Question:
4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
Why is it that we can buy 4:3 LCD's in all shapes and sizes at low prices for a desktop, but when it comes to a laptop, we are getting widescreens shoved down our throats?
I have to say I prefer the old standard, which is much more practical for everyday usage, corresponding much better to viewing photos, reading and writing text, and playing games. The one advantage, and a pretty big one, of widescreens is playing movies. But a movie is much better enjoyed on a TV anyway, and I'm not going to buy a laptop with the intention of playing movies. I want my 4:3 screen. So what are my options within the strict budget of $1500 (not including tax), and furthermore, equipped with some sort of non-Intel graphics card? Are there any?
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
A widescreen high-rez display is unbeatable in terms of everything imo. Games look better widescreen. Movies are all widescreen, and even shows on cable are going widescreen. Widescreen = more space to run apps side by side. widescreen also means you don't have to keep your legs so close together when you're using the comp. on your lap. It's a matter of personal preference I suppose, but after years and years of standard aspect displays, squishing apps so close together and always scrolling left and right, my current widescreen was a dream come true. I just can't see any downsides.
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
yeah, and widescreen is nicer on the eye, since human viewing perspective is widescreen also :)
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
I've never understood this whole idea that people use applications side by side. Like what? I have two eyes, and they can only look at one place at a time. I suppose it might be useful once in a while, but never on my 4:3 displays have I ever thought to myself, jeez I'd like to run these two applications side by side.
I notice a lot of people prefer these widescreen formats, but there doesn't seem to be any concrete reasons as to why. For me, widescreen feels like there is a lot of dead space. Ever open a word doc on a widescreen? Your margins are almost the same width as the text itself. When viewing photos, there is a big strip of black along the side that vividly illustrates that most things are still tailored for the 4:3 world. Or that the 4:3 screen was set up to fit the most common uses. Most webpages are still optimized for 1024x768, which means that with a 1200-1680 wide resolution, you have plenty of dead space with a widescreen.
I'm not saying that all laptop screens should be 4:3. But I'd like a choice. At the moment, the only 4:3 LCD's you can get on a laptop are on incredibly cheap and crappy ones (like the Dell Inspiron 1300) or on incredibly expensive business laptops, like the Thinkpad T60. Where's the middle ground? I've done quite a bit of research, and turned up two models so far that are midrange 4:3's and have graphics cards: the Lenovo Thinkpad R60 and the Toshiba Tecra S2. The Tecra M5 could also qualify but it's a bit pricey ($1800 or so.) Maybe you know of one that I've not come across? (price less than $1500, discrete graphics card.)
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
I myself watch videos while browsing other sites at the same time, Also good for research w/ multiple windows open. But, I suppose you're right; you're options are limited if you prefer normal aspect ratios. all I can say is look for a good deal on a business notebook w/ a graphics card.
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
...Games look better widescreen.
Do most current games support widescreen? I mean native support for widescreen without stretching it.
Do most current games support widescreen? I mean native support for widescreen without stretching it.
Recent games generally support native widescreen resolutions. With older games, it depends. Check out www.widescreengamingforum.com for a thorough list and tech info.
Which one do you prefer? A wide screen with 1280x800 or a 4:3 screen with 1280x960? I would choose the later
I can't live without my widescreen, and the more real estate the better. With 4:3 displays, I feel so constricted... but that's just me. This is one of the most subjective issues in computing as a whole. :)
C.
Answer:
Re: 4:3 LCD notebook buyers have gotten the shaft
Yes it is subjective
imo widescreen is the way to go. As said, it's more natural for our eyes. Extra screen space and applications are slowly but surely going the same way as films, i.e. being widescreen as default