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As a strict observer of the inverse relationship between class and TV size I've long been the proud owner of a 21" square CRT telly.
However a series of scandalous events have lead to me being struck of the civil list and crossed off Tatler's Christmas card list too.
This has occasioned the need to procure a slightly larger television. I was thinking 32" but in anticipation of some kiss and tell revelations hitting the headlines before Christmas I might have to future proof by looking at 40 or even heaven forbid 43 inches if anyone mentions the 'hugging'.
Now having paid no attention to flat screen tv developments for the last 20 years (I used to have the Help to do that for me) it all looks like a load of baffling old crap and TLAs and weird proprietary geegaws.
For me the issue is this though - most of the best deals seem to be on 4k tvs at that size and some outlets now only have 4K on offer - but I live in the middle of ****ing nowhere with very pedestrian internet so streamings not a thing for me, I don't subscribe to sky so the content I watch via Freesat is at best 1080 and mostly SD. Theres no 4k content that I'm likely to consume for the time being - If I buy a 4K tv at this reasonably modest size is upscaling of content going to make it look shit? And if not do any brands / models do upscaling of SD more elegantly than others?
Any upscaling will be significantly better than you're used to. I don't think it should be a consideration. upscaled SD picture will not be as good as a 1080 picture but will still be better than your 21" tube.
You’ll be fine. 4K is simply 1080p x4 so the scaling is very simple.
Has your beta max player got an HDMI out?
1080 to 4K shouldn't be an issue.
SD to HD, best is upscale in the source device. Upscaling DVD / Blu Ray player for example (a good one). Can be better even than upscaled SD TV shows put out on Blu Ray which often is done badly or worse with UK shows converted to 60i/p instead of 50 so they only have to do one master for UK/US (result is wrong speed audio, pitch correction issues if applied etc). Unless they've done a very good remaster job as well, or have managed to do a proper HD release from film footage (e.g. Star Trek).
Freesat box if outputting everything 1080 should be fine.
4K itself is as much meh to me as 3D. My TV pre-dates 4K but was height of the 3D fad and it was best to get a 3D panel than not as the best panels were the 3D ones. Ditto 4K now probably. Even if I had a 4K panel I wouldn't be getting a 4K Blu Ray player and rebuying the discs. I'm pretty much stopping buying discs now. Got 4K as an option with Amazon Fire though, but happy enough at 1080.
Any upscaling will be significantly better than you’re used to. I don’t think it should be a consideration.
This. In your situation it's a non issue.
Has your beta max player got an HDMI out?
I'm not the queen
I recently bought a 43" 4k LG (first foray beyond 720p...). I have no 4k sources as such, just use Freeview HD and an old PS3 so nothing beyond 1080p, but have been really impressed with picture quality (although I'm no expert, by a long way...).
The LG panels get criticism for not being 'true' 4k but I've been well pleased with the upscaling on mine (a 43UK6300PLB).