- It would all depend if these video files contain DRM. For example, I can download HD videos from the iTunes Store but my netbook, which can playback Blu-ray movies, will play those iTunes Store downloads back with choppy results. The reason being is that iTunes is not compatible with my Broadcom card and it isn't compatible with the Nvidia ION chip. Having the hardware is only half of the equation, you need the appropriate software to use said hardware. There are specific applications out there such as TotalMedia Theatre HD and PowerDVD 9 that can use the hardware for proper playback. So your videos must be played back in certain software. Hence why it depends on the sources of your videos. HD downloads and online streaming are becoming more mainstream but most are still stuck in SD simply because the portable devices designed to playback said videos have hardware that is capable of SD playback only.
- No. It is all dependent on the software being used for playback, audio bitrate and format, and the video bitrate and format. For example, an Atom N270 along with GMA 950 can open a 5Mbps mpeg-4 AVC 720p video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. The video won't playback in Windows Media Player but VLC can play it back. CPU usage will be up around 70% but it still works. It doesn't matter if this movie is a 90 second commercial/trailer or a full on 5 hour epic movie.
- Most netbooks have VGA output and are capable of a maximum resolution beyond 1080p. So you could just hook the netbook up to a 40" LCD HDTV via a VGA cable. The only issue with that is that HDTV manufacturers like to cripple the VGA input of their TV's. For example, a 1080p 46" HDTV can accept 1080p through HDMI and component. The VGA input might be limited to 1336X768 or somewhere closer to 1080p. Manufacturers do this to push consumers to purchase more HDMI devices. Netbooks with HDMI output (along with the appropriate hardware such as the Nvidia ION platform) don't have issues outputting 1080p through HDMI and HDTVs will receive the full resolution. This isn't to say that VGA is bad. It is an older analog connection but it has been mastered over the years so that it can produce the same quality as DVI and HDMI. The issue is that manufacturers like to limit their hardware output and input when it comes to VGA. So you might want to think about an HDMI capable netbook if HDTV connectivity is important to you. Just be careful as both Dell and Acer have HDMI equipped netbooks with terrible specs. They have Atom Z520 or Z530 processors and Intel GMA 500 graphics. That is worse than the GMA 950 and definitely can't playback 720p videos even in VLC.
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Originally Posted by ericinboston
Right...but the smallest computer monitor used by the average Joe dating back to 1990 (20 years ago) is 15".
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Even then, the viewing distances make HD worth it in smaller screened devices. That is why the iPad has a resolution of 1024X768 and why 1366X768 is becoming more common place in the 10-11.6" screen size range.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericinboston
But watching 2+hour movies every other day?!
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Not every other day but it definitely comes in handy for the long trips. Many people also watch videos on YouTube on a daily basis. Would it be better to watch the small standard 320X240 videos (which look terrible even on a lower resolution Eee PC screen) or a 720p video that is capable of filling the entire screen with little compression artifacts?
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Originally Posted by ericinboston
Remember, the whole point of true HD (Blu Ray) is not just video...it's also the wonderful audio that kills dvd's audio soundtracks.
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Well, Blu-ray has many purposes behind it: interactive and online special features (fan chats, picture-in-picture features), lossless audio, bookmarking, and HD video. There isn't a single computer out there that will take advantage of every point behind Blu-ray. Said computer would have to be hooked up to a lossless capable surround sound system, work with BD-Live, work with BD Java, and output to a 1080p screen. That just isn't the average setup of Blu-ray equipped computers. So, if I am not going to take advantage of the lossless audio, I might as well use the HD video, bookmarking, and interactive special features (and/or BD-live functionality). People don't have to use all aspects behind Blu-ray in order to take advantage of the format.