Pixelated

Sometimes, I just enjoy harassing sales staff.

I have nothing against them really, I just like to ask those tricky questions that take them off guard that not even sales reps know the answer to. Like my old RJ45 question. Not even sales reps know that kind of information. (In case you're wondering, last paragraph of http://is.gd/1Xp3s).

Today, I figured it'd be an easier one. "What is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard (4:3) one?"

Yeah. Easier. Right.

First stop: Dick Smith.

I was served instantly by Cameron, an Arts student of some type student dealing with some sort of international studies subject. There is nothing wrong with that degree in the slightest, just so you all know. But the big question, could he make me feel compelled to purchase a widescreen rather than that standard screen?

No. No, he couldn't. Not by a long shot. The moment he said something blatantly incorrect, I was hoping the next store had the answer. His "major difference" between the two: "widescreen has a higher resolution, and hence everything looks better"

Penis joke time, I'm comparing myself to the Arts student.

Let's pitch the 19" widescreen he was trying to sell vs. my 19" standard from home.His 19" thing had a resolution of 1440x900 and my 19" thing has a resolution of 1280x1024. Therefore, his is wider, but not as tall; and mines not as wide, but it has some height to it. Is there a difference between them in terms of picture? You betcha! Multiply them together.

1,440x900=1,296,000 (Whoa, that's a lot of pixels, but wait!)

1,280x1024=1,310,720 (Huge! I can fit a lot on my thing).

Evidently, my thing, exactly the same size, can fit "more" on it. Hence, is more useful. It's not the size that counts, but how you use it. Next!

Side note between stores: As a result of that mathematical finding, I'd expect the cost of standard screens to be greater. However, people seem to be happy to pay through the ass for something that apparently "looks better." (Assuming you're not an idiot and don't stretch the image anyway)

Second store: BCC (That one that you've never been inside)

I was rummaging through the bargain bin when someone came to help. "All I want to know is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard one."

"We don't sell standard ones. They don't make them anymore." Brilliant. That really answered my question. I explained I wasn't interested in buying one today, I just wanted to know for the future (ie. When I was interested). And for the reference, they DO still make them, and forever will (ie. Ten years, that's forever in tech speak).

"Oh, the widescreen one has a better resolution for DVD's." If I want to watch DVD's, I'll go watch them on a TV. I told him such.

"But they make games for widescreen now too." Ugh! Yes, they make them for widescreen now, but they've been making them for standard screen for a shitload longer... Now it's marketable to do both (and forever will be). Next!

Finally: JB Hi-Fi

I stood there for a while looking at the monitors, there were some ones here I actually liked the look of, even if they were widescreen. While over in external drives, I was asked if I required assistance.

"Well, widescreen better supports the native resolutions of DVD's and camcorders." Aha! Keyword of the day that I should have heard at every store, but didn't: Native! I asked which would be better use for everyday application, none of this video bullshit (Handballs off to Michael for that one).

"Well, then there's really no difference, just wider and shorter." I explained to him I'd want to use two monitors side by side, and asked if there was any benefit in having two widescreen monitors over two standard ones.

"None." Actually, there are only disadvantages: that you chew up more desk space than an accountant at tax time (as the monitors are wider).

So again, I left the store, well and truly amazed that people still buy widescreen monitors even though they have a perfectly good HD-TV in their house to watch DVD's on. Honestly, there's no real difference. If you plan on using multiple or for just everyday use, standard is better. If you plan to edit movies, widescreen is better (though you're likely to need two in this scenario anyway). As such, we still should have both on our shelves for purchase. I didn't see a single 4:3 screen in the stores today, quite depressing...

Nevertheless, there was a lesson learnt today: Putting an Arts student in Dick Smith selling computers is like hiring a convicted paedophile for a kindergarten teacher job. It's probably counter-productive.