Comments on: Widescreen Abuse

By: Highway

Highway — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:50:57 +0000

There are some people who still fear burn-in on many sets, and it’s only the more recent technologies that really prevent this issue (LCD and DLP). Additionally, the stretching is, a lot of the time, the best of a lot of bad choices. Gray bars are distracting, cutting off program material is annoying (do you prefer pan-and-scan movies?). Scott’s algorithim differences are probably the best of all available things. Stretching what you aren’t looking at as much is better than a standard stretch of the whole thing, plus you do ‘get used to it’. A lot of material isn’t really that sensitive to it, either, like sporting events.

By: Scott P

Scott P — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 23:04:23 +0000

You’re right, it’s absolutely maddening. The better algorithms stretch the center of the screen less than the sides of the image, at least, if you use the right preset.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:12:04 +0000

I recently took delivery of a new HD widescreen...and the installer insisted on setting it for this wretched mode. At least the factory default wasn't set this way. I wonder how many times this happens and the owner simply is oblivious to what is going on.

I spent some 38 years in the television broadcast, and find it hard to watch television on most receivers...contrast and brightness screaming, color phase way off, and grossly excessive chroma levels all too much of the time.

Add to that the fact that the industry hasn't solved the lip-synch problem on a vast number of digital feeds and I think you can go a long way to explain the slowness of the digital transition.

On the other hand, when HD television is done right, it's almost magical.

By: BobW

BobW — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:58:53 +0000

Yoy are obviously too young to remember the translucent tinted plastic panels that were taped to the screen of your 14" black and white TV so you could see "My Little Margie" in color.

Of course, they only cost (inflation adjusted) about $100.