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    WSXGA Widescreen not the same as 16:9?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by bestco, May 4, 2006.

  1. bestco

    bestco Notebook Consultant

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    I have a Dell E1505, it has a "WSXGA Widescreen", when I popped in a DVD movie I noticed there was a black bar on both top and bottom section of the screen. So does that mean the WSXGA widescreen is not really anamorphic 16:9 ratio like most HDTVs nowadays?

    Thanks.
     
    bestco, May 4, 2006
    #1
  2. chase17

    chase17 Notebook Consultant

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    It's the aspect ratio the movie was shot in. Not a screen resolution issue. It's probably a 2:35 flick right. (Look on the back of the dvd cover).
     
    chase17, May 4, 2006
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  3. bestco

    bestco Notebook Consultant

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    The DVD movies are 16:9, they fill the whole screen on my 46" HDTV, but on my E1505 notebook I see some black bar area on top and bottom of the screen. Did it fill the entire screen when you watch a 16:9 movie on your widescreen notebook?
     
    bestco, May 4, 2006
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  4. Jace88

    Jace88 Notebook Guru

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    The reason is that there are different widescreen ratios. Most commonly are 16:9 and 16:10. 16:10 ratios are more common on notebook LCDs as well as regular widescreen LCDs, whereas HDTVs in widescreen format are more often 16:9 ratios.
     
    Jace88, May 4, 2006
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  5. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

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    wsxga+ is 1680x1050. what's your tv res?
     
    drumfu, May 4, 2006
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  6. nick_danger

    nick_danger Notebook Consultant

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    Many movies are filmed in 2.35:1 or even as wide as 2.85:1. HDTVs have 16:9 ratios specifically for HDTV broadcast channels. They were designed for HDTV, not DVDs. Most DVDs available now come in anamorphic widescreen. The back of the DVD will say either "anamorphic" or "enchanced for 16:9 televisions". All this really boils down to is that you see less pixelation when the DVD is on a widescreen display.

    Widescreen laptops have varying display sizes, but they are 16:10 for the most part. A lot of movies (e.g.: comedies like Billy Madison) have display ratios of 1.66:1 or something very close to that. Those are designed specifically to fill an HDTV from edge-to-edge... however, on your laptop, you'll still see some tiny black bands.

    Personally, I wish all movies were 2.35:1 as a minimum. Then I would build a home theater with a constant 2.85:1 screen... Cinema heaven!
     
    nick_danger, May 4, 2006
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  7. chase17

    chase17 Notebook Consultant

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    All HDTV is 1:78 (which fills a 16:9 screen).
     
    chase17, May 4, 2006
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  8. gridtalker

    gridtalker Notebook Virtuoso

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    I thought some were 16:10 also
     
    gridtalker, May 4, 2006
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  9. chase17

    chase17 Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, some are but its neglegable. I work for Tweeter.
     
    chase17, May 4, 2006
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  10. bestco

    bestco Notebook Consultant

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    I wasn't sure if it was just my laptop or if it's the same on other's screen. If the black band appears on your laptop too then I can live with it.
     
    bestco, May 4, 2006
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  11. LoveNotebooks

    LoveNotebooks Notebook Evangelist

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    LoveNotebooks, May 4, 2006
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