16:9 format monitors?

[MoRT489]

Seen a few new monitors up on this and other websites, is 16:9 going to take over from 16:10 in gaming as well as TV?!

+ samsung have far too many monitors in each size range, totally confusing

 

[HarryPainful]

I have a 16:9 and its great, displays my 360/PS3 perfectly and looks great when watching films.

 

[UltimateBadger]

Yes - I think it was in a magazine I read (CPC?) that most of the big names are dropping 16:10 aspect monitors this year.

 

[Audigex]

I think now that so many TV and monitors are used for a combination - unlike a few years ago when everyone had a TV and Monitor seperately- it's the logical thing to standardise it all. I doubt many of us will notice the loss of 1/10th of the vertical space too much; and it should give a cleaner picture for watching TV/DVDs.

Personally I'd rather have the extra 11% height, but it's hardly a huge sacrifice.

 

[philjohn]

Yes - I think it was in a magazine I read (CPC?) that most of the big names are dropping 16:10 aspect monitors this year.

That's certainly true for the budget end of the market where they can get away with it, however, the outcry from professionals using models like the NEC IPS panels would be monumental.

The real reason they're trying to push the change is they can fit 2 more panels on the big ol bit of glass when using 16:9 - it's about increasing their margins.

 

[Mr Doovde]

I'm seriously thinking about a 24" 1900x1200 monitor, but there are two questions I would like to ask relating to the 16:10 vs 16:9 debate:

1) If the long term future of computer monitors is 16:9, do you think that eventually game developers will stop offering 1900x1200 resolutions in games, and if so, how long before that would happen (roughly speaking of course)?

2) How much of an issue/noticeable do people find the letterboxing of 24" 1900x1200 monitors when watching 1080 movies?

Thanks

 

[Moeks]

In answer to your 1st question, game developers mostly develop for Direct X now, which usually means that the game will support any resolution that the machine can display on the desktop, although with some older games it does have to be forced. So I should think you will be fine in that regard.

As for question 2, I don't know, I have only ever watched 1080p films on my 1080p TV.

 

[Shaddow]

I'm looking at a 24-28" upgrade soon.

My 4870x2 is just not showing its full potential on a 22" 1680x1050 screen. (2year old Asus)

I still struggle with some games getting widescreen res let alone 16:9!

As far as the resolution is concerned I'm not sure I will really see the difference 16:9 vs 16:10 - dur to coming from a 2 year old LCD I think (hope) the other improvement will make more of an impression.

The 16:9 monitors coming out do seem to be a bit cheaper..

I think for compatability sake I will go with a 16:10 sceeen (I know most games offer this) cos even in the future you will be able to display 16:9 just loose those extra pixels.
(Always better to have more than less)

Now if you do get a 16:10 monitor then 1:1 pixel mapping is an issue. If you feed some 16:10 monitors a normal 1080p / 720p source (Xbox , ps3 , bluray etc) then they will try to automaticly scale to the full screen res = 10% expansion in the horizontal = streched image ;-(

So be on the look out for 16:10 with 1:1 pixel mapping.

 

[Mr Doovde]

Thanks for the answer to question one Moeks. Shaddow, I can really understand wanting to upgrade your monitor if you have a 4870x2. Anything take your eye?

I was looking at the NEC24WMGX£ which as far as I'm aware, has 1:1 pixel mapping and is 1900x1200. I definitely wouldn't want a monitor that has too strech the image, but I'm just a little worried about how noticeable those black bars are for people? If they are not too noticeable, then like you say, the extra space more than makes up for it. Anyone?

 

[philjohn]

but I'm just a little worried about how noticeable those black bars are for people? If they are not too noticeable, then like you say, the extra space more than makes up for it. Anyone?

The way some people carry on you would think black bars make their eyes bleed - but I've not had a problem with them at all.

 

[Fanatic]

The black bars aren't a problem for me really, 1080 looks fine on a 1200 monitor with little black bars.

And you don't really need 1:1 pixel mapping, just "keep aspect ratio".

 

[Saltank]

The NEC LCD24WMGX3 allows you to change the colour of the "black bars" to anything you want, if black is annoying. In fact, the default colour is set to a dark shade of blue.

I would always take a 16:10 monitor if possible, the more viewing space, the better. You're doing stuff that needs lots of viewing and working space, while having 16:9 monitors is more convenient for the manufacturers from what I've heard around here

 

[cman]

16:9 for 24" monitors would be daft. If the monitor does 1:1 pixel mapping, no need for less vertical resolution.

 

[Westie]

i got dell 2409 16:9 quality monitor games look sick!

 

[wuyanxu]

I'm seriously thinking about a 24" 1900x1200 monitor, but there are two questions I would like to ask relating to the 16:10 vs 16:9 debate:

1) If the long term future of computer monitors is 16:9, do you think that eventually game developers will stop offering 1900x1200 resolutions in games, and if so, how long before that would happen (roughly speaking of course)?

2) How much of an issue/noticeable do people find the letterboxing of 24" 1900x1200 monitors when watching 1080 movies?

Thanks

1) 16:10 is and will be standard for a LONG time. in fact, 4:3 is still around, and if some badly programmed game or those without widescreen support (example for latter: World of Goo, not optimised for widescreen), a 1920x1200 can still do 1600x1200 without problem, and with 1:1 pixel mapping if your monitor is good.

2) no issue and unnoticeable black top and bottom on my 24inch playing 1080p movies with 1:1 pixel mapping, the black are really thin.
i play my movies by simply maximise Media Player Classic, and i hide the useless buttons (Ctrl + 2, not sure what it's called) only have the seek bar, time-left bar and Window menu turned on. and that allows 1:1 pixel mapping of 1080p videos without any black letterboxing.

if you are looking for 24inch, then get the 16:10 monitor, 16:9 is cheap and useless. if you are looking at 22inch however, a 16:9 full HD is the best kind of monitors

 

[Mr Doovde]

thanks guys for all the advice, 16:10 it is then.

 

[mame]

If I was to get a 16:9 screen I would just go for a 32/37" 1080p TV rather than a 24" monitor

 

[Nate Silvers]

Yeah 16:9 is a nicer ratio I think it's perfect. 16:10 is ok like.