What's the best option for watching video on a 1280x800 tablet screen?

[Skiz]

Snee recently told me that HD is pointless on screens less than 40".
I tend to trust his word on such matters.

The memory isn't all that capacious on any tabs so go down the SD route for sure.
I would say also to go with XviD or DivX since they're ubiquitous and will save you converting.

SD is for chumps.

For TV's, I'd generally agree with Snee. It all boils down to pixel density. TVs under about 40" don't usually have the required aspect ratio to display 1080.

I suppose I also shouldn't be asking which option is best, rather which will give the best quality without having more pixel quality than the device can make use of. Obviously 1080 content is unnecessary. I suppose the 720p x264 stuffs is best option.

[megabyteme]

I rarely splurge the bandwidth for 1080p. When I want something looking especially nice, I grab a 720p. One of the nice hurdles that the Nexus has going for it over some of the previous tablets that have momentarily caught my eye is that it will play a full 720p. I have a feeling that the video will look great, and won't be too cumbersome to transfer.

My wife and I are setting aside money to add a good flash for her recently acquired Canon 7D, then the next item will be the Nexus 7. At $250 for the 16GB version, it seems like quite a bargain. Please post your thoughts if/when you get your tab.

[mjmacky]

Obviously 1080 content is unnecessary. I suppose the 720p x264 stuffs is best option.

If that's what you're asking, then yes, 720p x264 is what you're to be looking for.

[Skiz]

I rarely splurge the bandwidth for 1080p. When I want something looking especially nice, I grab a 720p. One of the nice hurdles that the Nexus has going for it over some of the previous tablets that have momentarily caught my eye is that it will play a full 720p. I have a feeling that the video will look great, and won't be too cumbersome to transfer.

My wife and I are setting aside money to add a good flash for her recently acquired Canon 7D, then the next item will be the Nexus 7. At $250 for the 16GB version, it seems like quite a bargain. Please post your thoughts if/when you get your tab.

It's been many years I think since I downloaded anything non HD. All my TV shows get snatched up in 720p and the movies in 1080p. I have 46" LCD in the living room and a 37" LED in the bedroom, each equipped with it's own media PC running XBMC. With movies, I almost always have to wait longer for the 1080 versions over the faster 720 releases, but I'm a snob, what can I say?

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Nexus 7. Should ship in a week or so. I'll try to follow up after sufficient "testing".

Obviously 1080 content is unnecessary. I suppose the 720p x264 stuffs is best option.

If that's what you're asking, then yes, 720p x264 is what you're to be looking for.

Werd.

[manker]

SD is for chumps.

Yeah, I'm like that, too. I blame Busyman for everything.
However, I've compared HD and SD on a iPad (albeit 1st gen) and I can't tell the fecking difference - although it's immediately obvious on a big telly. I just thought that having 20 films on the tab instead of 3 might appeal.

Having said that, I'm not even sure where you would use it. I've never watched a whole film on a tablet even though I've owned at least one for a couple of years.
Add some qualitative data to the thread and tell us where the modern man who has large flat screen tellies in the bedroom and living room would watch a film on a tablet.

[Artemis]

You know I have to say the same I have an Acer A500 ( a big 10" tablet) with 32GB of internal storage and I have added a 32GB micro SD card to it and have I watched a whole movie on it.... errrr no, not when I have full 5.1 surround sound hometheater in the bedroom as well as the main system in the lounge, it seems kind of pointless really, and you will hurt your neck looking down for that length of time or strain your arms holding it out, or end up buying a stand for it so that it stands upright like a laptop screen.

[megabyteme]

Wouldn't it be beneficial for use as a kid distraction device while on car trips- as in attached to the back of a headrest? If nothing else, what about the co-pilot seat?

[manker]

Wouldn't it be beneficial for use as a kid distraction device while on car trips- as in attached to the back of a headrest? If nothing else, what about the co-pilot seat?

Pretty sure Skizo doesn't have kids - unless you think he's planning to abduct one.

Reading what you wrote, though, it might be good for travelling. I do remember watching almost a whole series of Weeds on my phone while flying to Tenerife one year.
My missus was thrilled.

[Artemis]

Wouldn't it be beneficial for use as a kid distraction device while on car trips- as in attached to the back of a headrest? If nothing else, what about the co-pilot seat?

Already waaaaay ahead of you there with a DVD player that has a slave unit for the other child in the other seat, but before you go hang on DVD's your so 90's, it has a card reader preloaded with yet another 32GB micro SD card to keep the little critters happy on long trips, with 34 movies to choose from they are happy little campers and I only have to update the selection every now and then.

[IdolEyes787]

We used to spot yellow cars and hawks and groundhogs and try not to get car sick.
It may not be as fun but I'm fairly sure that our brainwaves weren't permanently set to a low alpha level.