Widescreen monitors

[dodger]

Old 17" is toast, so that's my excuse to get a new monitor for the FS9 computer, (the existing FS9 19" 4:3 LCD now

[Wii]

No stretching. I use an HP w2207 (22") and it's just great. Also, what's your price range?

[dodger]

Thanks, W. Looking at a Viewsonic 22" for C$320 at the moment, and of course the usual CAP rules apply (CAP = Cheap As Possible  :)) Kind of tied to a gift cert. from daughter, however, and that's the price from that source.

[Brett_Henderson]

The old wide screen debate. Actually, the perfect monitor for gaming would have a 1:1 aspect ratio. The farther you get from a perfect square; the bigger the compromise. A wide screen monitor is just a slice out of the center of a larger, square monitor. It makes you think you're getting  "more out the window", but your'e really just sacrificing panel and view above the panel.

Let's say that the ideal FS view has the whole panel displayed on a 3:4 monitor taking up exactly the bottom half of the screen. To get that same mix on a wide-screen monitor; you'd have to distort the panel by stretching its width, else sacrifice some of the above the panel view. Now.. if you have it set to display the panel undistorted, you're going to have some view open up on either side of the panel (more of the horizon, too). You can achieve the same effect by just zooming out on a regular aspect monitor ... without sacrificing above the panel view.

Now of course, this is a dollar to dollar comparison. A wide screen monitor whose vertical height is about the same as the standard monitor is going to give you the best of both worlds...and will be more expensive. You'd be better off spending the extra money on an even bigger 3:4 monitor.

Just think about carying it out a little further. ... eventually you'd get to monitor that was a few million pixels wide, but only a handful of pixels high... lol

[dodger]

Brett, that's part of why I asked the question. My low-tech ruler told me that in order to keep the 12" height of my current 19" 4:3 unit, I had to go to a 22" widescreen, which will give me the same 12" height but add 4" to my existing 14 7/8" wide monitor. So if that gives me an undistorted view of the panel, and an additional view out the window(s), I'm OK with that. Does that make sense??

[ozzy72]

If I were you I'd look at either AG Neovo H-W22 ($269) or ViewSonic VG2230wm ($319)

[Wii]

[quote]Thanks, W. Looking at a Viewsonic 22" for C$320 at the moment, and of course the usual CAP rules apply (CAP = Cheap As Possible

[dodger]

Viewsonic VX2235wm is the one I'm looking at - C$319.00 at London Drugs. They are a reputable chain in Western Canada, and while their prices aren't quite as low as the big box stores, they have a no-hassle warranty/service policy which means a lot to me. Thanks for all the info, folks.

[Brett_Henderson]

Brett, that's part of why I asked the question. My low-tech ruler told me that in order to keep the 12" height of my current 19" 4:3 unit, I had to go to a 22" widescreen, which will give me the same 12" height but add 4" to my existing 14 7/8" wide monitor. So if that gives me an undistorted view of the panel, and an additional view out the window(s), I'm OK with that. Does that make sense??

Yes.. that makes sense.. Although (I just did some shopping, it's been over a year since I priced monitors), the price difference is evaporating because the wide screens are so popular. If money is no object, you could use a 60" HD Tv for your monitor ... lol

Just keep in mind that the further away you get from a

[dodger]

Yes, the market is definitely starting to favor wide-screen - in fact most of the 17 and 19 monitors advertised locally are 16:9, and prices are dropping (19" wide for just over C$200) I'd love to go really big, as Brett says, but I need the right lottery ticket. BTW, we now live about 1/2 mile west of CYDC Rwy 21, Princeton BC . Check it out anytime you folks want to do a little Coast Mountain flying!!