QUICK QUESTION: Are screens measured diagonally?

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
1
81
Since screens have been measured diagonally sicne the dawn of T, at least, I assume that is still the case. A guy at best buy told me that now the standard is horizontally. What is it ATOT?
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Yes it's always been diagonal. It seems Best Buy rarely knows what they ever talk about.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,966
590
136
Yes it's always been diagonal. It seems Best Buy rarely knows what they ever talk about.

It's amazing anyone still trusts a damn thing anyone at Best Buy says. It is rather commical overall. Once in a while you may get someone who knows something but 98% (prob actually 99%) of the time their associates know just about nothing and will make shit up all day long.
 

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
It's diagonally last I checked. PPI is done diagonally too

Really? I always thought that PPI was done horizontally or vertically since it would result in a higher number.

Total screen size is always diagonal though, yes.
 

dpodblood

Diamond Member
May 20, 2010
4,020
1
81
Yes. Always been that way, and I assume that it will for some time. The only thing which has changed is in the old CRT days a 17" screen was actually 16" "viewable." Where as now 17", 19", 22" etc usually describes the viewable area, and does not include the bezel.
 

sivart

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2000
1,786
0
0
Yes. Always been that way, and I assume that it will for some time. The only thing which has changed is in the old CRT days a 17" screen was actually 16" "viewable." Where as now 17", 19", 22" etc usually describes the viewable area, and does not include the bezel.

There are also "diagonal classes" so a 52" Class TV, may actually only be 51.5" :)
 

mammador

Platinum Member
Dec 9, 2010
2,120
1
76
When have screens been measured another way? lol..

Was that sales assistant on crack when he told you?
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
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Yes. Always been that way, and I assume that it will for some time. The only thing which has changed is in the old CRT days a 17" screen was actually 16" "viewable." Where as now 17", 19", 22" etc usually describes the viewable area, and does not include the bezel.

I was going to mention this. Everything is still diagonal measurement but now they only measure viewable screen space. So you'll get the exact same size picture in 32" across the board, but the bezels might change. In the CRT days it varied based on brand and construction it seemed.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,966
590
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I was going to mention this. Everything is still diagonal measurement but now they only measure viewable screen space. So you'll get the exact same size picture in 32" across the board, but the bezels might change. In the CRT days it varied based on brand and construction it seemed.

Well CRT was also a different animal. There was a actual image behind the bezel it was just not viewable. Where as LCD does not have any pixels behind the bezel and as such there is no way for them to try and twist the numbers as they used to do. It's not so much that now they messure the viewable screen space its that the sceen and the viewable screen are the same now.

Not that you personally didn't know that. No idea if you did or didn't. But I am sure there are some that may not have known.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
240
106
Diagonal is standard. However, the detailed specs also often give the vertical and hoizontal dimensions. And, yes - viewable area is that inside the frame or bezel.

Example - Select Details and scroll down to Dimensions

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824116422

AFIK, ATOT stands for AnandTech Off Topic.
 
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lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
What dul said. Back in CRT days the diagonal measurement was not a true value given a portion being lost by the frame and hence propogation of the viewable term. Now with such a minimal amount being lost to the frame with flat panels.