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Widescreen scam (history)

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SavannahLion:
I thought as much. Even though the article is 9 years old it's nice to see the point articulated so nicely.

http://www.dvdcreation.com/2001/01_jan/features/widescreen_scam.htm

I personally have nothing against widescreen as an entertainment medium. I can deal with the black bars one way or another. Given the odd formats, 90% of my films have black bars regardless of whatever format my TV is in anyways. Go figure. Some games play better on wide screen as well. Racing games come to mind though I prefer a three monitor configuration to get a true L/C/R view.

What really pisses me off is how the market (and consumers) have completely written off 4:3 and 5:4 monitors. My job requires me to use two monitors. I specifically asked for 4:3 monitors when I noted just how much wasted real estate and scrolling was done on the wide screen monitors. On my lovely 5:4 monitor, the department software jives so nicely that I almost never have to scroll for any reason.

The real estate on a 18" 4:3 vs 18" 16:9 is rather obvious but most people seem to be sucked up in the hype on that.

Anyways, I thought this was an interesting read on the history of 4:3 and widescreen.

Hoopz:
Very interesting read.  Thanks for posting it.

Hoopz:
I agree with this line in his wrap up:


--- Quote ---You might even think that people find widescreen more aesthetically pleasing, but all the information I have ever seen about the physiological and perceptual issues about widescreen actually points to the opposite -- audiences (and cinematographers) prefer taller than wider.
--- End quote ---

I certainly do prefer taller to wider.  I guess that means buying the biggest widescreen TV that I can find now. 

ChadTower:

--- Quote from: Hoopz on January 26, 2011, 10:09:39 am ---I certainly do prefer taller to wider. 
--- End quote ---


Are we talking monitors or women?

Hoopz:
Yes

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