Why widescreen computer monitors are 16 x 10 instead of 16 x 9

[resevilfan86]

Hi there, i have had this question in my mind for a while now. I could never really get a clear answer to why most computer monitors that are widescreen have the 16 x 10 aspect ratio rather then the normal 16 x 9. Thanks.

[Aurora]

16x9 was chosen for widesceen TVs because it was impossible to make a CRT picture tube at 1.85:1.

[resevilfan86]

Lol im sorry let me clarify. I dont mean why was 16 x 9 aspect ratio chosen for HDTVs, im talking about 16 x 10 being chosen for widescreen computer monitors. Please take in consideration, the 1.85:1 ratio is not 16 x 10. 16 divided by 10 is 1.6:1. And CRT computer monitors are not really made in widescreen, they are mainly LCD that can be found in widescreen from what I have seen. And 16 x 9 was chosen for HD before widescreen computer monitors were chosen. My question is, why was the 16 x 10 aspect ratio chosen over 16 x 9 for computer monitors when HDTVs are in fact 16 x 9?

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

No, the real reason why it's 16:10 is because that ratio allows you to view 2 pages side-by-side.

[resevilfan86]

Ah okay that does make some sense thanks.

[waywardsage]

My widescreen Gateway 22" monitor is 16X10. And it displays DVD's windowboxed! It sucks!!

[Coolpplse]

With 16x10 I tend to use the extra x1 to display my task bar as I watch 16x9 content on it without scaling anything

Or use the x1 area to display subtitles

[Brahma]

It may have to do with video resolution.. The 24inch gateway I use for my monitor has a resolution of 1920/1200 which comes out to 16x10. so I'm thinking it has more to do with Computer video hardware then anything else... maybe.. just a thought.

[johnADA]

The real reason why is because thats not what you all ready own.

DOLLAR, SALES makes the industry go round.

[Lucid504]

Yeah that makes alot of sense that its all about the money i mean damn look at the 16:10 dvds and software that they are putting out wait....they arnt...atleast make sense you say something like that.

[Stories]

This has more to do with the way computer information is presented. Most webpages, text documents, and so forth are vertically stacked. So to get to widescreen without sabotaging too much vertical space, they went with taller screens rather than very wide (which makes less sense in the computer world).

[Blinx123]

What Stories said makes most sense and should be right. Ever tried using your 16:9 HDTV with your PC?

[Geonosis]

I wondered this too when I first got my Gateway LCD. Then forgot all about it. Makes sense though.

[JonDawg50]

16x10 is for viewing two internet screens at the same time (side by side). 16x9 is what humans see with their eyes (our vision is 16x9). My laptop (an HP dv9830us 17" 16x10) works perfectly on my tv (Samsung 50" dlp 1080p[1900x1200] HDTV). Blu-Ray on the laptop viewed on the HDTV is awesome. One more thing, my laptop is 1440x900 resolution @ 16x10 aspect ratio, but the do make 16x10 monitors in full 1080p (1900x1200). The fall update for the xbox 360 will make it compatable with a 16x10 aspect ratio. Most dvds will have bars on the top and bottom of a 16x10 screen you can scale it or keep it like it is. The bars keep the media center controls from blocking the dvd's picture.

[HamsterDance]

Originally Posted by JonDawg50

16x10 is for viewing two internet screens at the same time (side by side). 16x9 is what humans see with their eyes (our vision is 16x9). My laptop (an HP dv9830us 17" 16x10) works perfectly on my tv (Samsung 50" dlp 1080p[1900x1200] HDTV). Blu-Ray on the laptop viewed on the HDTV is awesome. One more thing, my laptop is 1440x900 resolution @ 16x10 aspect ratio, but the do make 16x10 monitors in full 1080p (1900x1200). The fall update for the xbox 360 will make it compatable with a 16x10 aspect ratio. Most dvds will have bars on the top and bottom of a 16x10 screen you can scale it or keep it like it is. The bars keep the media center controls from blocking the dvd's picture.

The last date someone posted in this thread was exactly ten months ago to the day.

How far back did you have to go to find this and why?