monitor: widescreen vs. standard
Mon, 2009-08-17 02:31
I need to buy a new monitor soon The old 17" LCD monitor died (6 years
old and was giving problems earlier).
I'm looking at widescreen monitors
and standard monitors
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=167
Is worth the extra money for a widescreen monitor?
-----
Another question: Is it worth buying a TV monitor and using it as
a computer monitor? Or just too much trouble for nothing? No, we
don't have cable TV here - nor we have any plan.
Sheng-Chieh
Hi
IMHO the answer is yes buy the widescreen LCD rather than standard LCD. I use widescreens and standards and prefer the widescreen for opening multiple windows; works nicely with widescreen movie format.
As for using a TV for a computer monitor, please note the max resolution when TV used as monitor: you have to actually see it demonstrated and if you thinks it's fine then there you are. Personally, I don't like it, but that's me.
Further, since monitor technology moves slowly think of investing in the best monitor you can afford, especially if you watch movies on your computer (I do). Generally a monitor last me for several replacements of the computer (about three times).
Also 20" widescreen, at least in US and Canada, are quite cheap (relatively speaking, for me that is).
I currently use a Dell 30" LCD monitor with a AMD64 4200 dual core with 2GB RAM.
If one the other hand you just do some emails, web surfing and youtube, then you can just get the cheapest monitor (even a secondhand one) you can lay your hands on.
"your needs/wants/expected usage" BY "most you can afford" SHOULD SATISFY "Your ideal Monitor"
have fun
hope that helps...
I need to buy a new monitor soon The old 17" LCD monitor died (6 years
old and was giving problems earlier).
I'm looking at widescreen monitors
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=storefronts&landing=display&category=display
and standard monitors
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=167
Is worth the extra money for a widescreen monitor?
-----
Another question: Is it worth buying a TV monitor and using it as
a computer monitor? Or just too much trouble for nothing? No, we
don't have cable TV here - nor we have any plan.
Sheng-Chieh
My sister recently got a widescreen monitor and it was quite cheap, but looks and works great. I think widescreen looks a little classier. I remember installing Ubuntu for a friend who just got a computer with a widescreen monitor and after some time looking at the widescreen my standard monitor seemed a little "old" and typical.
Widescreen seems to give a feeling of a wider view which feels good.. but that's just me. 
It seems widescreen is also gaining in popularity so there's more and more wallpapers fitting widescreen screens and they're generally well supported on good Linux distros (Ubuntu, Fedora etc..).
Also, thanks Anonymous for a great helpful response.