Is the 720p HDTV Still Necessary?

It seems like just yesterday that we were anticipating 1080p. And just the day before that we thought 480p was amazing.

Today, you can get a 1080p front projector for half of what a really good 720p projector cost three years ago.

So do we still really need 720p HDTVs?

From my perspective, I'd have to say no.

1080p: Bigger is Better

Keen videophiles that CE pros are, we all "know" that 1080p resolution is of little real benefit in screen sizes smaller than 50 inches.

However, as the saying goes, "don't cloud the issue with facts." The reality is that, unless your clients live under a rock, they're susceptible to the more-is-better marketing blitz that our beloved manufacturers never cease with.

Consequently, after fifteen minutes of doing their own homework on the Internet, all but the most price-conscious shoppers are going to be predisposed to wanting a 1080p set for virtually all of their TV applications larger than an under-the-counter LCD in the kitchen.

Since you're a CE pro, are you going to spend time trying to down-sell those predisposed clients to a 720p set?

Or are you going to focus on more important choices in your client's project?

One of my old colleagues used to have a favorite expression: "pick the hill you want to die on." Sometimes, even if it irks you, you need to go with the flow.

In being your client's tech guru, there are much more demanding outlets for offering insightful guidance, whether it's media server storage, online and digital broadcast sources, or picking between one brand of speakers and another.

Change is the Only Constant

In the CE business, our one constant is change. It's relentless.

Way back in the days of analog video, I had the pleasure of working for Sony Canada. In addition to retail, I sold to a lot of corporate and light commercial accounts.

One of my favorite light commercial clients was this one freelance videographer. Over the years I sold him a lot of gear, and every time he upgraded to a new piece of equipment he'd grudgingly joke about "the bleeding edge of technology."

It's a phrase I still use in jest when talking about our industry.

Call it change or the bleeding edge, it continues on unabated today.

Now, there's buzz about 1440p product and we're seeing projector brands demonstrating 4K2K products. Right now, 4K2K carries a Maserati-like price tag, but that won't be the case forever.

Are You Recommending 720p HDTVs?

So what are you doing? Are you still specifying 720p product into your projects?

Let us know in the comments, and share your perspective with us.

Lee Distad is a freelance CEDIA Certified Professional Designer who offers design and process consultation to firms in the Custom Installation industry, as well as copy writing and other professional writing services. Lee’s business and industry blog can be read at http://www.leedistad.com