Wide screen monitor question . . .

[dgsg]

Also a old/dog new trick question. Eight year old Samsung 181t 18" 4:3 monitor is going. Looking at this as a replacement; http://accessories.us.dell.com...=en&cs=04&sku=320-7825

It seems to have great reviews and it seems to be well suited to photo work, which I do a lot of.

Will the format change drive me nuts? Do web pages, Quicken, WP documents, etc. display with borders like a SD signal on a HD TV or does the monitor do a conversion?
Thanx in advance!

 

[AmberClad]

With normal Windows apps, you can just maximize them and they'll stretch to fill the widescreen screen real estate. It's pretty nice actually, because you get more text on the same line.

The issue mainly comes up with games that aren't coded to support widescreen. In that case, in full screen mode, the picture'll either be distorted/stretched or you'll get letterboxing.

 

[octopus41092]

It's better. I think that's an IPS panel too so for photo work you should get nice colors. The format isn't very different at all, I got accustomed to it almost right away. I upgraded from a 19" CRT to a 22" and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Do it, go upgrade.

 

[AndroidVageta]

Look at this Acer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009145

Only $170 with free shipping and handling...blows the Dell out of the water, especially the contrast ratio...which is important with LCD's.

Just got mine today and I have to say that being a CRT lover myself and never quite believing in LCD's I have now been converted. After some adjustments here and there this LCD looks just as good as any CRT I've ever used...and I only used the best, NEC, Sony Trinitron...all professional level 21inch+ CRTs with excellent picture quality...the Acer is just as good. If you're a photo man you can't go wrong with this Acer.

 

[techboie]

The Dell is probably much better, being an IPS panel. Though try to go for a 24" one. Also, I would say consider one with full HD support.

 

[Zap]

Just make sure you run Windows at the monitor's native resolution and you'll be fine. Pretty much all games made in the past couple years support widescreen. Older games can run either stretched or with black bars down the sides (setting in video drivers to allow you to choose). All normal Windows applications will work just fine regardless.