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You're probably better off going 32" flat-panel 4:3

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In Reply to: cheap 16:9 posted by 2ms on October 07, 2003 at 01:53:30:

You'll get at least as much screen size for the $$$ and have a better picture if you end up with something like a mid- to high-end Sony WEGA, Panasonic or Toshiba.
One popular solution to the dreaded "black bars" costs about $7-10 and is said to work wonders. Buy some black art matte, cut it into two pieces about 4" wide x the TOTAL width of your screen (including cabinet plus 1" on each side, bend the 1" at a right angle and affix Velcro to the side of your TV as well as in the 1" wide "bend."
When playing a 1.78:1, 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 movie, simply move the mattes up or down to block the "black" bars on your TV (which, owing to direct view technology, are not true black anyway). Control your lighting, and you might be surprised at how "film like" the picture is.

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Re: You're probably better off going 32" flat-panel 4:3 - 2ms 21:43:19 10/08/03 (1)
So the Samsungs have lackluster picture quality? I literally think I'll never watch anything other than DVDs, so it really seems like a waste of space to get a 32" when a 26" 16:9 would have nearly just as large display (area occupied by movie content rather than black bars).
- Re: You're probably better off going 32" flat-panel 4:3 - Dalancroft 09:53:09 10/09/03 (0)
  "so it really seems like a waste of space to get a 32" when a 26" 16:9 would have nearly just as large display (area occupied by movie content rather than black bars)."
  Actually, if you use the calculator in the link I've provided, you'll see you'll actually get a 29" screen size, which while it sounds negligible is actually pretty significant.
  FYI, I did not comment on the Samsung's picture quality as I have not seen the set; I just know my friend's Sony WEGA is absolutely stellar on DVDs. And I find it difficult to believe you would NEVER watch anything besides DVDs on your monitor -- no Super Bowl? No CNN after a terrorist bombing or during a war? -- but I could be wrong.
  In the end, get whatever makes you happy. I was just trying to help, is all.
  - http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-1016109-4.html (Open in New Window)
That should be "flat screen" - Dalancroft 14:31:43 10/07/03 (0)
Not "flat panel" like a plasma, but a direct view set in which the picture tube is (virtually) flat. Available in your price range.

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