but with 1080p you dont get the most out of bluray
i could be wrong
No, I think you're right. But at a certain distance our eyes can't resolve all 1080 lines so a 720p set will give a similar picture. It really varies depending on seating distance and screen size - there are charts out there that gives some theoretical numbers like this:
http://hdguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/hdtv_distance_chart.pdf. For example, on a 40" screen, you theoretically must sit 96 inches from the screen to fully resolve all the detail of a 720p picture. So you would have to sit closer than that to get any benefit from 1080p. It's only at 64 inches that you can fully resolve all detail of a 1080p picture. It's theoretical, but gives a rough guide at least.
I'm learning from this thread. Black levels? What?
Black level just refers to how black the blacks actually are. No HDTV can really achieve perfect black levels but they're getting closer. A couple more years and true blacks will probably start to creep into HDTVs. For now, a few can get sufficiently black for even the pickiest of people.
It's a huge element of picture quality, but admittedly one a lot of people may not notice unless it's really bad (as in the blacks are very grey). You'll also notice it a lot more when the lights are out, which is why having some ambient lighting behind the TV is accepted as enhancing the picture - it closes your retina and makes the blacks appear blacker.
As an example, here's one of the latest LG plasma (which has a "below average" black level) compared to one of the latest Pioneers. The Pioneers are not totally black yet, but they are getting very close and are the market leader.
Most HDTVs do bright colours and things fine. It's when things get dark that the faults come out, which is why it's so hard to buy a TV based on what you see in a showroom.
