online - If you watch television online, you will notice that some shows are offered as HD Online. This simply means that if your computer can broadcast at the 1080p rate, the picture will be full High Definition. If your computer cannot broadcast at this rate and must convert the rate to a lower pixel setting, then the computer can be said to be HD ready. - 29872
Full HD - High Definition broadcasts can be received directly only by a set with 1080p pixels. Sometimes this is listed with another number, as in the numbers: 1920 x 1080p. If it is 1080p, then it is either a HD LCD TV set or a full HD plasma set. Unlike analog or HD ready sets, full High Definition LCD TV sets can receive actual high definition television signals at their normal 1080p rate. It can play HD DVDs and blu-ray disks as maximum quality. Like full HD LCD TV sets, full HD plasma sets are fully capable of receiving and displaying 1080p broadcasts.
For blu-ray technology, which is also filmed in this 1080p high definition, these sets are perfectly compatible. These sets reproduce blu-ray disks exactly as they were filmed. Other sets cannot claim quite this high a quality.
HD Ready - HD ready capability exists in sets with a pixel rate of 728i or 1080i. Each set includes a built-in high definition tuner for displaying broadcasts with higher pixel ratings. LCDs and Plasmas have fixed-pixel displays that use pixels to display television images. If the number of pixels is 728, then it has 728 pixels per vertical inch. If the number is 1080, then it has 1080 pixels per vertical inch. Images increase in detail as the pixel number rises.
Set Sizes - HD ready and full HD LCD TV sets can come in smaller sizes. LCD sets actually come in small sizes such as 10 inches. Sizes used to stop as a 42 inch TV but now are as large as 60 inches. HD ready and full HD plasma sets come in 50 or 60 inch sizes usually. It is possible now to get a 42 inch TV plasma set from some manufacturers. Keep in mind that similar size does not mean the same picture quality.
HD Sets - All High Definition televisions are wide-screen. They have a ratio of 16:9 just as the HD broadcasts have a ratio of 16:9. This differs from the analog broadcast, which was a 4:3 ratio. LCDs are always widescreen due to either because they are HD ready sets or full HD LCD TV sets. Thinness is not an aspect of HD broadcast ability. It is simply a reflection of the technology used to make LCDs. Plasma sets are also widescreen, due to HD ready or full HD technology. Again, you cannot measure HD abilities by the thin size of many plasmas. This has little to do with whether or not a set is HD ready or a full HD plasma set.
HD Converter - For analog television users, an High Definition converter is a must. Almost all analog signals have been or are being replaced by digital signals. Only an HD converter can make an HD broadcast into an analog signal. Many users report that an HD converter has improved their analog picture considerably. Still, this is not a full HD picture as defined by manufacturing standards.
HDTV Online - If you watch television online, you will notice that some shows are offered as HD Online. This simply means that if your computer can broadcast at the 1080p rate, the picture will be full High Definition. If your computer cannot broadcast at this rate and must convert the rate to a lower pixel setting, then the computer can be said to be HD ready. - 29872
