720p vs 1080p TV Text

[gooberwilson]

So I just got a Mac mini not too long ago and I'm using it on my 32" 720p TV. The video output it set at 720p on the Mac mini currently. But i find sometimes its a little hard to read text mainly because it's small. Would using a 1080p TV help make this better? What are my options to improve it? Thanks guys.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

1080p would help. Your 720p television has 1280x720 resolution; a 1080p would have 1920x1080 - so you're increasing pixels by 2.25X.

1920x1080 is what you get in a typical 19" computer monitor, so text will be sharp relative to the viewing distance (e.g. a 38" 1080p TV will look about as sharp as a 19" monitor when viewed from twice the distance, because it's twice as large).

 

[gooberwilson]

Okay thanks for the reply. Will the size of the text change at all or will it just be sharper? Will a larger TV increase the size of the text as well?

 

[warvanov]

I believe if you go from 720p to 1080p, your Mac will just output at a higher resolution, meaning the text will appear smaller on the screen. You won't get additional detail in the text, it will just be smaller.

If you get a larger TV, then the text may be larger or smaller at depending on how big the new TV is.

 

[philipma1957]

I believe if you go from 720p to 1080p, your Mac will just output at a higher resolution, meaning the text will appear smaller on the screen. You won't get additional detail in the text, it will just be smaller.

If you get a larger TV, then the text may be larger or smaller at depending on how big the new TV is.

1080p would help. Your 720p television has 1280x720 resolution; a 1080p would have 1920x1080 - so you're increasing pixels by 2.25X.

1920x1080 is what you get in a typical 19" computer monitor, so text will be sharp relative to the viewing distance (e.g. a 38" 1080p TV will look about as sharp as a 19" monitor when viewed from twice the distance, because it's twice as large).

I have a 1080p tv 32 inches and a 1080p tv 46 inches both use minis. on the 32 inch tv i set the print to 720p and it works out for me on the 46 inch tv I leave it native and it works out. both answer above have some good info. it is very hard to tell you what to expect from tv's as monitors your own vision is very important.

My wife has to wear her glasses to see the tv's print and she struggles just a bit due to the distance she sits from the screen.. Her glasses correct to 20-25 for distance.

I had double cataract surgery and I see 20-12 for distance

my eyes really did well with the implanted lens. So I can see both tvs clearly for print.

I won't even get into some tvs are better for print then others some are better.

 

[gooberwilson]

What happens if you have a 1080p TV and you have the settings on the Mac mini at 720p to increase the size of the text? Would the quality still be the same as it would be on a 720p TV? Or would it take advantage of the higher pixel density to make it clearer?

 

[philipma1957]

What happens if you have a 1080p TV and you have the settings on the Mac mini at 720p to increase the size of the text? Would the quality still be the same as it would be on a 720p TV? Or would it take advantage of the higher pixel density to make it clearer?

It takes advantage of the extra pixels to make it clearer.

I do this with my 32 inch 1080p JVC tv .

but as i say your eyesight and the distance from the set is very important. Right now I am on my 46 inch sony in 1080p \\

I am about 5 feet from the screen and it views perfectly clear to me. I measured I am 5 foot 3 inches from the screen. I was sitting on the floor with my back on the foot of the couch. I now am sitting on the couch and I am about 7 feet away. 1080p is clear but not as good as when I was 5 foot 3 inches away.

So with my implanted lens 5 to 6 foot is really good 6 to 8 foot is okay. But My eyes are better then 20-20.