Is widescreen really better?

[kernelpanic]

Trying to decide whether to get a new thinkpad with widescreen (15.4). Is widescreen really better than 4:3? If so, for exactly what purpose? Obviously, it is better for side-by-side window viewing, but equally worse for above-below viewing. Do you really do that much that requires side-by-side, as opposed to randomly scattered windows around a 4:3? Seems it would be worse for viewing single document pages and single web pages (mostly what I do). Web pages are not yet being formatted for widescreen, so you are just looking at a shorter window with space around the edges. Fine if you have something useful to do with the extra width, but still can't read as much of the page. If course, there is always the draw of just wanting what is new and cool, and I suffer that as much as anyone. But is this fad really going to last? The reason widescreens were first offered was on multimedia machines so that the users could watch movies in widescreen format. I hardly ever watch movies, much less on my laptop. Just curious how the widescreen-users feel about the format compromises.

[rxblitzrx]

I personally think widescreen is better.

The side-by-side window viewing increases my productivity as a student. I have Word opened on one side, and my browser on the other. As I type up my notes, I can research, cut-and-paste from the browser, or look up stuff on wikipedia without having to flinch. It saves a LOT of time and keystrokes.

It's true that vertical space is lost, but if you're reading text I don't really notice the loss... I mean, you can only read so fast. I think your eyes can only scroll so much vertical space, just like horizontal limitations. The only time I see the vertical loss being an issue is when you have to scroll a HUGE document. How often does that happen though? Bottom line, I think widescreens allow more productivity.

[kingweb]

Definately Widescreen. Once I went widescreen, I never went back. I also have dual widescreen monitors for my desktop. There is just more room. The vertical room lost is minimal, and not a big deal.

Also, when you buy your thinkpad, I would recommend getting the highest resolution monitor available. If you are getting the 15.4, the get the WUXGA. If it isn't shown, you can call and ask them. They are able to sell you stuff that isn't always available online.

By getting the WUXGA, you get very hi res, and if things are to small for you, then you can just lower the resolution. But if you get a lower res monitor, you can't go up.

The price difference is also very small.

[ircr]

I don't like widescreen, because I feel that I can't control the whole screen. I once bought a wide laptop, but I couldn't get used to it. Maybe i'm old fashioned.

[dr_st]

Widescreen isn't better, no matter what people will tell you.

It also isn't worse.

It all depends on exact uses, personal preferences, the actual size and resolution of the display, and the resulting size of the computer.

15.4" widescreen is a heavy monster, when compared to a 14" standard screen, but it gives you the same vertical size, with extra horizontal, which can be a plus.

It also has a higher resolution option (WUXGA), which some people find wonderful, and some find ridiculously unusable (and you cannot lower the resolution, as it will make things blurry).

14" wide WXGA+ compared to 14" standard SXGA+ gives you less vertical space, with no extra horizontal space (40 pixels? Gimme a break). I have a bunch of guys at my company who recently got 14"W T61s and don't stop complaining at how short the screen is.

Some people will run their windows maximized 90% of the time, so widescreen versus non-widescreen is a moot point in terms of productivity for them. Two A4 pages fit side-by-side just as fine on standard screen as they do on wide screen.

[CZOLG]

It is like dr_st said,
the choice of a screen format is a personal preference.
I prefer the standard aspect ratio.
I work a lot with fortran and 1400x1050 allows me to have two documents side by side with no problem. In addition there is less vertical scrolling.
Having said that I wish manufacturers did not try to push widescreen so much. It is increasingly harder to find 4:3 screens in laptops.

[kingweb]

I guess it's a choice between horizontal space or vertical space. Whichever you prefer.

[dr_st]

True, and before someone tries to say something like "our vision is naturally widescreen, so widescreen is better" - that is also nonsense. I haven't seen any real studies (and I have doubts they can even exist) as to what the optimal aspect ratio is. Not to mention that sometimes (for reading) portrait mode is definitely preferred.

For entertainment purposes:

If you watch widescreen movies - widescreen is better.
If you watch 4:3 movies (TV shows mostly, some old movies), 4:3 is better.

As simple as that.

[milstein]

It would be best to have a laptop with screen rotation, IN LAPTOP typing mode, i.e. rotate 1400 x 1050 --> 1050 x 1400 while programming and one page reading

Tablet PC allow screen rotation, however, one cannot work with the keyboard after the screen is rotated