newbies resolution and bitrate questions =)

[alucardx812]

hi i've been converting files for a period of time now but i never quite grasped the concept of resolutions. bitrates i understand a tad but never fully. so my questions are:
1. is high resolution and low bitrate better or is low resolution and high bitrate better?
*ideally i know high resolution and high bitrate would get the most out of it.

2. actually that's it for now, i can't think of anything else.

thank you all

[Spicuzza]

alucardx812,

Unfortunately the terms frame size and resolution are used interchangeably, they are mutually exclusive terms.

Frame size is just that, the size of the frame.
Resolution is determined by the data rate in kbps.

Your computer monitor is a certain frame size, however, if your screen resolution was set at 1024 x 768 pixels you would have a much better looking monitor than if it were set at 640 x 480 pixels.

Your question then becomes.....Is large frame size and low bit rate better or is small frame size and high bit rate better? Obviously a frame size of 720 x 480 @ 500 kbps is not going to look as good as 352 x 240 @ 4000 kbps.

Hope this helps.

Gary Spicuzza
cic7@juno.com