57
2002-09-12, 12:46 PM
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of Widescreen and 4:3
Widescreen Pluses:
1. The same size Widescreen will give you about 17% larger image when a widesceen source is used (like HDTV, widescreen DVD, etc.)
2. If the current trend continues, which is very likely, in a few years most programming will be produced in widescreen format. There will be fewer 4:3 images coming to your TV. Right now, 4:3 images look "weird" inside a 16:9 set, however in several years most programming will look weird on a 4:3 set. If you plan on keeping your set for a long time, widescreen may be a better choice.
3. The trend in movies is to show them in their original aspect ratio (1.85:1, or 2.35:1, etc). These movies look great in widescreen. Although they can look good on a 4:3 set, the "bands" at the top and bottom, annoy most people (Many people prefer pan&scan for this reason, despite missing much of the movie). Those people have likely not seen a movie on a widescreen set.
4. Once most programming is widescreen, your 4:3 set will be susceptible to "burn in" for the rest of its life. (again, a length of life issue) Widescreen sets have a number of stretch modes to deal with burn-in. 4:3 sets have no stretch modes.
5. New DVDs are "anamorphic". Their image is 30% sharper on widescreen HDTVs, than on 4:3 TVs. These DVDs are designed specifically to take advantage of Widescreen TVs - that's why they say "enhanced for widescreen" (Most newer 4:3 HDTVs have a "vertical compresion, or 16:9 mode) to also take advantage of anamorphic DVDs, however, the DVD player needs to be counterintuitively set up as 16:9)
6. Some 4:3 sets have difficulty with some set-top boxes, HDTV inputs, etc. Widescreen sets do not have this difficulty as they were designed for all these inputs and have "full" and "fill" features that most 4:3 sets do not have. This may not be the case on newer sets, but be careful.
7. If you are interested in High Definition programming, all true High Def programmes are widescreen.
8. Widescreen sets are lower, and therefore if you like a low-wide look in your house, these may suit you better.
9. CRT-based Direct View (Tube) TVs typically have geometry issues. It's very difficult to find a tube TV that doesn't have pincushion or barrel distortion. This means that the black bars above and below HD/Widescreen images, will not typically be straight and this may bother some people, especially once most of your viewing is widescreen.
Widescreen minuses:
1. Widescreen sets cost more, mainly because they have more features and because a 4:3 image is easier to produce.
2. If you use your widescreen to watch a lot of 4:3 images, you need to get your set properly calibrated to prevent "burn in". This should be done on any set, but is very important for certain widescreen sets. See the FAQ on "burn in". You should actually minimize the amount you use the 4:3 image on widescreen sets and try to use the "stretch"modes to completely fill the screen to eliminate the possibility of "burn in".
3. 4:3 images will be smaller on a widescreen set of the same "measurement", so for some period of time, you will be watching a smaller 4:3 image. These 4:3 images will become fewer and disappear in time, but it is a consideration for the next couple of years, especially if you watch mostly 4:3 programming...
4. 4:3 sets are typically taller and less wide, so if you like a taller, narrower look for your home, this may influence your decision.
Summary:
If your interests lean mainly towards movies, DVDs and HDTV, a widescreen set would be a better choice. If you are a "commercial" television type of person or family, you may be better off with a 4:3 set now and you can buy a widescreen set to replace this one in a few years.
There are NO HDTVs larger than 40" that are produced in 4:3 format. This indicates that the future of HDTV is widescreen.
4:3 programmes on HD channels have "black bars" on the sides, if these programmes are viewed on a 4:3 TV, these HD channels will be "windowboxed". Not only do you have black bars on the sides, but you'll have black bars above and below making for a small image on a 4:3 TV.
Use this - Handy Calculator (http://www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi?KeohiHDTV) if you feel the need to compare 4:3 vs. 16:9 screen sizes.
Despite the above calculator.... On a 16:9 TV, there is usually no "wasted space" (discussing Tube TVs here). Most people probably stretch their 4:3 (SD) content to fill the screen to avoid burn in, so the image is not actually as small as the calculator indicates. The stretch mode is something that you get used to very quickly and it actually looks "weird" when a 4:3 image is on your screen once you're used to it.
On a 16:9 TV people do watch upconverted 4:3 programming on HD channels - clear picture, as long as you're aware of burn in and don't use this more than about 20% of the time. However, one would never watch this on a 4:3 TV due to the "windowboxed" effect (postage stamp image).
Please PM 57 if you have any comments or suggestions for this post.
Widescreen Pluses:
1. The same size Widescreen will give you about 17% larger image when a widesceen source is used (like HDTV, widescreen DVD, etc.)
2. If the current trend continues, which is very likely, in a few years most programming will be produced in widescreen format. There will be fewer 4:3 images coming to your TV. Right now, 4:3 images look "weird" inside a 16:9 set, however in several years most programming will look weird on a 4:3 set. If you plan on keeping your set for a long time, widescreen may be a better choice.
3. The trend in movies is to show them in their original aspect ratio (1.85:1, or 2.35:1, etc). These movies look great in widescreen. Although they can look good on a 4:3 set, the "bands" at the top and bottom, annoy most people (Many people prefer pan&scan for this reason, despite missing much of the movie). Those people have likely not seen a movie on a widescreen set.
4. Once most programming is widescreen, your 4:3 set will be susceptible to "burn in" for the rest of its life. (again, a length of life issue) Widescreen sets have a number of stretch modes to deal with burn-in. 4:3 sets have no stretch modes.
5. New DVDs are "anamorphic". Their image is 30% sharper on widescreen HDTVs, than on 4:3 TVs. These DVDs are designed specifically to take advantage of Widescreen TVs - that's why they say "enhanced for widescreen" (Most newer 4:3 HDTVs have a "vertical compresion, or 16:9 mode) to also take advantage of anamorphic DVDs, however, the DVD player needs to be counterintuitively set up as 16:9)
6. Some 4:3 sets have difficulty with some set-top boxes, HDTV inputs, etc. Widescreen sets do not have this difficulty as they were designed for all these inputs and have "full" and "fill" features that most 4:3 sets do not have. This may not be the case on newer sets, but be careful.
7. If you are interested in High Definition programming, all true High Def programmes are widescreen.
8. Widescreen sets are lower, and therefore if you like a low-wide look in your house, these may suit you better.
9. CRT-based Direct View (Tube) TVs typically have geometry issues. It's very difficult to find a tube TV that doesn't have pincushion or barrel distortion. This means that the black bars above and below HD/Widescreen images, will not typically be straight and this may bother some people, especially once most of your viewing is widescreen.
Widescreen minuses:
1. Widescreen sets cost more, mainly because they have more features and because a 4:3 image is easier to produce.
2. If you use your widescreen to watch a lot of 4:3 images, you need to get your set properly calibrated to prevent "burn in". This should be done on any set, but is very important for certain widescreen sets. See the FAQ on "burn in". You should actually minimize the amount you use the 4:3 image on widescreen sets and try to use the "stretch"modes to completely fill the screen to eliminate the possibility of "burn in".
3. 4:3 images will be smaller on a widescreen set of the same "measurement", so for some period of time, you will be watching a smaller 4:3 image. These 4:3 images will become fewer and disappear in time, but it is a consideration for the next couple of years, especially if you watch mostly 4:3 programming...
4. 4:3 sets are typically taller and less wide, so if you like a taller, narrower look for your home, this may influence your decision.
Summary:
If your interests lean mainly towards movies, DVDs and HDTV, a widescreen set would be a better choice. If you are a "commercial" television type of person or family, you may be better off with a 4:3 set now and you can buy a widescreen set to replace this one in a few years.
There are NO HDTVs larger than 40" that are produced in 4:3 format. This indicates that the future of HDTV is widescreen.
4:3 programmes on HD channels have "black bars" on the sides, if these programmes are viewed on a 4:3 TV, these HD channels will be "windowboxed". Not only do you have black bars on the sides, but you'll have black bars above and below making for a small image on a 4:3 TV.
Use this - Handy Calculator (http://www.cavecreations.com/tv2.cgi?KeohiHDTV) if you feel the need to compare 4:3 vs. 16:9 screen sizes.
Despite the above calculator.... On a 16:9 TV, there is usually no "wasted space" (discussing Tube TVs here). Most people probably stretch their 4:3 (SD) content to fill the screen to avoid burn in, so the image is not actually as small as the calculator indicates. The stretch mode is something that you get used to very quickly and it actually looks "weird" when a 4:3 image is on your screen once you're used to it.
On a 16:9 TV people do watch upconverted 4:3 programming on HD channels - clear picture, as long as you're aware of burn in and don't use this more than about 20% of the time. However, one would never watch this on a 4:3 TV due to the "windowboxed" effect (postage stamp image).
Please PM 57 if you have any comments or suggestions for this post.