AnimeSuki Forums

Asai · 2007-05-29, 23:05

Browsing numerous image threads has made me curious. I still see a lot of people posting 4:3 (and the occasional 5:4) wallpapers they've made or found, which really makes me wonder. How many people don't have widescreen monitors these days?

As far as I've noticed, *most* anime is now broadcast in widescreen. Here in Australia, I can't think of a single TV show made in the past five or more years that isn't in 16:9, either. Of course, movies have been in widescreen formats for many, many years, and DVD releases are usually cropped to 16:9 (from the weird cinema aspect ratios) so really, all visual media is clearly going widescreen.

I've had a HDTV for a while now, and also made the upgrade to a widescreen monitor about a year ago. In fact, walking through an electronics store, I haven't even seen a 4:3 monitor or TV for at least a year. Looking on a few national sites that sell computer products only have a bare handful of 4:3 monitors compared to the plethora of 16:10 on the market.

Anyway, as I said, what really made me want to ask is that I still see a lot of people making 4:3 wallpapers, when I had assumed most people would be running widescreen desktops these days. So I wanted to put it out there to find out some numbers, at least from this community. ^^

Kyuusai · 2007-05-29, 23:28

Personally, I have a 4:3 monitor at home and a widescreen monitor at work (two of 'em, actually).

It's only in the past year or so that widescreen television sales have taken over the majority of sales, and budget-market computer monitor sales are still overwhelmed by 4:3 products and purchases. Most TV content has made the switch now, but across the world many major productions are still 4:3.

The future is clearly widescreen, but it will take some time to TRULY convert. The current install-base of 4:3 equipment can't be so easily discounted, and those who don't understand where the market is heading and the effects that will have on them will continue to buy 4:3 equipment. Personally, I don't buy 4:3 monitors any longer if I have any choice, including at the office. People like my father, however, search for the cheapest equipment that will work "for right now", and continue to perpetuate the 4:3 rule.

Aoie_Emesai · 2007-05-30, 03:10

Nope, but I do want one. Only got a 4:3. It's better for my gaming pleasure and my browsing. (can't really afford a 300$ LCD monitor right now, if I did I have better things to buy)

Asai · 2007-05-30, 05:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aoie_Emesai

Nope, but I do want one. Only got a 4:3. It's better for my gaming pleasure and my browsing. (can't really afford a 300$ LCD monitor right now, if I did I have better things to buy)

I've heard this a fair bit, which also makes me wonder. Most games support widescreen resolutions these days, and those that don't can mostly be forced widescreen or simply run letterboxed so it's not really an excuse; anyway, the extra width helps in many games.

As for browsing, I've found a 16:10 desktop to be better than a 4:3 one. It took a few days to get used to, but it really is superior for general desktop use. This way I can have my IM client and music player open on one side of the screen while my browser, text editor or whatever application of choice takes up the rest. Of course, that's just one way I use my desktop; having my HDTV as my secondary monitor means a lot of media gets played on it instead, but it's not hard to find a way that suits you.

But still, I do understand some people's reluctance to accept new technologies (for instance, still see most people downloading xvid avi's instead of 264 mkv/mp4s) -- even if it's a bit hard to wrap my head around, I can sometimes fathom reasons people may not want to. No money to simply 'upgrade' is a very valid one. But when it comes time to replace an old 4:3 set, there really is zero reason not to go widescreen, IMO...

WanderingKnight · 2007-05-30, 05:17

I still have an old 17" 4:3 CRT. And I'm glad people still make 4:3 wallpapers.

You've got to understand, not everyone can afford a widescreen monitor.

Mueti · 2007-05-30, 06:58

I bought a 21" widescreen monitor about ~3 months ago. It was the only upgrade for my PC I invested money in since the last 4 years or so but it was well worth it. I couldn't imagine going back to the 17" CRT I had before. I hardly ever play games, so the lack of widescreen support there (I guess most new releases don't come without it anymore anyway?) isn't really an issue for me.
And when it comes to what I use my PC for (browsing, working, music, anime/movies), a widescreen monitor is sooo much better. ^^

Aoie_Emesai · 2007-05-30, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderingKnight

I still have an old 17" 4:3 CRT. And I'm glad people still make 4:3 wallpapers.

You've got to understand, not everyone can afford a widescreen monitor.

Understandable. I'm still using my 15 inch Samsung 151s LCD monitor ^_^. (black version, didn't have a silver version to match my silver case

)

KNETTER2000 · 2007-05-30, 08:20

After my 17"CRT main monitor died on me with a big flashing bang and then a puff of smoke, I bought a 20" widescreen monitor..

I also have a 17" monitor as my secondary screen for like my IM, Outlook, Torrent etc and the toolbars for Photoshop, imageready etc wich leaves me with an enormous workspace on my WS..

I'm thinking of buying another bigger widescreen (although a 22"will give me the same resolution I run now nml 1680x1050 and going above that will push the price up like a bastard..) and using the one I have now as a secondary monitor..

never a 4:3 for me again.

Shiryuu · 2007-05-30, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderingKnight

You've got to understand, not everyone can afford a widescreen monitor.

Depends on what size of widescreen you're going for...

Newegg link
At that size, they're pretty cheap. :/

Anyways, I use both a normal one and a widescreen. So I have an especially wide screen.

Sephi · 2007-05-30, 12:02

I use widescreen 15.4 laptop screen at 1280x800. I like the resolution of it. And thank god i haven't saw a none wide screen anime this season yet. Even though i only follow 3 series from the current season.

I'm secretly hoping for a 70+ cm lcd tv to watch my anime on

Vexx · 2007-05-30, 12:03

I bought a 22" Viewsonic VG2230wm a month ago... I love it for both work and play. The only complaint I have is that it is a LONG freaking way from left to right when mousing (heh, they need to have individual mouse tuning for vertical and horizontal now)

slayer · 2007-05-30, 22:57

i got a lg 203wtx it's quite nice compared to my old 17 inch that has washed out colours. Anime + ws + h264 = hawt

Knightmare213 · 2007-05-31, 00:44

Well, my wide-screen monitor is practically built on to my laptop. It's a 17-inch plasma wide-screen...and I have to agree with slayer:

Quote:

Anime + ws + h264 = hawt

Unfortunately for me, I don't use h264 format that often. I just find it too much of a hassle for the damned subs to sync up with the audio and the picture.

Timeless Enigma · 2007-05-31, 01:35

I mainly use an old 17" CRT, but I do have a 27" LCD 16:9 HDTV that I use for video viewing purposes. It accepts VGA input, so I often use that as a part-time monitor (the graphics card I use has 2 outputs). But of course it's a TV so it can't do high resolutions on it, I think the max is 1280x720, but that's fine with me.

Asai · 2007-05-31, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timeless Enigma

But of course it's a TV so it can't do high resolutions on it,

A true HDTV should be 1920x1080, which is higher than many monitors. It irks me to see so many sets sold as HDTVs (especially with '1080 ready!') when they only do a max of 720p

They just downscale any higher signals, which is a bit dodgy.

A 1920x1200 monitor and 1920x1080 TV is the only way to go.

kiyonepbs · 2007-05-31, 03:54

No, I don't. I'm tempted to purchase a 24" though.

Kyuusai · 2007-05-31, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asai

A true HDTV should be 1920x1080, which is higher than many monitors. It irks me to see so many sets sold as HDTVs (especially with '1080 ready!') when they only do a max of 720p

They just downscale any higher signals, which is a bit dodgy.

A 1920x1200 monitor and 1920x1080 TV is the only way to go.

Well, 720p and 1080i are both "HDTV" resolutions, officially. Honestly, though, interlacing stinks. Unless you're dealing with still--or near-still images, 720p offers better practical vertical resolution than 1080i. I'd gladly take a little less horizontal resolution to avoid the jerky-or-tearing images, and if 720p is my preferred signal type, I might as well have a screen with the same resolution to avoid scaling. Now, 1080p (which most HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs support), that's where it's at... If your set supports it. Many don't.

I'm still waiting for 1080p capable projector prices to come down.

hobbes_fan · 2007-05-31, 13:07

Nope don't have one. But I'm only on laptops 99% of my computing time. I find the widescreen laptops are bit awkward to carry around, the shape just feels ungainly. I've just built a media centre pc but am waiting on the end of Australian financial year to buy a LCD TV that will double as a monitor. I'm torn between 40" but they'll be limited to 1366x768 resolution or 32' with 1080p resolution in my budget. Living in a studio apartment means I can't have too many appliances.

Crovax · 2007-06-01, 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asai

Browsing numerous image threads has made me curious. I still see a lot of people posting 4:3 (and the occasional 5:4) wallpapers they've made or found, which really makes me wonder. How many people don't have widescreen monitors these days?

As far as I've noticed, *most* anime is now broadcast in widescreen. Here in Australia, I can't think of a single TV show made in the past five or more years that isn't in 16:9, either. Of course, movies have been in widescreen formats for many, many years, and DVD releases are usually cropped to 16:9 (from the weird cinema aspect ratios) so really, all visual media is clearly going widescreen.

I've had a HDTV for a while now, and also made the upgrade to a widescreen monitor about a year ago. In fact, walking through an electronics store, I haven't even seen a 4:3 monitor or TV for at least a year. Looking on a few national sites that sell computer products only have a bare handful of 4:3 monitors compared to the plethora of 16:10 on the market.

Anyway, as I said, what really made me want to ask is that I still see a lot of people making 4:3 wallpapers, when I had assumed most people would be running widescreen desktops these days. So I wanted to put it out there to find out some numbers, at least from this community. ^^

I purchased two 5:4 aspect LCD monitors about 5 months ago. I intend to get a wide-screen screen to replace one of them (but only for being able to play 1080p without scaling, not because I like widescreen, I don't.)

And ironically, quite contrary to your concern for ppl only making 4:3/5:4 wallpapers, the wallpapers on my screens are 16:9 and thus have black bars. =/ (pictures from 5 centimeter per second)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asai

A true HDTV should be 1920x1080, which is higher than many monitors. It irks me to see so many sets sold as HDTVs (especially with '1080 ready!') when they only do a max of 720p

They just downscale any higher signals, which is a bit dodgy.

A 1920x1200 monitor and 1920x1080 TV is the only way to go.

QFT

***NightWish*** · 2007-06-01, 05:11

Heh, I'm still using an old 22", standard 4:3 format CRT, which has lasted me a very long time. Right now I have no intention of upgrading because the parts of the marketplace I am interested in are so fluid.

Don't get me wrong, I would like a wide format monitor it is just that, for me, the problem isn't simply a matter of selecting the right screen size. I'm more concerned with the transport mechanism between computer and monitor, and how that relates to the other bits of my system I need to buy and upgrade (i.e. the graphics card). I see the choice of system as the primary limiting factor in terms of my current purchasing goals.

There are a number of competing systems with different advantages and limitations, each riddled with their own flavour of copy protection. Until they stabilize a bit and the support for all of them is assured across a range of card and monitor vendors, or a clear leader is settled on, I can't see the point in upgrading. Unless something breaks, that is, and I'm forced to upgrade.

View Poll Results: Widescreen monitors.
Yes, I have one.	43	55.84%
No, I don't have one.	12	15.58%
I don't have one, but intend to get one.	18	23.38%
I don't want one at all.	4	5.19%
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll

2007-05-29, 23:05	Link #1
Asai Nya? ^_^ Fansubber Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia	Widescreen monitors: Do you have one? Browsing numerous image threads has made me curious. I still see a lot of people posting 4:3 (and the occasional 5:4) wallpapers they've made or found, which really makes me wonder. How many people don't have widescreen monitors these days? As far as I've noticed, most anime is now broadcast in widescreen. Here in Australia, I can't think of a single TV show made in the past five or more years that isn't in 16:9, either. Of course, movies have been in widescreen formats for many, many years, and DVD releases are usually cropped to 16:9 (from the weird cinema aspect ratios) so really, all visual media is clearly going widescreen. I've had a HDTV for a while now, and also made the upgrade to a widescreen monitor about a year ago. In fact, walking through an electronics store, I haven't even seen a 4:3 monitor or TV for at least a year. Looking on a few national sites that sell computer products only have a bare handful of 4:3 monitors compared to the plethora of 16:10 on the market. Anyway, as I said, what really made me want to ask is that I still see a lot of people making 4:3 wallpapers, when I had assumed most people would be running widescreen desktops these days. So I wanted to put it out there to find out some numbers, at least from this community. ^^

2007-05-30, 03:10	Link #3
Aoie_Emesai ♪♫ Maya Iincho ♩♬ Artist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Unnecessary Age: 37	Nope, but I do want one. Only got a 4:3. It's better for my gaming pleasure and my browsing. (can't really afford a 300$ LCD monitor right now, if I did I have better things to buy) __________________ How to Give / Receive Criticism on your work / Like to draw? Come join Artists Alike Visit my Deviantart Or Blog ~A Child should always surpass his/her parent, Remember.

2007-05-30, 05:17	Link #5
WanderingKnight Gregory House IT Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Age: 35	I still have an old 17" 4:3 CRT. And I'm glad people still make 4:3 wallpapers. You've got to understand, not everyone can afford a widescreen monitor. __________________ Place them in a box until a quieter time \| Lights down, you up and die.

2007-05-30, 06:58	Link #6
Mueti あ！ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Japan Age: 36	I bought a 21" widescreen monitor about ~3 months ago. It was the only upgrade for my PC I invested money in since the last 4 years or so but it was well worth it. I couldn't imagine going back to the 17" CRT I had before. I hardly ever play games, so the lack of widescreen support there (I guess most new releases don't come without it anymore anyway?) isn't really an issue for me. And when it comes to what I use my PC for (browsing, working, music, anime/movies), a widescreen monitor is sooo much better. ^^ __________________

2007-05-29, 23:28	Link #2
Kyuusai 9wiki Scanlator Join Date: May 2006 Location: State of Denial	Personally, I have a 4:3 monitor at home and a widescreen monitor at work (two of 'em, actually). It's only in the past year or so that widescreen television sales have taken over the majority of sales, and budget-market computer monitor sales are still overwhelmed by 4:3 products and purchases. Most TV content has made the switch now, but across the world many major productions are still 4:3. The future is clearly widescreen, but it will take some time to TRULY convert. The current install-base of 4:3 equipment can't be so easily discounted, and those who don't understand where the market is heading and the effects that will have on them will continue to buy 4:3 equipment. Personally, I don't buy 4:3 monitors any longer if I have any choice, including at the office. People like my father, however, search for the cheapest equipment that will work "for right now", and continue to perpetuate the 4:3 rule.

2007-05-30, 08:20	Link #8
KNETTER2000 Rei! What have you done! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Netherlands Age: 46	After my 17"CRT main monitor died on me with a big flashing bang and then a puff of smoke, I bought a 20" widescreen monitor.. I also have a 17" monitor as my secondary screen for like my IM, Outlook, Torrent etc and the toolbars for Photoshop, imageready etc wich leaves me with an enormous workspace on my WS.. I'm thinking of buying another bigger widescreen (although a 22"will give me the same resolution I run now nml 1680x1050 and going above that will push the price up like a bastard..) and using the one I have now as a secondary monitor.. never a 4:3 for me again. __________________ I believe in god as much as I believe in a world without porn... Spoiler: Made you look

2007-05-30, 12:02	Link #10
Sephi Thinking outside the box Graphic Designer Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Netherlands Age: 37	I use widescreen 15.4 laptop screen at 1280x800. I like the resolution of it. And thank god i haven't saw a none wide screen anime this season yet. Even though i only follow 3 series from the current season. I'm secretly hoping for a 70+ cm lcd tv to watch my anime on __________________ Currently watching: Aria the Origination & Dennou Coil Sephi: Anime Icons \| Signatures & Avatars \| Renders

2007-05-30, 12:03	Link #11
Vexx Obey the Darkly Cute ... Author Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ... Age: 66	I bought a 22" Viewsonic VG2230wm a month ago... I love it for both work and play. The only complaint I have is that it is a LONG freaking way from left to right when mousing (heh, they need to have individual mouse tuning for vertical and horizontal now) __________________ "It Really IS Rocket Science", Novel series rough drafts; vol. 1 thru vol. 3 complete Volume 4 in work, Visit the thread for short stories!

2007-05-30, 22:57	Link #12
slayer essense Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto	i got a lg 203wtx it's quite nice compared to my old 17 inch that has washed out colours. Anime + ws + h264 = hawt

2007-05-31, 01:35	Link #14
Timeless Enigma Tsushima Masaki Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada	I mainly use an old 17" CRT, but I do have a 27" LCD 16:9 HDTV that I use for video viewing purposes. It accepts VGA input, so I often use that as a part-time monitor (the graphics card I use has 2 outputs). But of course it's a TV so it can't do high resolutions on it, I think the max is 1280x720, but that's fine with me. __________________

2007-05-31, 03:54	Link #16
kiyonepbs Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005	No, I don't. I'm tempted to purchase a 24" though.

2007-05-31, 13:07	Link #18
hobbes_fan You could say..... Join Date: Apr 2007	Nope don't have one. But I'm only on laptops 99% of my computing time. I find the widescreen laptops are bit awkward to carry around, the shape just feels ungainly. I've just built a media centre pc but am waiting on the end of Australian financial year to buy a LCD TV that will double as a monitor. I'm torn between 40" but they'll be limited to 1366x768 resolution or 32' with 1080p resolution in my budget. Living in a studio apartment means I can't have too many appliances.

2007-06-01, 05:11	Link #20
*NightWish* …Nothing More Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Age: 44	Heh, I'm still using an old 22", standard 4:3 format CRT, which has lasted me a very long time. Right now I have no intention of upgrading because the parts of the marketplace I am interested in are so fluid. Don't get me wrong, I would like a wide format monitor it is just that, for me, the problem isn't simply a matter of selecting the right screen size. I'm more concerned with the transport mechanism between computer and monitor, and how that relates to the other bits of my system I need to buy and upgrade (i.e. the graphics card). I see the choice of system as the primary limiting factor in terms of my current purchasing goals. There are a number of competing systems with different advantages and limitations, each riddled with their own flavour of copy protection. Until they stabilize a bit and the support for all of them is assured across a range of card and monitor vendors, or a clear leader is settled on, I can't see the point in upgrading. Unless something breaks, that is, and I'm forced to upgrade.