16:9 widescreen - marketing gimmick?

I don't understand why more and more notebooks are equipped with 16:9 widescreens.... isn't 16:10 the sweet spot?

Which aspect ratio do you prefer?

 

I agree. The truth is 16:9 is standard for TV now. And if you check the size, you will find out 16:10 is bigger in square inches when you have the same 15" LCD.

 

It's for watching movies on the go. I have one and although I like it for online browsing (wider viewing area) movies also look better.

 

Um... it has the exact same area horizontally, just less vertically...

So really it has LESS real estate than the regular wide screen 16:10.

Sure, it doesn't have the little black bar on the top and bottom when watching movies, but I would MUCH rather deal with those bars and have 16:10 than lose those extra pixels...

Just my $0.02... 16:10 for life!! XD

 

I prefer the good old 4:3. Way less scrolling.

I watch movies om my TV, not on my PC.

 

In theory, the 16:9 ratio is best for movies because it reduces the letterboxing of videos (not by much for 2.35:1 widescreen vids), and is the aspect ratio of HDTV.

 

All you guys? It is so clear vertical space is what is important and now they want to lower it? Cheap MFG's! 4:3 is the best for work.

 

16:10 as I need as much screen real estate as possible. I still dont understand how making a screen slightly shorter makes viewing a movie better.

 

and how exactly does it help online browsing as websites are inherently VERTICAL? (as, based on the way text flows normally, mostly any application).

i can't stand widescreens. i'd prefer to have the 4:3 ratio back, and vertically at best.

widescreen is all about selling you a 15" with much less area than before => cheaper to produce.

 

I suppose human vision is a lot more like 16:9 than 4:3

So what is human vision`s aspect ratio??????

 

I think its pretty closest to the 2.39:1 ratio used in film.

 

Unfortunately I don't think the manufacturers are having much choice. I think the move to widescreens in many notebooks that would have resisted it (like Thinkpads) is being driven by what the screen manufacturers are willing to make. They want to make widescreens, so your laptop is going to have to be widescreen too.

 

It's a money-making technique. A 20-inch 16:9 has less area than a 20-inch 16:10, which has less area than a 20-inch 4:3, so they can advertise higher numbers but actually sell you less - thus having fewer expenses. Even if widescreen is popular with consumers, there's no doubt that it's a logical choice when it comes to making a few bucks, too.

 

More and more? I thought most full size notebooks are still 16:10? Last I checked, only the new Sony Z and couple of other models are 16:9 in the full size category. Are you talking about ultraportables like the Lenovo U110 or the new netbooks rolling out on the market?

By the way, I like the 16:10 ratio.

 

Yeah I agree... besides that one Sony and some netbooks that are coming in 1024X600 I have seen no others...

 

I like 16:9 notebooks since I watch movies on the computer 99% of the time. Plus compare a Sony SZ vs Z, and the Z is smaller.

Next year, 14" 16:9 notebooks are coming. Are you ready?...

 

14" 16:9? Those have gotta be teeny.

 

i bet you can't even click start on them without hitting the top with the startmenu.

widescreen sucks for anyone who actually uses it's notebook.

 

I want standard screen thinkpads back!!!
I really don't understand why some people hate the little black bars, you have to scroll alot more with a widescreen than a standard screen.

 

Well, I thought that you could fit a larger keyboard onto widescreen notebooks? I personally don't really mind which I use (4:3 or 16:9). But I've slowly started to get accustomed to widescreen displays such as our TV. I kinda find it as the 'norm' now.