Why I don't like widescreen monitors

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: archcommus
Please leave this in OT as it's more a general discussion about aspect ratios and stuff, not really specific to technology.

My ex's dad recently bought a 2005FPW and I was excited to see and finally use one. I went over and tried it out at 1680x1050 res and wasn't impressed at all. My main gripe is, it's not *ultimate* widescreen. Ultimate widescreen would be either 1.78:1 (HDTV) or 1.85:1 (true movie widescreen). Instead, it's 1.6:1. This means, when watching a movie, for example, letterbox is still present. Same goes for if we watch some hi-def TV on it. And for the majority of my computer usage, internet, IM, etc., the extra real estate on the sides is just unnecessary and even a bit annoying.

So after using the thing for a few hours, I think I like my 5:4 19" more. Thoughts?

LOL you're a noob. There's no such thing as 'ultimate' widescreen. Even HDTVs you're going to get blackbars if the movies aren't the correct ratio... and that's because they shoot the movies in different aspect ratios, so there is no 'ultimate' widescreen that will perfectly fit all widescreen movies. But the beauty of widescreen is in the normal usage. So, you find it 'unnecessary' and annoying. I guess you would say that 1600x1200 is unnecessary compared to 1024x768 as well? I don't know what do you mean when you say it's annoying, it's much easier to work with extra space that is on the sides rather than a big square box.

On the one hand, you complain it's not 'ultimate' widescreen so it's not wide enough for the widest of widescreen content... then you complain that the widescreen is unnecessary and even annnoying? So which is it?

I understand there's so such thing as ultimate widescreen since everything is shot/made in different aspect ratios. I'm just saying that IS one of the reasons why I didn't like widescreen as much as I anticipated, because it didn't solve that issue as much as I expected it to. Sure, it helps, just not like I anticipated.

The extra space on the sides is "annoying" to me because I DON'T put documents and windows side-by-side like other people do, and I probably wouldn't develop the habit even if I did have widescreen. I know this because I used dual monitors for years but I never really changed my habits to *really* make good use of them. So, when I still go around maximizing all my windows, they just look odd stretched out to the widescreen format and that's why it's annoying. However, I would just deal with that if I saw the widescreen format as REALLY worth it if it solved the letterbox issue as much as I was anticipating. But, it doesn't.

 

[Koing]

1680x1050 isn't enough resolution imo. 1920x1200 is muc better for having documents side by side and at a good readable size.

The 16:10 monitors give you A LOT more viewable area then a 20" 4:3 monitor when watching a widescreen (16:9) movie. More so when you watch wider aspect ratio films that are pretty common for films. You just get to see more with a 16:10 monitor.

Koing

 

[TreyRandom]

I don't have a widescreen monitor, but I do have both an LCD and CRT. I love both. I don't notice any ghosting on the LCD. My only complaint is that blacks are not deep enough on the LCD... when in a dark corner in a FPS game, it looks more like levels or layers of gray than true blackness (and yes, I've adjusted brightness settings). That being said, I've gotten used to it for the most part... I like the extra space on my desk and the slightly greater viewable display size (comparing 19" LCD to 19" CRT).

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Do you think that if you have a widescreen, you won't see bars?

I did, until I learned about the aspect ratios of each separate thing.

You can get black boxes on HDTVs when watching widescreen movies too.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Do you think that if you have a widescreen, you won't see bars?

I did, until I learned about the aspect ratios of each separate thing.

You can get black boxes on HDTVs when watching widescreen movies too.

Exactly, because aren't HDTVs 1.78:1? And movies are generally 1.85:1, or even 2.35:1.

So really, there is no one standard, we all see that and I understand that's just how it is. That just makes widescreen for my monitor less appealing. Also equally unappealing for my TV since SO MANY channels and shows and commercials are still in 4:3.

 

[Philippine Mango]

What I think is albiet ironic about LCDs is that I've got LCD computer monitors from 1999 and they don't exactly 'ghost' while my family just got an aquos LCD TV and it ghosts like CRAZY, it's almost unbarable to see the ghosting on the new LCD TV. It's confusing to see the new LCD tv and the older CRT TV I just picked up for free to ghost like crazy while these old ass LCDs I've got ghost to a point that doesn't bother me..

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I freakin' love my 2005FPW and wouldn't trade it for anything (except for maybe the Gateway 21").

yeah i just got a 2005FPW this weekend and its GREAT

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I freakin' love my 2005FPW and wouldn't trade it for anything (except for maybe the Gateway 21").

Got one. Love it.

(actually, had to RMA the first one last week as something went fubar)