New Plasma: 1080p or 750?

It's 720p, not 750 or 760.

Generally I also think 1080p is hardly worth it on a smaller screen, but if the difference is only $100, it might be worth it, especially if you get a Blu-ray player.

Some HD cable is broadcast in 720p, other in 1080i. If you have a 720p display, you'll see the 1080i broadcasts downconverted to 720p. If you get a 1080p display, you'll see 1080i broadcasts upconverted to 1080p because plasma, LCD, and DLP don't interlace.

But in no case will cable or satellite broadcasts match what Blu-ray routinely accomplishes. To fit more programming within the allowed bandwidth, most HD programming has noticeable lossy compression. Fast action pixelates into blocks and sometimes colors are patchy. Another thing I've noticed is that movies on HD channels are upconverts of std-def 16:9 renditions.

With most Blu-rays made in the last year or two, the resolution is often unbelievably sharp. Sharper than you typically see in a movie theater. Are you sure you only want a 42"?

10-05-08: Joeb
Right, I meant 720 not 750. Hmmmn, I've heard others say the same thing that, you can't really see the differnce between 1080p and 720 on a 42". but I really am not that in to tv and don't see a need for anything bigger. but just for arguments sake, how big of a tv do you need to see the difference between 1080 and 720?

But are you into films? Blu-ray into a 1080p display enables you to have a picture quality at home that exceeds the movie theater, and is sharp along the line of a full-resolution IMAX presentation.

In other words, if you see a 1080p Blu-ray feeding a 50" or larger 1080p display, you may change your mind about how important it is.

To answer your question, I think 42" is right on the cusp. With a Blu-ray 50GB source you'll notice the difference with a 47" display and definitely notice the difference with a 50" or larger.

All my life I've wanted to be able to afford the theater experience at home. Blu-ray into 1080p exceeds it.