What's the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

Question

Is it a massive difference?

Answer 1

The i and p after 1080 stand for interlaced and progressive respectively.

Progressive video signals are of better quality than interlaced signals. They are generally sharper and produce a nicer picture and avoid the stair step effect from interlaced videos.

Suggested reading:

1080i vs. 1080p HDTV: should you care?

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449-636160...

Answer 2

If you can imagine it... say that the picture on your television is created by 1080 lines running left to right, starting from the top of the screen running all the way down.  I tried to illustrate below, just picture 1080 lines instead of just 5:

1. ------------------------------

2. ------------------------------

3. ------------------------------

4. ------------------------------

5. ------------------------------

Now with 1080i (or 1080 interlaced)  the television will place every other line first, then go back and place in every other line that it skipped.  So as per my illustration, imagine if all the odd numbered lines were placed first, then once that was completed, the even numbered lines were put into place.  

With a 1080p, also known as progressive scan, all the lines are placed in consecutive "numerical" order.

A 1080i will be about the same quality as a 720p so you can I'magine the quality of a television that is 1080p.  I hope this somewhat helps and i explained it alright.  Its a little different when im not directly in front of someone.