Why is 1366x768 called "720p" not "768p"

1920x1080 is called "1080p"

1600x900 is called "900p"

As a matter of consistency and accuracy, shouldn't 1366x768 be called "768p" instead of "720p"? Why isn't it?

 

It's the resolution used by most 720p TVs in order to accomodate 1024x768 content. Technically you're correct that 720p refers to 1280x720.

 

Probably an assumption by marketing departments that Joe Blow has heard '720p' before but not '768p'.

And probably a correct assumption.

 

I can see that. But if that's the only reason, then why do knowledgeable people on tech forums like this one continue to use the inaccurate terminology just because Joe Blow (and marketing execs catering to Joe Blow) do?

 

Because the majority of people buying computers are average Joe Schmoe who don't have much knowledge of computers, so they mass market to them..

 

Because it's easier to go by that than mention 768p and have the average joe not understand what you mean. A lot of people don't even know what the difference between resolutions actually mean. 720p talks to them, since it's a term they see advertised often. It's the same thing with HD, HD+ and Full HD, a lot of people find that easy to understand, much more than 1366x768, 1600x900 and 1920x1080.

 

Well, er, also because I've never seen a 768p encoded video.

 

Exactly. There are many resolutions for computer screens but the source videos are usually in 240/320/480/720/1080 progressive or interlace, etc...

 

720 rolls off the tongue a lot easier than 768.

 

I think that 1280x768 is a resolution in 16:10 format, while 1280x720 is in 16:9 format. HD movies are in 16:9. 1366x768 is also a 16:9 format, hence the video is upscaled (from 720p) or downscaled (from 1080p) a bit on such a screen.

 

Moral of the story: the term "720p" is used even among people who know what they're talking about (i.e., people on this forum) to reinforce that we're talking about the 16:9 aspect ratio, not 1280x768 or 1024x768? I guess I can see the sense in that, even though part of me is still screaming that the term "720p" should be referring to 1280x720, not 1366x768.

 

Well, there's that reason and also the fact that not everyone who frequents NBR is a tech guru, so we do it for them too. Usually, i try to use 1366x768, but if i feel rather lazy, i use 720p .

 

A lot of 720p HDTVs don't have a 720p resolution, they have something close to it, often 1366x768, but are marketed as 720p. That's where it all stems from, we are victims of the TV industry marketing.

 

Technically the old 1280x768 which was strangely advertised on the hp dv1000 is 5:3, not 16:10. As rare as it is maybe they didn't want to confuse anybody.
even tho they're all just WXGA