I noticed that just about all the SD plasma on the market is NTSC SD (720 x 480). I would prefer something that was native PAL SD if it were available, so it is?

Also, would I notice the difference between a 720x576 vs 720x480 42" plasma anyway?

Cheers

No & Yes (if available)

Regardless of how happy people are with their "ntsc" plasmas, they should stop referring to them as "sd". Dischucker, have a look for plasmas with a 1024x768 resolution, which unfortunately gets referred to as "hd".

No and likely not from more than a metre away. Plasmas do not come in 720 x 480 but 852 x 480. This is because they are mainly square pixel displays at the 16:9 ratio. If a "true SD PAL" (which is simplifying) plasma did exist it would be 1024 x 576, and would still scale down SD tv and DVD video.



Actually being happy is the most important criteria.

It is wrong and very incorrect to think of a 852 * 480 as being NTSC.

Fro starters the spatial deduction for INTERLACEd NTSC to progressive ios more like something like 380 lines of resolution. For PAL interlaced is more like 420.

Plasmas are PROGRESSIVE and display the whole picture all at once. There will be apprecialbe gain in quality over ordinary TV's and thing of PAL interlaced and NTSC interlaced.

Whilst it is not true a doubling of resolution because of progressive 480, it is more like taking the best possible CRT interlaced Pal TV (576i) and then adding another 1.5 times resolution due to its progressive ability to display.

Try this test - stand and stare at high a quality ordinary TV large screen and then have look at 480p Plasma vertical running. Let your eyes do the talking, not all this hypothetical crap about this measily 480 line interlaced NTSC business.

DA

So, could it be said that SD plasma is in effect, upconverting a 576i signal and displaying a 480p signal (almost)? Is the TV internally deinterlacing the signal (e.g. with bob & weave, etc)?

And what about refresh rates with PAL being 50 Hz and NTSC being 60 Hz (I think), does the plasma play PAL at the native 25 fps (?) or does it only run at 60 Hz (sorry if this is confusing as I'm not 100% up on all the technical aspects of SD, HD, PAL, interlaces and progressive scan yet)?