slop101

I'm getting a new HDTV, but I don't thing I'm going widescreen because I've gotten used to the black bars on the top and bottom while watching a widescreen dvd.

But I really hate the gray bars that are on the sides while watching a regular tv programs (cable or dvd - and I have lots of tv-show dvds). I also don't like to stretch the image to fill the screen either - I'm not into fat characters.

Does anyone else feel this way? What would be the advantages to having a widescreen tv - if I don't mind black bars on a similar sized 4:3?

X

You get black bars on a 16:9 for just about any AR other than 1.78 (or 1.85) anyway. I don't care about that at all. But I don't like the gray bars on the sides, the gray is too distracting.

Luckily my set has very good stretch modes so I use that for all but 4:3 movies and I tend to watch them on a 4:3 set. Although I have been considering hanging some black material over the sides of the set for the 4:3 movies. That would be an easy solution to make the sides black which is fine with me, my set is black anyway.

The biggest advantage of a widescreen is that you'll get the most screen area for most movies in that format. So I would make the decision based on percentage of TV vs DVD viewing. And you'll have the best selection of good sets in widescreen.

mdX

with most current 16x9 sets you can adjust the color of the side pillars in the service menu. They chose grey b/c it's in between white and black and so it simulates normal usage and prevents burn-in

slop101

I've looked around and most of them, the ones below $4K, don't let you change the gray to black.

Also, a widescreen image on a 36" 4:3 HD set is larger than it is on a 38" widescreen. The 4:3 set is much cheaper too.

X

Yeah, but most of it is black.

Where did you get this info? Consider the width of the sets.

slop101

They had a 36" Toshiba 4:3, side-by-side with an RCA 38" widescreen, displaying the same thing. And the Toshiba's letterboxed image was larger.

I couldn't figure out how that worked out either, but there it was, in front of my eyes.

Low RG

Your eyes may have been playing tricks on you. The 38" widescreen set would have a larger viewing area at any widescreen ratio over a 36" 4:3 TV. This website computes the dimensions for you: Compute TV Dimensions

skar

Nowadays, companies are putting their HDTV efforts into 16x9's like never before. 65" 16x9's are not that expensive and will just a much larger widescreen picture then any 4x3 set (except that 80" Mits). Stretch modes on 16x9 sets are getting much better.

Also, have you considering getting a front projector system? If you have a nice light controlled room it would probably be the best option for your situation and should be in your price range.

slop101

A correction:
The 36" 4:3 TV had a FULL-SCREEN (not letterboxed) image that looked bigger than the same image on the 38" widescreen - of course, the sides were cut off on the 4:3.

I think I'd rather get a smaller HDTV tube monitor, than a bigger projection HDTV. I'm more concerned about quality of image than quantity. I've been looking at projections and tubes side by side and the difference is staggering.

Also, I just think any TV bigger than 42" in an average sized family room looks kind of tacky and a little ostentatious.
Except for a big plasma screen - but those are a little out of my price range.

eedoon

Grey bar is so annoying.

bmello

Its the same ole list of criteria when purchasing your TV. You need to determine your viewing habits, size of room, lighting in room and room arrangement. If you are going to primarily watch 4:3 NTSC broadcasts of course it will look worse on a TV made for viewing DTV and 16:9 HDTV. Now, if you want to compare a 16:9 HD broadcast on a properly calibrated 16:9 TV versus a 4:3 Sony HD Wega, IMO there is no comparision because you have to deal with the grey or black bars above and below the image on the WEGA. While we are in the transitional stage of TV which will probably last a while, there are trade-offs in buying either TV.

slop101

You're totally right.

There's good and bad either way you go. It's really hard to detrmine a clear winner. Especially when you take costs into account.

Kevlar

So buy a nice LCD projector and create your own aspect ratio...

aam

I normally watch fulll screen stuff with the setting at 14:9, you don't to see everyones feet but the grey bits are smaller!

skar

I was talking about a front projector which is an often small (under 10 pounds) box that projects the image onto a screen. The perfect way to get as large an image as you want without the large space requirement of a 65" rear projection TV.

Geofferson

On my 16x9, I have black bars on the top and bottom when viewing a 2.35:1 movie and have bars on the sides when watching something full-frame (as long as it is in standard mode). I am used to having the bars on the top and bottom, so I guess I prefer that.

Trigger

Actually - a 51" Widescreen HDTV ready Television costs about as much as a 61" 4:3 HDTV ready Television set. You get far more bang for your buck with a 4:3 set.

To see for yourself, go ahead and click here and then plug in the numbers... the widescreen is on the left and the standard set is on the right. The 4:3 set is about 20% larger in this case for everything except standard 4:3 broadcast where it's almost 115% larger.

Patrick G

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Who has brainwashed you?

slop101

All he's saying is that a 4:3 set costs less than a widescreen set that is slightly smaller.

This is just fact.

Patrick G

Actually, it's not a fact. It depends on where you shop. You can get the 16:9 set online at a number of dealers for the same price. You just have to know where to look.

Wormwood

That's why I'd rather stick with a 4:3 tv that does anamorphic squeeze.

Patrick G

There are 2 reasons someone buys a 4:3 TV today:

1. They are either uninformed or misinformed.
2. They are buying a smaller TV for use in the bedroom, or other room in which DVDs and/or HDTV will not be the primary viewing sources.

Brian Shannon

Or they are buying what will fit into their room. I wish I had the space for a larger TV but I don't. My 36 XBR is about as large as I can go.

As for the original question, I prefer to watch my media unaltered. I wish these collective industries could get their acts together.

Wormwood

3. They're not as rich as you.

slop101

No kidding.

After researching all kinds of TVs, 4:3 and wide, I ended up getting a 36" 4:3 HDTV (Panasonic) - because a comparable widescreen TV was not only smaller, it was almost twice as expensive! Yet the image quality is almost identical.