Can an hdtv w/ 1366x768 resolution have a display compatibility of 1080i?

[Remedial]

I was looking at this tv for purchase (although it looks like it has been discontinued by most stores):

http://www.vizio.com/productDetails.aspx?id=1550&pid=1506

And I noticed that it has a native resolution of 1366x768 but has a display compatibility of 1080i. Now, I'm not really sure what "display compatiblity" means, but I'm guessing it means that the tv can display a 1080i signal without rescaling. Isn't this impossible at a 1366x768 resolution?

Also, you will notice that it has signal compatibility with 1080P Full HD.

Once again, just guessing, this means that I can accept a 1080P signal, which it obviously will have to rescale. How is this possible for this television when most tv's in it's range, including this one:

http://www.vizio.com/productDetails.aspx?id=1760&pid=1506

Can't do the same?

Someone please explain this to me.

P.S.

I was looking at either of these tv's because I've been able to find both of them for less than $600 at various retailers. If you guys know of any other sets in that price range that may trump these, recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you.

[jagabo]

All HDTV's take what they receive and upscale or downscale it to their native resolution. So a 1366x768 HDTV will accept an 1920x1080i/p source and downsize it to fit the 1366x768 frame. It most likely will overscan the image too so the incoming frame will be downsized to about 1440x816 and the center 1366x768 will be displayed. A 1280x720 source will be upscaled to about 1440x816 and the center 1366x768 displayed.

[SCDVD]

It's a 720P TV. The statement "display compatibility of 1080i" is lip-wash that is intended to deceive people into thinking they are getting a 1080i TV. Not true! 720P looks quite good but it just isn't 1080 despite the word play game.

[jagabo]

At least 1366x768 is better than the ones that are 1024x768!

[Remedial]

Thanks for the info, guys.

[jman98]

Remedial - Welcome to the forums and I commend you for asking. Most people would instead follow the following line of reasoning:

I am a genius. Thus I don't need to ask anyone anything. "1080i" compatible must mean that it displays 1080i at it's native resolution.

Then they post here later complaining about how they were "robbed" when they bought a TV that can only do 720p when they wanted 1080i for HDTV broadcasts and 1080p for BluRay. That really happens here. We've had quite a few posts in the past from guys who got suckered into buying 720p HDTVs thinking they got something that could display 1080i/p natively when it can't.

[edDV]

Word deceptions..."display compatibility"

There will be a list of inputs that the TV will accept. This varies by HDMI and VGA inputs. Download the manual to get the full list. These inputs will be processed to the panel's native progressive display resolution in this case 1366x768 with overscan on the HDMI and analog component inputs and no overscan on VGA (PC/Game port). Interlaced inputs will be hardware deinterlaced to 59.94 fps or 29.97 fps (cheap models) and resized. Telecined movies will be inverse telecined, resized and then frame repeated 3:2 to 59.94 fps or 5x to 120 fps (119.88 fps to be exact).

When they talk about 1080p, they usually mean 1920x1080p at 23.976 film rate as output by some Blu-Ray players. They take this and apply either 3:2 frame repeats to 59.94 fps or 5x (with or without interpolation) to 120fps.

The difference between an entry model like this Vizio and the top end Samsung's and Sony's in the same screen size will be the quality of the processor and the methods of contrast management. Expect lowest end models to have generic processing chipsets and grayish blacks. Vizio is advertising a new 120 fps model during the Olympics. Watch for test reports. Vizio uses various sources for their TV components. There is wide variation in the Vizio LCD reviews from one model to the next. Do your research. Vizio is best regarded for their plasmas. They offer great value in the large screen plasma models.

PS: Be aware that 1080p plasmas run very hot. Power scales with pixel count so expect high power bills. LCD power consumption varies by the size of the fluorescent backlight and contrast settings. Soon, LCD models will be available with LED backlights that will significantly lower power consumption plus improve contrast performance.