Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

mosespatrader · Jun 28, 2004, 08:13 PM

I have been looking for a monitor around 20" and I have been obsessed with the widescreen cinema displays. Should I worry about the wide-screen aspect ratio if I'm not going to watch dvd's or edit videos on my newly ordered PowerMac?

I've found a Sony 20" (1600x1200) for $999.99, but am wondering if the 80 additional pixels wide (1680x1050) is worth the extra $300?

Please let me know your thoughts!

osxisfun · Jun 28, 2004, 08:26 PM

yes it is.

once you go widescreen you never go back.

go to an apple store in a couple of weeks to check them out. you will drool.

driven · Jun 28, 2004, 09:31 PM

I agree 100%

driven · Jun 28, 2004, 09:32 PM

BTW: It's the same with Widescreen TV & Hi-Def. It's a one way trip ... for the better ...

Dimitri · Jun 28, 2004, 10:33 PM

You're paying $300 more for less real estate actually. 80 more pixels horizontally and 150 less vertically. Still, WS to me is more functional than the typical 4:3 ratio. Easier to have multiple windows side by side.

RooneyX · Jun 28, 2004, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by driven:
BTW: It's the same with Widescreen TV & Hi-Def. It's a one way trip ... for the better ...

I disagree. I like my 4:3 screens with a nice flat tube and sharp image. It's the only way to watch Kubrick movies and old VHS tapes - and I love old VHS tapes, don't ask why, I just do. I learnt how to edit using them as a kid. I used to cut them up and put together my own stories made out of different films.

klinux · Jun 29, 2004, 01:07 AM

I too like my 21" Trinitron tube just fine and use a 19" LCD (4:3) at work.

This, however, is a real display. http://www.viewsonic.com/products/de...eries/vp2290b/ 3840x2400 in a 23" LCD!

Mil/gov (certain ones, of course) must purchase these by the crates.

Cadaver · Jun 29, 2004, 09:38 AM

Originally posted by mosespatrader:
I have been looking for a monitor around 20" and I have been obsessed with the widescreen cinema displays. Should I worry about the wide-screen aspect ratio if I'm not going to watch dvd's or edit videos on my newly ordered PowerMac?

I've found a Sony 20" (1600x1200) for $999.99, but am wondering if the 80 additional pixels wide (1680x1050) is worth the extra $300?

Please let me know your thoughts!

I'm in the same boat - can't decide between a 20" LCD (1600x1200) for $999 or the 23" HD (1920x1200) for another 800 bucks. Either way, I need the extra vertical space. I have a 22" Cinema right now (1600x1024) and find the 1024 vertical resolution too short.

I'd just go with the 23" HD, but $800 extra is a lot of dough for 320 more horizontal pixels. Arg!

MOTHERWELL · Jun 30, 2004, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
I'm in the same boat - can't decide between a 20" LCD (1600x1200) for $999 or the 23" HD (1920x1200) for another 800 bucks. Either way, I need the extra vertical space. I have a 22" Cinema right now (1600x1024) and find the 1024 vertical resolution too short.

I'd just go with the 23" HD, but $800 extra is a lot of dough for 320 more horizontal pixels. Arg!

I have a 22" cinema from 1999. I am going to get a 23" when they are available.

tooki · Jun 30, 2004, 02:46 AM

I remember when portrait displays were all the rage. I liked those!

tooki

tigas · Jul 5, 2004, 01:28 PM

Well, the OS X interface is becoming more and more geared to widescreens... too bad you loose an enormous amount of vertical space compared to a middle-of-the road 4:3 display...

That said, I hate the 5:4 ratio of desktop "square" LCD... 4:3 and 16:9 for ever.

mosespatrader · Jul 5, 2004, 09:13 PM

I finally decided on one the aluminum 20" display. Let's just hope it ships in July as promised.

driven · Jul 5, 2004, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by mosespatrader:
I finally decided on one the aluminum 20" display. Let's just hope it ships in July as promised.

I'm still on the fence between a 20" and a 23".
(But I'm dreaming about a 30"!)

TailsToo · Jul 5, 2004, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by tooki:
I remember when portrait displays were all the rage. I liked those!

tooki

That's right... the 15" black and white portrait display. Works great with a new IIci.

wuzup101 · Jul 6, 2004, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by tooki:
I remember when portrait displays were all the rage. I liked those!

tooki

I was actually wondering this the other day. I have a Samsung 191T that can be rotated. I'm buying a 15" PB and I was wondering if they made software for mac that would allow me to hook it up and rotate it like I can on my PC. Not sure maybe panther supports it natively?

Cadaver · Jul 10, 2004, 01:20 AM

I love portrait displays when I'm doing lots of writing.
At present, I have a Dell 1800FP rotated 90� and I move my Word documents over to it when I'm doing serious work.

At present, there are only two Macintosh video cards that support display rotation - the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition (retail) and the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Special Edition (retail). The OEM Radeon cards do not have the firmware support for ATI's VersaVision (don't know if this can be hacked), and at least for now none of nvidia's Mac offerings support such a feature, either.

Oh, BTW, since the Dell 1800FP doesn't have a rotating pivot on the display stand, I simply unscrewed the panel from the stand and reconnected it at 90�.