Posted: 5/9/2007 5:24:39 AM EDT
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I need to get a new LCD monitor. Should I go widescreen or normal aspect ratio? I use the computer for surfing the web, MS Office applications, and light gaming. What says the hive mind? |
| I asked the same question to several computer geeks a while back. They said to get a regular flat panel monitor up to 19". The widescreen monitors are nice but need the right video card to drive them. Plus they can get a little fuzzy looking at them from the sides. |
| I have a widescreen laptop...it gets used about 11-14 hours a day during the week. I honestly can't ever see myself going back to the normal aspect ratio. Every time I use one now it annoys the hell out of me. My screen is only 13.7in but due to the widescreen it appears much larger. I recommend them to anyone that asks. |
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4x3 ratio LCD displays are dwindling, I think for an office, 4x3 is better because typical office users need vertical more than horizontal display area. Anything larger than 20", 4x3 ratio either doesn't exist or is very hard to find. 16x9 displays seem to be made for DVD playback the extra width isn't as useful to people that view text documents or email messages, and have to scroll up and down all day long. I'm soon upgrading my 1920x1200 23" to a 2560x1600 30", these days you can get a 30" LCD from Dell for $1200 or so, but you do need a video card that can drive the display with that kind of resolution. |
Want to sell the 23? 
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As someone who stares at a monitor for a living, I can tell you that a standard 19" or larger is best for me. I've noticed a wide-screen monitor is advantageous if (1) you watch wide-screen format movies on your monitor, or (2) you work on horizontally huge spreadsheets. Otherwise, the extra space on the right side of your screen is mostly wasted. Most websites are also created with standard resolution in mind. My favorite setup is 2 side by side standard 19" monitors used with a splitter on one PC. Of course, this is only my personal opinion, and you know what they say about those.  |
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Here at work I'm using a 22 inch widescreen and a 19 inch regular shape monitor for my computer. That gives me something like a 35 inch widescreen. Go with a 22 inch widescreen. It is the same height as a regular 19 inch monitor, it is just wider. In addition to my widescreens at work I have a 22 inch widescreen CRT monitor at home. I will never go back to regular shaped monitors. |
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Dual 22" Wide screens. After being here at work I hate to go home and look at anything I have there. It makes everything easier to do if I am not switching back and forth between Solidworks and anything else I use. The wide screen on my laptop is nice because I run AIM + Internet....etc. and it allows me to have both open and in view at full size. Jut personal preference I guess. |
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I have dual 19" widescreens at home, works fine. You don't need a "special card" or whatnot. Most newish video cards (if they have both a VGA and a DVI out) can drive two monitors at once as well. I'll be picking up two more, probably today in fact, 20 or 21 inchers. 19" is good but it doesn't support the resolution I got used to with my 21" CRT, that's the only thing to be watchful of really. More monitors = more fun.
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I have a 20" widescreen. Then again, I will watch DVD movies on my computer occasionally. I have the Dell 2005FPW (has been superceded by the 2007FPW). In 2005 it was a good deal at $300-something. I don't think there is anything wrong with a 4:3 LCD monitor. Justin |
I have the same one. Love it. |
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wide is good for me, I can have four terminal sessions open. However, you will get more screen area for the same money with a 4:3 monitor. Also, some games will only play in 4:3 mode, the wideness of the monitor won't help you then. For example, a 4:3 game will look bigger on a 19" 4:3 monitor than it will on a wide 20" monitor. You sound like a candidate for a 4:3 monitor. |
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If I was going to use only one monitor it would be a Syncmaster 206BW. I am running two 4:3 19" Samsung LCD's. It works out better for me. I realized how much easier it is to multitask with two monitors after I got two at work. Yes, the DVI connection is better. Also, if you do not initially like the way text is displayed on your monitor do the following: WinXP: Right click a blank spot on your screen. From the display properties window choose the appearance tab. Click on the button labeled "effects." Check the box next to the text " Use the following method to smooth edges of the screen fonts:" and from the pull down box below that choose ClearType. Click ok then back to the display properties box and click apply. |
