[mythtv-users] Is Wider better?

[Mike Perkins]

Michael T. Dean wrote:
> On 04/30/2007 07:07 PM, Yan Seiner wrote:
>> Brad DerManouelian wrote:
>>   
>>> I have to disagree. I say deal with the black bars in SD in  
>>> preparation for when all content goes to HD format. I have a 42" HDTV  
>>> display but mostly watch 4:3 content from DirecTV. Sure, the bars are  
>>> a little annoying but you get used to them quickly and when I pop in  
>>> a DVD or watch something I've captured OTA HD, it's a REAL treat.
>> I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep your set, and how much 
>> money you have.  4:3 monitors are *cheap* these days - so if you're 
>> going to keep it only for a couple of years, I'd say go for the 4:3.
>>
>> OTOH if you have the money and you're planning long term, and you have 
>> the space to waste, go for a 16:9 with a comparable 4:3 viewing area. 
>> This will be a good bit bigger than a 4:3 monitor....
> 
> But remember that brand new high-definition TV's may not last as long as 
> most of us think TV's should (those of us who grew up with old-fashioned 
> CRT TV's).  I wouldn't plan to buy something "to last me" 10 years.  
> (Perhaps not even in 5 years.  3 years?  Probably.)
> 
> Mike "waiting for a replacement light engine for my 18-month-old 67" 
> 1080p DLP" Dean
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> 
In the UK at least, even though practically all transmission/cable is 
SD, quite a large proportion is in fact 16:9. I have a 26" widescreen 
LCD TV display and there are very few programs that are not widescreen, 
so have to juggle the width setting.

In fact, thinking about it, the only 4:3 I can remember offhand are 
archive items from the BBC (think old Dr Who) and broadcasts from other 
countries where they don't do widescreen much yet - for example European 
soccer matches.

You don't say which country you are - most of the replies assume the US 
- but a bit of investigation of your local area may turn up more 
widescreen programming than you might expect. Most stuff we get here 
from across the pond is widescreen, so it's generally getting made as such.

Just my 0.02 GBP.

Mike Perkins