A small question on widescreen monitors

[Ikke]

Hi everybody,

Currently I'm looking for some LCD monitors to replace the current ones
I've got, and I'm in doubt whether or not to go for a widescreen type
monitor.

Basically my question is this: if I buy a widescreen monitor, and decide to
play a game on it that uses a "default" resolution (say 1024x768), will
there be black bars along the sides, or will the game look stretched?

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Could anybody please verify what will happen when using other resolutions
than default? Thanks!

Ikke

 

[GT]

Hi everybody,

Currently I'm looking for some LCD monitors to replace the current ones
I've got, and I'm in doubt whether or not to go for a widescreen type
monitor.

Basically my question is this: if I buy a widescreen monitor, and decide
to
play a game on it that uses a "default" resolution (say 1024x768), will
there be black bars along the sides, or will the game look stretched?

My laptop stretches the display (but it doesn't actually look as bad you
might think).

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Neither can I ! I hate them personally as I work with code and prefer as
much vertical resolution as possible. I don't see an advantage, other than 2
documents side by side, but a decent resolution in the standard ratio can do
that too (I'm on 1600x1200).

I think its the PC world trying to copy the TV world and go widescreen and
soon pushing HD resolutions - great for films, but I personally don't like
it in Windows.

 

[kony]

Hi everybody,

Currently I'm looking for some LCD monitors to replace the current ones
I've got, and I'm in doubt whether or not to go for a widescreen type
monitor.

Basically my question is this: if I buy a widescreen monitor, and decide to
play a game on it that uses a "default" resolution (say 1024x768), will
there be black bars along the sides, or will the game look stretched?

yes, it'll have bars or stretch it depending on your video
card driver settings.

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

It's not necessarily true that one aspect ratio will suit
everyone. I think widescreen is good for really big
monitors but a bad choice for around 21" or smaller.

Could anybody please verify what will happen when using other resolutions
than default? Thanks!

It'll be blurrier. Use the default resolution anytime
possible, make it a primary factor when picking the monitor.

 

[meow2222]

Hi everybody,

Currently I'm looking for some LCD monitors to replace the current ones
I've got, and I'm in doubt whether or not to go for a widescreen type
monitor.

Basically my question is this: if I buy a widescreen monitor, and decide to
play a game on it that uses a "default" resolution (say 1024x768), will
there be black bars along the sides, or will the game look stretched?

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Could anybody please verify what will happen when using other resolutions
than default? Thanks!

Ikke

The advantage of widescreens lies with the manufacturer, not the
buyer, which is why theyre promoted. With widescreen for the
same inchage you get less screen area, so it costs less to
produce. You effectively get a smaller screen.

No guesses what I'll be buying.


NT

 

[GT]

[snip]

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

 

[GT]

[snip]

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

Normal Aspect gets my vote - wide screen is fine for films, but keep it off
my desktop!

 

[Paul]

[snip]

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

Normal Aspect gets my vote - wide screen is fine for films, but keep it off
my desktop!

I would only buy normal aspect ratio. For me, a
wide screen would be a waste of pixels.

Paul

 

[Jon Danniken]

[snip]
Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.
Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

Normal Aspect gets my vote - wide screen is fine for films, but keep it
off my desktop!

I would only buy normal aspect ratio. For me, a
wide screen would be a waste of pixels.

Yep, same here.

Jon

 

[Lord Turkey Cough]

[snip]

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

I HATE WIDESCREEN.

I could write volumes on why and indeed I have done so in the past.
The first backwards step in technology I can recall.

My opinion is that it originated from the cinema when television
was introduced to try and stem falling audiances, one idea being to
use a different screen ratio to a TV (a spoiler) and the other idea being to
make
the screen physically as big as possible. However making the screen
bigger runs into a big problem, the roof!! Hence you can only increase
the size sideways. Buiilding a cinema as high as it is wide is just not
economic.
I have a normal 4:3 TV and I have no problems with it, a picture can only
have one focal point and it should be central, unless the director is a
lunatic (some are). It is not possible to look at both sides of the screen
at the same time anyway.
I would actually lilke a taller monitor, there is always free space above
the monitor

 

[GT]

[snip]

Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

I HATE WIDESCREEN.

I could write volumes on why and indeed I have done so in the past.
The first backwards step in technology I can recall.

My opinion is that it originated from the cinema when television
was introduced to try and stem falling audiances, one idea being to
use a different screen ratio to a TV (a spoiler) and the other idea being
to make
the screen physically as big as possible. However making the screen
bigger runs into a big problem, the roof!! Hence you can only increase
the size sideways. Buiilding a cinema as high as it is wide is just not
economic.
I have a normal 4:3 TV and I have no problems with it, a picture can only
have one focal point and it should be central, unless the director is a
lunatic (some are). It is not possible to look at both sides of the screen
at the same time anyway.
I would actually lilke a taller monitor, there is always free space above
the monitor

Buy widescreen, then turn through 90 degrees = tall monitor!

 

[Lord Turkey Cough]

[snip]
Lately, it seems the next big trend to go widescreen (LCDs, laptops,
etc...), but I really can't see the advantage.

Can I ask for everyone's opinion. A quick straw poll: Who preferes
widescreen over normal aspect ration for their PC monitor?

I HATE WIDESCREEN.

I could write volumes on why and indeed I have done so in the past.
The first backwards step in technology I can recall.

My opinion is that it originated from the cinema when television
was introduced to try and stem falling audiances, one idea being to
use a different screen ratio to a TV (a spoiler) and the other idea being
to make
the screen physically as big as possible. However making the screen
bigger runs into a big problem, the roof!! Hence you can only increase
the size sideways. Buiilding a cinema as high as it is wide is just not
economic.
I have a normal 4:3 TV and I have no problems with it, a picture can only
have one focal point and it should be central, unless the director is a
lunatic (some are). It is not possible to look at both sides of the
screen
at the same time anyway.
I would actually lilke a taller monitor, there is always free space above
the monitor

Buy widescreen, then turn through 90 degrees = tall monitor!

Not really practical, and anyway once it gets taller than square it
starts becoming inefficient again.
My monitor is actually 5:4 (I believe) 4:5 would be OK.
Remember most paper is A4 which is taller than wide (usually), one
problem you get with PDF documents is they are a lot taller than wide
so if you get one page on the screen the text is very small, and that's
on my 5:4 monitor, it must look terrible on a widescreen, I would
imagine 2/3 of the screen is wasted, it's certaintly more than half.

1:1 would be the optimum general purpose raitio.

 

[Plato]

Currently I'm looking for some LCD monitors to replace the current ones
I've got, and I'm in doubt whether or not to go for a widescreen type
monitor.

Basically my question is this: if I buy a widescreen monitor, and decide to
play a game on it that uses a "default" resolution (say 1024x768), will
there be black bars along the sides, or will the game look stretched?

Make sure your video card can support a wide screen.