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    Consensus on what to call a non-widescreen display?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by cherv1, Apr 1, 2007.

  1. cherv1

    cherv1 Notebook Consultant

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    (Not sure if this is the right board, please move if not)

    Well I have been thinking about this for a while, and I think we should try and think of a new name for 4:3 aspect ratio screens. 16:10/:9 screens are called widescreen, and traditionally, around this forum and elsewhere, 4:3 screens have been called ''standard''.

    I don't think this is accurate, since the new ''standard'' display is widescreen; most laptops have this ratio. So this means ''standard'' isn't a good name.

    What are your thoughts on this? Is there a title you can think of which is better? I thought of ''square'', but it's not really a square....''Traditional''? I don't think we can just call it 4:3....

    Anyway, I look forward to hearing your comments.
     
    cherv1, Apr 1, 2007
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  2. LFC

    LFC Ex-NBR

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    Why change? I understand what you're saying, but really everyone understands the difference :)

    Its like when opal fruits became starburst (UK sweets)

    Or the AXE company trying to change the Lynx deodorant brand to Axe deodorant, to be in line with the rest of the world. Somehow "the Axe effect" doesn't have quite the same result as "the lynx effect" :laugh:
     
    LFC, Apr 1, 2007
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  3. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    to muddy the waters even further, what happen when we start getting 2.35:1 wide screens, even with an 16:9 screen you still get a black bar top and bottom with an 2.35:1 movie.

    go figure?.

    regards.

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Apr 1, 2007
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  4. drk

    drk Notebook Consultant

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    I think standard is fine but if it needed to be changed then I would propose the name Horizontally Condensed Widescreen.
     
    drk, Apr 1, 2007
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  5. cherv1

    cherv1 Notebook Consultant

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    These aspect ratios are all rather confusing...

    But going back to what I said in my original post, I don't think the term standard is accurate any more. I think I like "Traditional"....It's accurate and probably as easy to understand as widescreen.... Any thoughts on that?
     
    cherv1, Apr 1, 2007
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  6. sandt38

    sandt38 Notebook Consultant

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    when you tell your friends about your new HD LCD TV, I suspect that is how you describe it. When is the last time you felt it imperative (or for that matter, even unnecessary) to describe it as being a color TV? When is the last time you asked someone if they had cable TV, with the other possibility being an antenna? VHS or Beta? Cassette or 8 track? CD disc or "record album" disc.

    Eventually the monikers "standard" and "widescreen" will be no more.
     
    sandt38, Apr 1, 2007
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  7. Circa69

    Circa69 Notebook Evangelist

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    Not gonna happen ... I have a feeling we here on NBR will follow the naming convention of the masses and thats not fixing to change because we decide to change the name. Terminology is not always accurate and it doesn't neccessarily have to be. It is much more important to have a term that is universally understood. Unfortunaty manufacturers have a lot more clout than we do and I can't see them using the word 'Standard' just to be accurate. It will all fade away eventually.

    quoted for truth

    If you do figure out a way I am all about drk's new name for 4:3 ratios (including SDTV)
     
    Circa69, Apr 1, 2007
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