Pros and cons of widescreen

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Adam Helberg
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:31 pm Post subject: Pros and cons of widescreen

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA 14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts. I also notice some have 1280800 and some widescreens have 1280 768 pixels. Any pros and cons here? Adam

Stavros Christoforou
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

Adam Helberg wrote:

Quote:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA 14" notebook
for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual programs such as Internet
Explorer, Excel and some language software with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy
to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768 pixels. Any pros
and cons here?

Adam

Unless you see DVD's very often, widescreen is not worth it IMO. If you
want the best of both worlds (standard 4:3 and large space on screen)
get an SXGA+ 14" laptop (like many IBM T series laptops). They are
light, small enough to carry around easily (less than 2.5 kg for my T42)
and the 1400x1050 resolution will give you plenty of space for your
excel applications. Some people find the fonts a bit small, but (a) you
can change that to your will and (b) after you have experienced the
advantage of the extra space you will not want to go back to XGA.

As for your second question, I fail to see what the reasoning for a
1280*800 screen exists, it probably is there to give some extra space,
as in any case neither 1280*800 nor 1280*768 are true 16:9 resolutions.

CeeBee
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in comp.laptops:

Quote:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual
programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software
with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768
pixels. Any pros and cons here?

The only reason you want a widescreen is as an alternative to a portable
DVD-player. For the rest it's basically a nuisance of carrying extra weight
around. If you go for mobility, I wouldn't choose a widescreen.

--
CeeBee

***Ancient Wisdom in a Crunchy Treat***

John Doue
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

Adam Helberg wrote:

Quote:

glasses to look at 14.1" screen with a resolution of 1400x1050 and if
you value a lot mobility, then, go ahead and choose that solution. If
mobility is not of paramount importance, you will enjoy the space a 15"
display offers with a 1400x01050 resolution. When I went from a 14.1 to
a 15", I kept using the same carry-on bag .. so much for the space argument.

But if you tend to find fonts too small, fiddling with them in Windows
will never be a solution as good as a native resolution that allows you
to work comfortably. In that case, I would stay with a 14.1" and the
1024x768 resolution. The same resolution on a 15" screen is too fuzzy
for my liking.

The best way to decide is to carefully compare displays in a store,
loading a document or a program you are familiar with so that you can
compare apples and apples.

--
John Doue

bob
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

Adam Helberg wrote:

Quote:

size. My preference is for a smaller computer and when I am at the
office for more than an hour, I plug in an external monitor. The best of
both worlds.
Bob

jakdedert
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:52 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

CeeBee wrote:

Quote:

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in comp.laptops:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual
programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software
with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768
pixels. Any pros and cons here?

The only reason you want a widescreen is as an alternative to a portable
DVD-player. For the rest it's basically a nuisance of carrying extra weight
around. If you go for mobility, I wouldn't choose a widescreen.

I used to love those Radius monitors which would swivel 90 degrees to

give a portrait configuration. I've never understood why computer
displays are wider than tall. I wish they were the aspect ratio and
orientation of a normal piece of paper...much less scrolling...much more
'WYSIWYG' when word processing.

jak

Quaoar
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:05 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

"jakdedert" <jakdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:SET7f.19467$Pp1.9190@bignews3.bellsouth.net...

Quote:

CeeBee wrote:
"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in comp.laptops:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional
XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual
programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software
with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768
pixels. Any pros and cons here?

The only reason you want a widescreen is as an alternative to a
portable DVD-player. For the rest it's basically a nuisance of
carrying extra weight around. If you go for mobility, I wouldn't
choose a widescreen.

I used to love those Radius monitors which would swivel 90 degrees to
give a portrait configuration. I've never understood why computer
displays are wider than tall. I wish they were the aspect ratio and
orientation of a normal piece of paper...much less scrolling...much
more 'WYSIWYG' when word processing.

jak

Because it is the Golden Ratio that dictated, 2500 years ago, the width
should be greater than the height, and the ratio must be 1.6180339.
Then it was television that made us comfortable with a 4:3, 1.333 ratio.
Then it was some junior engineer in an LCD factory in Taiwan that found
the company could make 7 15.4 inch LCD displays at 1.600 ratio from the
same panel that produced only 5 15 inch panels at 1.33 ratio.

Summary: the width must be greater than the height and the Greeks were
very close to producing an LCD panel 2500 years ago.

Q

jakdedert
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

Quaoar wrote:

Quote:

"jakdedert" <jakdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:SET7f.19467$Pp1.9190@bignews3.bellsouth.net...

CeeBee wrote:

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in comp.laptops:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional
XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual
programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software
with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768
pixels. Any pros and cons here?

The only reason you want a widescreen is as an alternative to a
portable DVD-player. For the rest it's basically a nuisance of
carrying extra weight around. If you go for mobility, I wouldn't
choose a widescreen.

I used to love those Radius monitors which would swivel 90 degrees to
give a portrait configuration. I've never understood why computer
displays are wider than tall. I wish they were the aspect ratio and
orientation of a normal piece of paper...much less scrolling...much
more 'WYSIWYG' when word processing.

jak

Because it is the Golden Ratio that dictated, 2500 years ago, the width
should be greater than the height, and the ratio must be 1.6180339.
Then it was television that made us comfortable with a 4:3, 1.333 ratio.
Then it was some junior engineer in an LCD factory in Taiwan that found
the company could make 7 15.4 inch LCD displays at 1.600 ratio from the
same panel that produced only 5 15 inch panels at 1.33 ratio.

Summary: the width must be greater than the height and the Greeks were
very close to producing an LCD panel 2500 years ago.

Then why do we write on paper that's turned 'sideways'?

jak

Quote:

Adam Helberg
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

"John Doue" <notwobe@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ywI7f.140$mu1.74@read3.inet.fi...

Quote:

Adam Helberg wrote:
I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA 14"
notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual programs such as
Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software with rare DVD movie use. And I
need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768 pixels. Any
pros and cons here?

Adam
I'd say it first depends on your ... eyes: if you do not need to wear glasses to
look at 14.1" screen with a resolution of 1400x1050 and if you value a lot
mobility, then, go ahead and choose that solution. If mobility is not of paramount
importance, you will enjoy the space a 15" display offers with a 1400x01050
resolution. When I went from a 14.1 to a 15", I kept using the same carry-on bag ..
so much for the space argument.

But if you tend to find fonts too small, fiddling with them in Windows will never
be a solution as good as a native resolution that allows you to work comfortably.
In that case, I would stay with a 14.1" and the 1024x768 resolution. The same
resolution on a 15" screen is too fuzzy for my liking.

The best way to decide is to carefully compare displays in a store, loading a
document or a program you are familiar with so that you can compare apples and
apples.

--
John Doue

Thanks for all the input. I tried the1280*800 on a 12" diagonal screen (Dell 700m)
and found the fonts too small for any extended use. So I'm looking for a traditional
14" XGA screen, but unfortunately most laptops sold now have gone to the widescreen.
Dell still has some XGA screens, such as 600m and HP has the business laptops, but
they are more expensive and somewhat less advanced.

Adam

Quaoar
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

jakdedert wrote:

Quote:

Quaoar wrote:
"jakdedert" <jakdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:SET7f.19467$Pp1.9190@bignews3.bellsouth.net...

CeeBee wrote:

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in comp.laptops:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the
traditional XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the
usual programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some
language software with rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to
read fonts. I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens
have 1280*
768 pixels. Any pros and cons here?

The only reason you want a widescreen is as an alternative to a
portable DVD-player. For the rest it's basically a nuisance of
carrying extra weight around. If you go for mobility, I wouldn't
choose a widescreen.

I used to love those Radius monitors which would swivel 90 degrees
to give a portrait configuration. I've never understood why
computer displays are wider than tall. I wish they were the aspect
ratio and orientation of a normal piece of paper...much less
scrolling...much more 'WYSIWYG' when word processing.

jak

Because it is the Golden Ratio that dictated, 2500 years ago, the
width should be greater than the height, and the ratio must be
1.6180339. Then it was television that made us comfortable with a
4:3, 1.333 ratio. Then it was some junior engineer in an LCD factory
in Taiwan that found the company could make 7 15.4 inch LCD displays
at 1.600 ratio from the same panel that produced only 5 15 inch
panels at 1.33 ratio. Summary: the width must be greater than the
height and the Greeks
were very close to producing an LCD panel 2500 years ago.

Then why do we write on paper that's turned 'sideways'?

jak

Q

Paper is derived from clay tablet formats first used 3000 years ago by
the Sumerians. There is no new technology.

Q

jakdedert
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:41 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

Quaoar wrote:
<snip>

Quote:

computer displays are wider than tall. I wish they were the aspect
ratio and orientation of a normal piece of paper...much less
scrolling...much more 'WYSIWYG' when word processing.

jak

Because it is the Golden Ratio that dictated, 2500 years ago, the
width should be greater than the height, and the ratio must be
1.6180339. Then it was television that made us comfortable with a
4:3, 1.333 ratio. Then it was some junior engineer in an LCD factory
in Taiwan that found the company could make 7 15.4 inch LCD displays
at 1.600 ratio from the same panel that produced only 5 15 inch
panels at 1.33 ratio. Summary: the width must be greater than the
height and the Greeks
were very close to producing an LCD panel 2500 years ago.

Then why do we write on paper that's turned 'sideways'?

jak

Q

Paper is derived from clay tablet formats first used 3000 years ago by
the Sumerians. There is no new technology.

Dodging the question or just another tongue in cheek answer? I would

really like to know why all our computer monitors are sideways...or
alternatively (according to your reasoning), we write 90 degrees out of
sync to what the Greeks dictated....

jak

Quote:

Jeff Wooddell
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

I just bought a Dell Inspiron 6000 and it has a 15.4 1280x800 widescreen.
The only reason I can think of is to watch DVDs in their original widescreen
format instead of having the ends cut off on a normal size TV or monitor.

Jeff

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in message
news:O9H7f.1981$yX2.973@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

Quote:

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a widescreen or the traditional XGA
14" notebook for mobility. I'm mostly interested in using the usual
programs such as Internet Explorer, Excel and some language software with
rare DVD movie use. And I need easy to read fonts.

I also notice some have 1280*800 and some widescreens have 1280* 768
pixels. Any pros and cons here?

Adam

Stavros Christoforou
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

jakdedert wrote:

Quote:

Paper is derived from clay tablet formats first used 3000 years ago by
the Sumerians. There is no new technology.

Dodging the question or just another tongue in cheek answer? I would
really like to know why all our computer monitors are sideways...or
alternatively (according to your reasoning), we write 90 degrees out of
sync to what the Greeks dictated....
jak

Because papyrus was much easier to roll downwards than sideways? It
might sound stupid, but could be true. Also, in the typography era, book
binding is obviously easier in portrait mode than in landscape mode.

Adam Helberg
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

"John Doue" <notwobe@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ywI7f.140$mu1.74@read3.inet.fi...

Quote:

I have one more question. If a widescreen is 1280* 768 pixels, the vertical pixels is
the same number as the traditional XGA. Does that mean that widescreen displays the
same number of lines as the XGA?

Adam

Notan
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:24 am Post subject: Re: Pros and cons of widescreen

*skriptis wrote:

Quote:

I have just bought laptop with 15.4"..one week ago..and I am very annoyed by
the screen.
I am thinkig of selling it, or getting it back...

snip

It's commonly referred to as "personal preference."

You should never buy *anything,* based completely on what others say,
without checking it out for yourself, first.

Notan

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