[MPlayer-users] monitor size vs. aspect ratio vs. resolution

[Reshat Sabiq]

Rich Felker wrote:

>On Wed, Aug 17, 2005 at 10:34:50PM -0500, Reshat Sabiq wrote:
>  
>
>>>This is correct. The picture is 4:3, so it will only be as large as
>>>the maximal 4:3 region on your screen.
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>This particular DVD looked like 720x480 w/o any scaling. But yes, 
>>usually it gets scaled to the largest area as you said.
>>    
>>
>
>You seem to be confusing number of samples with image dimensions.
>
>  
>
So 720x480 doesn't refer to pixels? I just double-checked this DVD, and 
turns out its aspect ratio is 1.78 (on the label). But it looked 
distorted for me (too short) when i set it to 1.78 manually. In 4:3, it 
left huge margins on left-right, and top-bottom, in both mplayer, and 
xine. But xine let me scale it, and it looked good once i did that, in 4:3.

>>My physical dimensions, 1.6, for instance, are closer to 
>>1.78. Since physical dimensions are what determines the best aspect 
>>ratio, did you perhaps mean that the resolution closer to 4:3 is better 
>>because it's likely to be present on physical dimensions closer 4:3? So 
>>you would pick a 1.6 physical ratio monitor w/ max resolution of 
>>1280x800 over a 1.78 physical ratio monitor w/ max resolution 1280x720, 
>>correct?
>>    
>>
>
>I was assuming that whichever monitor you chose would have square
>pixels, so that the ratio of number of pixels would be identical to
>the physical aspect ratio. If this wasn't the case, then all of what I
>said was meaningless, sorry.
>  
>
You assumption is correct. Physical dimension have a ratio of 1.6 
(33.2cm/20.9cm), and so does max resolution (1280x800). Now i follow 
your reasoning. Basically, you would prefer 4:3 physical and pixel 
ratios over 1.6, 1.78, etc. Partly i agree, but on the other hand, 
widescreens allow having 2 windows side by side better. Not sure if that 
causes more cons than pros though, as usually maximzed windows are used 
more. I think i agree with you about 4:3, in general, which will 
probably influence my future purchases. Especially since TV-out can be 
used to achieve 16:9 when needed.

Thanks all!
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