widescreen rotation anyone?

[gatordad]

I was wondering if anyone has done a rotating widescreen monitor before?

Is this a good idea or not?

I have a line on a cheap 24'' Trinitron Wide Aspect Display
Its a rebadged Sony fw900

the specs are

The HP 24'' Trinitron Wide Aspect Display meets the exacting demands of graphic artists, CAD/CAM engineers, animators and other professional users who require extraordinarily accurate colors and crystal-clear images. Its true flat screen surface provides more true-to-life images, so lines actually appear straighter and circles look round. Contemporary styling in shades of metallic silver and dark gray will appeal to your refined design sensibilities. This monitor is perfect for graphic designers, architects, photographers, engineers and other professionals who need as much screen space as possible. Its panoramic 16:10 aspect ratio means you can easily view double-page layouts with room to spare. Or see your entire design at once…without scrolling! Plus there's room to open more menus, toolbars and applications. Just imagine how much more efficiently you'll be able to work! This monitor includes its own USB hub to make connecting your USB devices even faster and easier. Rather than fumbling in the back of your computer looking for an available USB port, simply plug your peripheral directly into the monitor's base. Now that's true plug and play!

Your monitor is not just a tool, it's a creative partner that brings your ideas into the light of day, giving them shape, clarity, and color. That's why the monitor you choose can make a tremendous difference - not only in the way you work, but in the way your work comes across. The new HP Monitors bring the latest technology to your desktop at competitive prices. The company offers a complete range of CRT and flat panel monitors for your most demanding needs. Get value for money with the hp monitor value line. These monitors feature crisp, bright, high-contrast images; low screen glare; and multiple user controls at competitive prices. HP monitors are designed and priced for business. Ideal for general office applications, these monitors handle all your business needs. And their ease of management, compliance with ergonomic standards, and durable HP quality can boost your productivity and help you do your best work.


• Wide screen display Boasts more than 21% screen real estate than 21" displays, providing enough horizontal workspace to display two pages side by side.
• FD Trinitron technology Utilizes HP's flattest Trinitron display with 0.23mm grille pitch for a new standard in image clarity and precision.
• Digital Multiscan technology Supports resolutions up to 2304 x 1440 @ 80Hz
• Integrated 4-Port USB hub Housed in the base, to offer easy connectivity with other peripherals (mouse, keyboard, etc.)
• HiDensity™ Electron Gun with Enhanced Elliptical Correction System™ Ensures consistent, accurate focus across the entire screen, even in the corners.
• High-Contrast black screen coating Produces superior contrast with outstanding grayscale performance.
• DisplayMouse™ OSD menu control Provides precise, digital control over critical monitor settings and image adjustments.
• Accurate Image Restoration™ Resets display to original factory brightness and contrast settings.
• Active Signal Correction (ASC™) circuitry Instantly sizes and centers the screen image with the touch of a button
* Compatibility: PC and Macintosh
* Display type: Color CRT
* Display size: 24 inches
* Dot/pixel pitch: 0.23
* Glass surface: High-contrast AR coating
* Power Requirements: 90-264V AC, 50/60 Hz
* Input signals: Analog RGB 0.7 V-pp, positive, 75 ohm, separate sync HS/DV TTL, composite sync, sync-on-green 0.3 Vp-p, negative
* Input connector and cable: 15-pin mini D-sub, 5BNC
* Maximum noninterlaced resolution: 2,304 x 1,440
* Maximum refresh rate: 160 Hz
* Horizontal frequency: 30 to 121 kHz
* Vertical frequency: 48 to 160 Hz
* Power on-off: Yes
* Contrast: Yes
* Brightness: Yes
* Horizontal and vertical position: Yes
* Horizontal and vertical size: Yes
* Color temperature: Yes
* Language select: Yes
* Display frequency: Yes
* Horizontal and vertical moire: Yes
* Pincushion: Yes
* Pin-balance: Yes
* Degauss: Yes
* Trapezoid: Yes
* Parallelogram: Yes
* Rotation: Yes

Or I could save a 100 bucks and buy a used 27'' tv for my cab,

What do ya think is a better option?

[koolmoecraig]

You kidding me?  Don't skimp out on what is the most important part.  TV's suck.

[Green Giant]

You kidding me?  Don't skimp out on what is the most important part.  TV's suck.

Are you crazy, TV's look great.  Closer to an arcade monitor than a computer monitor.  Use that monitor for your desktop.

I am pretty sure that almost all arcade games are 4:3 including vertical games.  Having a widescreen would require you to either stretch the games or have black bars.

A good tv with component will look great unless you are ready to buy an original arcade monitor.  Of course if you are hooking up an ancient tv with only coaxial inputs using a RCA converter box, the picture will suck.

[koolmoecraig]

Fair enough.  I just do it the right way and use a real arcade monitor

[ahofle]

Agreed.  Having tried all 3, my order of preference would be:

Arcade monitor > TV > PC monitor

[koolmoecraig]

I must have scene a bad set up then.  Foot in mouth.

[patrickl]

Rotating a widescreen monitor for gaming doesn't make much sense though. Not sure if it makes sense at all. It would be rather cumbersome in vertical orientation wouldn't it.

[ahofle]

IMO a rotating CGA arcade monitor is the ultimate in arcade emulation authenticity.  If I could've figured something out I would have definitely gone that route.

[RandyT]

Widescreen format monitors mixed with arcade games = games that won't take advantage of the screen real estate in either direction.

If an RGB monitor is out of reach for whatever reason, I'd investigate component-capable 4:3 aspect ratio TV's.


RandyT

[GameOver]

Agreed - I can't see any reason to put  a widescreen in your cab unless it was going to double as your home theater to play movies or something.  I've got a 24" RCA TV in my cab hooked up thru S-VID and I think games look great.  Very authentic!  Price was right and easy to hook up.

[shock_]

Well, unless you're planning to play pinball vertically.

...but yeah.

[gatordad]

Thanks for the input, your insight and comments are very helpful. I will spend my money on a RGB monitor or 27'' tv with component inputs.

Part of the fun is the hunt. For parts that is.
Regards
Gatordad

[xmenxmen]

If I ever do a rotating anything, I would only consider lcd due to ease.  Trying to rotate a crt or monitor can be quite a job.  Most of the rotating cab I have seen here are lcd.