How can two laptops with same vdo be 720p and 1080p?

[HolyDoom Witch]

There is this laptop by Dell, the Inspiron 15 laptop with video card ATI 5470, and it is clearly stated 720p in the specifications.

But we also have a Sony E series one, with the same video card, and it is clearly written 1080p there.

I need more time to read about how a computer or screen becomes 720p or 1080p. Instead, can anyone explain what exactly it is, that decides if a computer is 720 or 1080 p? Like my friend says there is supposed to be a hardware that would decide. I think not, except the video card that should be supportive of one of these resolutions. But of course I haven't read anything about it.

Can one explain, or the Dell laptop is actually 1080p?

Thanks

HDW
India

 

[WR2]

720P/1080P is not about video cards. It's about the vertical lines available on the monitor/screen.

What screen resolution is the Dell Inspiron 15? 1366x768? It can do 720P but not 1080.
What screen resolution is the Sony E series?
1600x900? It can do 720P but not 1080.
1920x1080? It can do 1080.

 

[HolyDoom Witch]

720P/1080P is not about video cards. It's about the vertical lines available on the monitor/screen.

What screen resolution is the Dell Inspiron 15? 1366x768? It can do 720P but not 1080.
What screen resolution is the Sony E series?
1600x900? It can do 720P but not 1080.
1920x1080? It can do 1080.

Does that mean it has to do everything with the size of the screen? Which means only a really BIG display panel like 46 inches can show a movie in 1080p; it's nothing else. I am still confused. Then why do they have to write on a small laptop that it is 1080p "enabled"?!!

Thanks

 

[WR2]

Does that mean it has to do everything with the size of the screen?

Size is not a factor. It's not about the video cards.
It's about the vertical lines (resolution) available on the monitor/screen.

Both the Sony E series 15" and 17" laptops have an optional 1920x1080 LCD screen. 1080 vertical lines. 1920 horizontal lines.
In the 15" Sony E the standard LCD screen is 1366x768. 768 vertical lines, so it can support 720P but not 1080.

 

[amnotanoobie]

Which means only a really BIG display panel like 46 inches can show a movie in 1080p; it's nothing else.

NO

There are 30" LCD Monitors that could do 2500x1600. LCD TVs on the other hand are really restricted to 1920x1080 as there is no real reason or use for it as the HD standard only goes that high.

Computer monitors on the other hand could go high as the manufacturer wants to because the higher the resolution, means more desktop space for the end user.

From the laptops you specified:

Dell 15, max screen resolution 1366x768. You could play a 1080p video, but you're only seeing 720p on the screen itself. The other lines are just squished together.

Sony E, max screen resolution 1920x1080. You could play a 1080p video, and the screen is indeed displaying 1080p.


They write 1080p on the laptop as a selling point. It's not really like you'd notice the difference on a small screen and your viewing distance from the screen.

 

[HolyDoom Witch]

Size is not a factor. It's not about the video cards.
It's about the vertical lines (resolution) available on the monitor/screen.

Both the Sony E series 15" and 17" laptops have an optional 1920x1080 LCD screen. 1080 vertical lines. 1920 horizontal lines.
In the 15" Sony E the standard LCD screen is 1366x768. 768 vertical lines, so it can support 720P but not 1080.

http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/8449/ss037.jpg

Sir WR2,

One more question and I am done.

Your wrote that in 1366x768 resolution, 768 vertical lines. Vertical means from left to right. Meaning more space than from up to down. So did you write what exactly it is, and it is built in the same odd way-- more lines in less space, and less lines in more space-- or you wanted to say that bigger number of lines from right to left, and smaller number from up to down.

Thank you so much

 

[WR2]

Sir WR2,

Your wrote that in 1366x768 resolution, 768 vertical lines. Vertical means from left to right. Meaning more space than from up to down. So did you write what exactly it is, and it is built in the same odd way-- more lines in less space, and less lines in more space-- or you wanted to say that bigger number of lines from right to left, and smaller number from up to down.

HD formats are always in height, or horizontal lines. Sorry about that

Correcting the numbers:
- Both the Sony E series 15" and 17" laptops have an optional 1920x1080 LCD screen. 1080 horizontal lines.
- In the 15" Sony E the standard LCD screen is 1366x768. 768 horizontal lines, so it can support 720P but not 1080.

 

[HolyDoom Witch]

All right everybody,

We thank everyone; er... there are only 2 of you-- WR2 and AmNotANoobie-- and HolyDoom Witch whoever the hell he is; thanks for participating and your time. I have now understood much of this equation.

We thank the producer, the director, and all the crew. Thanks to whoever's family it was for standing by in difficult times, without the support of which much of this would not be possible.

We are now ready to vote for the best answer.

The polls are over, and the last answer by WR2 has been voted as the best answer!

Everybody, party time once again!!

 

[HolyDoom Witch]

Best answer selected by HolyDoom Witch.
n
n(Nonsense! We had voted.)