Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

iMac HD Screens?

Dec 26, 2006 3:21PM PST

HD resolution has 720 or 1080 lines of resolution. The 24" iMac has more than that. So does that mean that when I watch a HD clip, it is in true HD just like the HDTVs nowadays? If I get a blu ray drive or something and try to watch a movie on an iMac then is it true complete HD? Or is there some sort of other technology in the HDTVs that makes them different?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Something like that.
Dec 26, 2006 11:39PM PST

You've noticed something that many have over the years. DVD playback on PC/Mac was superior to what you saw on the SD TV (480).

And that was with what DVD (non-HD) content we had then.

Hope this helps,

But HDTV is not all about resolution, it's also has many features to help with Digital Rights Management and more. I think if you read the Wikipedia articles you can catch up.

Bob

- Collapse -
Progressive or Interlaced?
Dec 27, 2006 1:00AM PST

Generally are iMac screens P or I?
Secondly, monitors are said to be designed to be viewed closely. So does this make any difference to our viewing from far away?
If these monitors are so good and well, cheap then why doesn't everyone buy one and use a TV tuner to watch all their TV so they don't have to buy an expensive HDTV.

- Collapse -
Trick question.
Dec 27, 2006 1:28AM PST

Could you tell the difference of P or I if the refresh rate is 100 Hz on an LCD?

That P or I issue is for TVs, not your common Mac or PC. Yes, some decade again there was a flirtation with interlacing on the PC (never on the Mac?) but it thankfully never was accepted.

There are HDTV cards for your Mac and PC. Just look to ATI and Hauppauge.

Bob

- Collapse -
p or i
Dec 27, 2006 4:08AM PST

is progressive or interlaced.
Dont the monitors have to have a scanning mode? either p or i?
So just tell me this:
Mac or even PC screens can display HD video that is either equal or better than HDTVs.

Why doesn't Apple advertise that their Macs can display HD video and that there is no need to buy an HDTV? (if you get a TV tuner)

Why is it that only the bigger Apple cinema displays are called HD displays?

When you buy an HDTV, Standard Def video looks bad on it because of the detail level. So why doesn't SD video look bad on our monitors?

I am a bit excited at the point that I actually had a HD screen in my house all along!

- Collapse -
Look back in time.
Dec 27, 2006 4:35AM PST

And you see interlaced PC displays were only a flirtation and promptly dismissed from the market. Progressive is what we have. The scan starts at the top and progesses to the bottom at 60 or better times a second.

"Why doesn't Apple advertise that their Macs can display HD video and that there is no need to buy an HDTV? (if you get a TV tuner"

I can't answer definitively but you should know that some monikers such as HD can be copyrighted and for Apple it could mean that another fee would have to be paid to use such a label. Would you want to pay more just to see HD on the display?

"Why is it that only the bigger Apple cinema displays are called HD displays?"

Hint. "cinema displays." More likely "marketing."

"When you buy an HDTV, Standard Def video looks bad on it because of the detail level. So why doesn't SD video look bad on our monitors?"

Because we have software to improve the image. Sorry, this area has been beat to death. You need to read former discussions where people pan TV on PC or Mac since you can see all the ratty display issues. Depending on what software you use to show the content and what content you have, you may like or dislike this.

Bob

- Collapse -
thanks man
Dec 27, 2006 3:40PM PST

thats really good!
I am really excited at the fact that I can watch full HD quality stuff on my screen.
But one last thing.
I downloaded a few HD clips from Apple and watched them on my monitor. By chance the same clip was being shown on a display HDTV at a store nearby. I HAVE to admit it but the HDTV looks quite a bit better displaying the clip than my monitor.
Any comments about this.