Best Buy to launch $1500 42-inch Plasma HDTV this Christmas

Here is the press release LINK... (BEST BUY'S first plasma TV)

- EXTERNAL LINK -

Best Buy has their private label INSIGNIA line of TVs and will release a budget Plasma HDTV (with HDMI input) this Christmas for $1500. Don't know who is making it for them, and I would guess this will be a 720p model, as any 1080p plasmas [Pioneer etc] are new, few, and EXPEN$IVE.

ALSO... "Complimenting it will be an Insignia up-converting DVD player with 1,080i output via HDMI. The unit has a vertical form factor and will retail for about $70."

-Love Hendrix!

I have only seen 2 resolutions for 42" Plasma tvs, 1024X768 & 1024X1024, neither of which are 720p. The later is being advertised as a 1080i plasma by Hitachi.

"1: More than 94% of the 1080 vertical signal is displayed. Due to variances in program productions and transmissions not all of the 1080 signal is suitable for display."

- EXTERNAL LINK -

Doesn't matter really. Both of those resolutions are then *converted* to the display's "native resolution" - which for most plasmas, LCDs, DLPs etc is for viewing in 720p [720 lines of progressive resolution].

Just like "ED" sets. They can accept 1080i signals, which are then converted to the display's native resolution for viewing - 480p [480 lines of progressive resolution].

-Love Hendrix!

Those are the native resolutions so they can accept more but can't use it.