Widescreen vs Standard LCD Monitor

Zahc

Happy Christmas all, I hope you over-did everything but don't feel as rough as I do:rolleyes:

So, to cheer myself up I'm going to replace my ageing monitor. I'm toying with getting a Widescreen LCD but have had no dealings with them. Is there anyone out there who uses one who can give me some pros and cons? One thing that occurs to me is that most web pages are set up for standard format.......

Zahc

-TangleFoot-

I have one of these, and aside from a backlight bright enough to make my eyes water, it's a monumental improvement over the 15" 4:3 TFT-LCD it displaced.

From Wikipedia:

Pros

• Wide format well suited for office multi-tasking side by side, particularly on larger displays with a wide horizontal resolution (e.g. 1920 x 1200)
• Movie playback. Since most DVD's and TV shows are now in WS format, these displays really lend themselves to this use
• Gaming. WS gaming is becoming more popular, and many users comment that they would not like going back to 4:3 aspect gaming after playing with a widescreen display.

Cons

• Can sometimes lead to stretching of an image source if it is in 4:3 or 5:4 format. This can be avoided if the ouput device can support 1:1 pixel mapping / aspect ratio control, or if the display itself can do this at a hardware level.
• Some people still prefer the 4:3 format screens for office work, this is a matter of preference though

Other useful stuff:

• LCD Buyer's Guide
• Widescreen Gaming Forum
• Gamer's Graphics & Display Settings Guide*

*Admittedly this article has little if anything to do with widescreen, but it does provide an excellent explanation of the inner workings of the modern display device.

MercilessKiller

Widescreen for video... standard for everything else!

I have dual monitor 2 19" tft's.. then have an output to the tele.. so I can watch me films on me 32" widescreen, and everything else is perfect on the dual monitors (poker, pictures etc..)

Poppycat

I use a widescreen its so much nicer and can fit much more on screen, I use it for gaming, net, word, video.

Avoriaz

I have had a widescreen laptop for 3 years. I would hate to go back to a normal display.

Basically you can fit more on the screen or watch widescreen videos or pictures properly.

Go for widescreen every time.

mad&jon

Widescreen is great, but no reason to pay more for one unless you want to watch films. Yes web pages aren't formatted to widescreen but they just sit nicely in the middle no difference.
I love my widescreen, a recomendation from this board: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanns-LCD-Silver-Black-DVI/dp/B000GYHS6Y

BarGin

I now use a laptop with a 1280 x 800 widescreen display and really miss my previous monitor with its standard 1280 x 1024 resolution.

This means I have lost 1280 x 224 pixels of screen area. I don't understand how you can fit more on the screen with fewer pixels. This is especially true with web pages if you use extra toolbars.

BarGin

Zahc

Thanks for the replies guys n gals. Wide Screen it is then; now I've got to find one. I quite like the look of the one linked above, price looks good too.....
I'll start the hunt just as soon as get my hang-over under control. "I'm never going to drink again" he was heard to say:rotfl:

Zahc

wolfman

I picked up my Philips 200W6 for £200 not long ago. It's a good price for a 20" screen, and the screen is a decent one. It uses the same panel as in the Dell 2005WFP. It's difficult to find though.

The BenQ FP92W did well in the recent PC Pro labs test for a budget monitor.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/100114/benq-fp92w.html
eBuyer have it in stock.
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=120830&_LOC=UK

Also the 22" Acer AL2216W represents excellent value for money. It uses a TN panel which is more aimed at gaming/videos rather than wide viewing angles, but for £270 for a 22" monitor you'd be getting a lot of bang for your buck.
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/r/tft-screen-22-al2216w?itag=10527

Zahc

Thanks Wolfman, great links. The agony of choice.....

Zahc

frestuffwooo

I much prefer widescreen for games and video even for the internet. They are mmuch better