Monitor ratio question

[Airbozo]

Does anyone know if there are any 16:9 aspect monitors that are backwards compatible to 4:3 aspect ratio?

[x88x]

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking; do you mean a monitor that you can set to not scale the input, so 4:3 inputs are actually shown as 4:3?

[Airbozo]

Well here is the situation:

Customer is using regular 4:3 monitors and they are becoming scarce. We can get all the 16:9 monitors we want, but some of them have issues operating at 4:3 ratio.

We need a backwards compatible 16:9 monitor.

I am trying to work with Samsung since that is the vendor of the old monitors we have been using.

[Luke122]

My HP 2007 (20" 16:9) allows me to select an option to not stretch a 4:3 input to fill the screen, and instead display it at 4:3.

Otherwise, most 16:9's will stretch the 4:3 to fill the screen, causing some distortion, but will operate fine at 4:3 resolutions.

Is that what you are talking about?

[x88x]

I take it this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001349) wouldn't work?

Otherwise, I don't know of any 16:9 monitors off hand that'll do native ratios. You'll probably have more luck if the monitor has s-video or composite inputs, which would normally have 4:3 content as input anyways. I know nVidia drivers will let you do that in software with fullscreen apps, but idk if that is at all applicable in your situation.

[Airbozo]

My HP 2007 (20" 16:9) allows me to select an option to not stretch a 4:3 input to fill the screen, and instead display it at 4:3.

Otherwise, most 16:9's will stretch the 4:3 to fill the screen, causing some distortion, but will operate fine at 4:3 resolutions.

Is that what you are talking about?

Thanks Luke, this is exactly what I am trying to get across. (passing a kidney stone right now so my brain is wonky)

Due to the nature of the software, the image can not be stretched or it will look really odd...


I forgot to add some important info.
The resolution required is 1600x1200 and the size should be 20".

[Luke122]

x88x nailed it as well.. you are looking for ones that will allow you to not stretch/fill the panel with whatever input is fed into it, so aspect ratio is maintained. :)

I'm pretty sure that Asus LCD's have that option as well, but dont quote me on that.

[Airbozo]

Thanks for the help guys. I will know more on Wednesday. Such as why they can't just change the resolution of the monitor to match it. (maybe a backwards compatible issue)

I will do some more research this weekend and hopefully be able to offer them some options. Right now we are selling them refurbished monitors, but 50% that we buy in have too much damage to the cosmetics to be usable.

[x88x]

I would guess that the reason why they need 4:3 is because they have some full-screen app that they have to use that has a GUI hardcoded for a specific resolution. Bad coding practice, but all too common.

[Luke122]

Or it's some kind of medical or aerospace visual/imaging program, and visual distortion = big problems.

[Airbozo]

Or it's some kind of medical or aerospace visual/imaging program, and visual distortion = big problems.

This.


We are meeting with them on Tuesday concerning this issue (and others) so I should know if it is bad coding or just lack of knowledge about what will work.

[dr.walrus]

Just keep buying 4:3 monitors, they'll never die out. SyncMaster 204BM - it's a classic.

[Airbozo]

Just keep buying 4:3 monitors, they'll never die out. SyncMaster 204BM - it's a classic.

The problem is, that these monitors are all being EOL'd. Same with that SyncMaster.

Plus, it has to display at 1600x1200.

We are pushing this company hard, to move into the 21st century when it comes to displays. The only issue is that they have to support the legacy systems out there and that is why they need a 4:3 compatible monitor. Otherwise we could choose one (preferably 3) with a long life and be done with it.

[mDust]

Perhaps I'm just not understanding the situation, but this doesn't sound like a problem with a monitor, but with the signal from the graphics card (assuming that the monitor is hooked to a computer). If it is indeed on a computer, the software that came with the graphics adapter (especially if it's an expensive workstation card) should allow you to control exactly what is displayed on the screen. If it's a check box: unchecked, it stretches to fit the display, and checked, it throws some black bars on the sides to fill the unused space and centers the smaller image on the screen.
I'm pretty sure just about all monitors are 'dumb' and don't do too much signal processing other than color correction and such...they just display what they are given. Maybe the monitor would have some kind of maximum resolution setting in its setup menu...but I doubt it.
If its for a large hospital, tell them to suck it up and spend the cash on all new equipment. It sounds like they need it.

[Airbozo]

mDust;

Couple of issues here.
Due to industry regulations (ie involvement from the FDA), this company must support all installations for a certain period of time and not force an upgrade to equipment caused by an EOL part.

But the main issue is that they can not stretch the image (because it is a medical device and they need the correct aspect ratio).

So far in my testing there is no way to force a 16:9 monitor to display a 4:3 image. I have tried to force it NOT to stretch, but maybe I am missing something. There is no setting in either the nVidia or ATI control panels to force the monitor into 4:3 mode. (and we have to support both companies cards)

This may be a feature in certain monitors and that is what we are looking for.

[x88x]

I know at least in the nVidia control panel (in Windows) there is a setting to do scaling either with the card or the monitor. At least there has been with the two nVidia cards I've had. If they're working with old equipment, though, that may not have been implemented yet.

[dr.walrus]

mDust;

Due to industry regulations (ie involvement from the FDA), this company must support all installations for a certain period of time and not force an upgrade to equipment caused by an EOL part.


I getcha. Any look with monitor manufacturers? Personally I'd try and get in touch with your regional Samsung (or similar) sales rep. and push them for EOL data.

What end of life period do you need to support? 3 years?

[Luke122]

Airbozo, I found the scaling/stretch option in the settings on the monitor itself. :)

[Airbozo]

I getcha. Any look with monitor manufacturers? Personally I'd try and get in touch with your regional Samsung (or similar) sales rep. and push them for EOL data.

What end of life period do you need to support? 3 years?


I think the period is 3 years, I will have to ask our customer...

We have been working with the manufacturers, and most of them will give us a heads up of 1 year before an EOL on a product. Monitors are a little different. We usually only get a 3 month notice, then we rush out and buy as many as we can based on product forecasts.

ViewSonic is the best to work with since they will give us 6 months notice and then if we commit to a certain number of units, they will make a final production run so we don't have to buy refurbs. After that we are stuck with refurbished models, then whatever is still in the channel. Brokerbin.com is a great resource for things like this.

The main problem is getting our customer to move quickly enough to qualify new parts before the EOL is reached. (that is why I have several hundred copies of Win XP in stock ONLY for this customer)

[Airbozo]

Airbozo, I found the scaling/stretch option in the settings on the monitor itself. :)

I did find an option in my desktop's control panel to "scale image to full panel size" or "use centered timings". It does not seem to do anything though as it still stretches the image when I drop the settings.

My monitor does not have an option to scale or stretch in the menu. (dell monitor) I am going to check mine at home.