display resolutions
display resolutions
For moving pictures, TV and movies, I have read that the difference between 720p and 1080p is not very noticeable. It will be easier for the equipment to match display resolution at 720p. I have not tried that. I run a 1080i HDTV tuner, a Samsung 260 DTBF, to a 1080p monitor with DVI and the sound separately to speakers.
That's an arrangement that may work for TV, movies, and Youtube, 720p from the PC to the flatscreen over DVI and separate speakers for the PC sound. Or a separate sound cable / optical SPDIF to the regular speakers. PC integrated graphics will usually drive 720p.
For longer distances there are inexpensive signal range extending equipment over cat5, like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...054&cm_re=vga_extender-_-17-707-054-_-Product
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...e=video_range_extender-_-15-524-002-_-Product
But that's not the application here, sounds like they want internet / lan connected PC's in the same room to plug into a flatscreen HDTV.
For anything that requires real sharpness, like looking at still pictures with thin lines, CAD or graphics, trying to run 720p on a large screen will look fuzzy. If you saw 720p and 1080p still graphics side by side the 720p would get thrown out. If you saw only the 720p with still thin lines on it you might catch something wrong with the display. It is a saleability and customer satisfaction issue if they thought they could do better.
Going from 720p to 1080p, yes the text is smaller and sharper, but, more 'display' fits on the screen, ie no scrolling to see the whole picture.
A 1080p graphics card is $80. or less. The adder for the flatscreen going from 720p to 1080p is 2 to 3 hundred. Once chosen, the installed equipment has a service lifetime over 10 years. So the cost per day for the upgrade over the life of the install is a no brainer.
There is a usability and serviceability customer issue. What happens when they try to display something, in the customer area they want a 'wow' factor. What happens when they get the 'mmmph' factor. It's unpredictable, something in a photo on the TV will look wrong, or you will have to scroll to see all of it.
Bottom line, the customer wants jungle rules, has to be better than the other. It also has to be easy to run and not require repeat tech service calls. They should not futz around trying to adjust the thing and feel compelled to buy upgrades later to get it to run right. There is not much the tech can do to increase sharpness on a lower resolution display.
The customer would like the cost savings upfront, but I always figure the cost spread over the service lifetime.
Repeat calls to come and adjust the thing would drive me nuts.