Full HD = 1920 (V) X 1080 (H) lines on yr screen.
HD ready = 1280 (V) X 720 (H) lines on yr screen.

How this will factor in the viewing pleasure, depends on the source (bluray, dvd, astro.... not the player - HDMI upscale, etc).

If you have PS3 and is playing bluray movies, then Full HD is the best way to view the movie (if yr screen is bigger than 40in). If yr screen is smaller than that, no diff (to me la...)

Again, if u using PS3 or bluray player for bluray movies, get a screen that supports 24Hz or 24 frames/second. Films are captured at that speed, and at 24Hz, the pic matches best our eyes and screen shudder will be reduced to a minimum. If not, the faster the refresh rate (200hz) will be best (tho some shudder can be detected, again with my own eyes la...)

If u r using HDMI DVD players to upscale DVD movies or mainly see Astro, HD ready panels will suit you. But beware that HD ready panels are slowing dying and is not future proof. Oh... even upcoming Digital TV (in yr 2015) broadcasts in 720p only - thats HD ready only.

Finally, as bro Azbro explained it, black bars on yr screen is dependent on how the movie was captured. To fit the entire movie into the screen, u will have black bars on top/bottom (21:10 widescreen cinema ratio) or even on the sides (4:3 Standard CRT TV ratio). Only 16:9 ratio movies will fill yr entire screen. All this has nothing to do with the panels, again its the source.

This post has been edited by Poadster: Sep 28 2009, 11:29 AM

They mainly uses 720p source played via HDD media boxes with multiplexer out to several panels. Thus the impression of same image quality on 1280x720 (HD ready) and 1920x1080 (Full HD) panels. How else will they sell those HD ready panels??

Camrycilver, trust me.... there are HUGE differences when you play bluray movies at full HD (1920x1080p) on full HD panels, versus your HD ready panels. The image will be more crisp with more details, while HD ready panels will squeeze those available details into a smaller screen (1280x720), where there will be lost details...

Lone*Wolf is correct. Its to improve the images (aka reduce the shudder effect) when there are fast movements on the screen.

The most common way to see image shudder are in the scenes where the camera pans from side to side. If yr panel cant handle it, you will see "trails" like shadows of the images.... cant really describe it in words....

This will be more evident when you display HD or FUll HD movies...

So the faster the refresh rate, technically the better the images will be... so get the best your money can buy.

This post has been edited by Poadster: Sep 29 2009, 06:11 PM

Ya... be an ass when u ask for help..... bravo...

go ask a shop salesman, u get facts there, we here dont sell LCD TVs, so we donno anything...