Image Quality Comparison
Note: In the following images the 1080i image is on the left, DVD right
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With HDTV, you can actually appreciate the fabric that’s made from self-regulating unstable molecules.
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You can watch Star Wars on broadcast HDTV… but you can’t actually buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray of it yet… Look at Padme’s eyes.
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There’s a small difference in the clarity of the eyeglasses – it’s not a huge difference.
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While the DVD quality isn’t bad, the screenshot from broadcast HDTV is clearly sharper.
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Isn’t it amazing how the Audi R8 actually looks better than the car in I, Robot? Look at her leather jacket for the difference between HDTV broadcast and regular DVD.
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Even older movies will benefit. I expect the Blu-Ray version of Gattaca to be even sharper.
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Even older movies can benefit from HD remastering.
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Most HD content is still coming from broadcast HDTV. Spend $50 on a HDTV tuner card, get a GPU with content-based 1080i inverse telecine, and you’ll be golden.
Remember, these clips are all from broadcast MPEG-2 HDTV. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs will often look better than broadcast HDTV due to higher bitrates and more advanced codecs such as H.264 or VC-1!