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Ultimate
HDTV
Buying Guide |
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over 10 years, CNET.com has provided unbiased editorial expertise on how
technology can enhance your life.
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WIDE-SCREEN VS. 4:3
All wide-screen TVs have ways to stretch, crop, or zoom the regular 4:3 image so that it fills the screen. These methods distort the image somewhat, but many wide-screen TV owners prefer looking at slightly stretched people rather than windowbox bars. Here's a quick rundown of the different names for selectable aspect-ratio modes found on 16:9 sets:
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Normal or 4:3: Places windowbox bars on either side of the 4:3
screen.
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Zoom or Enlarge: Magnifies the entire image, eliminating the
windowbox bars but cropping the top and bottom of the image. Often, more than
one level of zoom is provided.
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Wide or Full: Used for native 16:9 content such as that found
on DVDs. With 4:3 content, such as regular TV, it stretches the image
horizontally, making people look shorter and fatter.
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Panorama, TheaterWide, or Natural: TV makers have many names for modes that compromise between stretching and zooming to fill the screen. Some stretch the sides of the image more than the middle, so people in the center of the screen look correct. Some crop a little so that they don't have to stretch as much.
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For more, check out "CNET's quick guide to aspect ratio" on
CNET.com
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