A couple of weeks ago, my computer screen died. It happened a couple of hours before the Lombardia Ladies SP started, and I was running around like a headless chicken trying to work out what was wrong before it started.
The old screen was a 16 inch 4:3 analogue LCD TV that had became redundant as a TV because of the digital switchover. And since it dying had happened unexpectedly, the only thing we could replace it with quickly was a 15 inch 16:9 digital LCD TV. And everything was so small on it!
Especially since we had to have it in 4:3 aspect, because for some reason when you set it to 16:9, it was stretching the computer picture from 4:3 rather than actually showing it in 16:9 ratio. And the picture looked awful.
So, after a week or so of researching, we ordered a new monitor. This time we went for a dedicated computer monitor, rather than a TV that could double up due to having a VGA input. And we chose a 19 inch 16:9 LCD screen, which is the same height of screen as the original 16 inch 4:3 screen size that we were used to. We also made the point of choosing one which had built in speakers, as there isn't a lot of room on the computer table for separate speakers.
The new screen arrived on Saturday morning, just as Hana Kosić was about to start her FS at Czech Skate. So, since I wanted to get it set up straight away, I abandoned the skating.
Thankfully, with this screen it had the wit to realise that the aspect ratio should be 16:9 rather than a stretched 4:3. But, I have to admit that the built in speakers are useless. Even when everything is turned up full blast (programme, computer, and screen), you can barely hear anything. On the plus side, I have gotten into the habit of dragging videos from the computer over to the main TV screen to watch, and the speakers on it are better.
So now that the scene has been set, time for the confession part.
I am finding it surreal how different the websites look on a 16:9 screen to how they do on a 4:3 screen.
(When reading the next bit, please be aware that I ALWAYS have the History displayed in the side bar for handy access).
Like, I've discovered that the Facebook News Feed page actually has 4 columns rather than the 3 that I thought it had (2 and a bit of which I could see on the 4:3 screen)! I've also discovered that the drop down menu beside the "E" at the top of the Eurosport Player isn't supposed to be a drop down menu - it is supposed to be a horizontal menu bar! And there are other websites that I have discovered that the stuff at the bottom of the page is actually supposed to be at the side.
Possibly best of all, the columns on Hotmail are now wide enough that I can actually read my e-mails without having to scroll back and forth every line! (I use the vertical layout. I used to use the horizontal layout, but found that the section where it lists the e-mails was practically useless as it only listed 2 at a time). And when I click into photos on Facebook, I can now look at the entire photo while reading the comments at the side, instead of having to cut the edge off one or the other!
Now I wish we had switched over to a 16:9 screen years ago!
CaroLiza_fan
. But do not give up - there will be time and place, I also had plans, dreams to go for quite some time to competitions, but it never was to happen, now after March experience in Milan it is getting better. And the more complicated travel is, the less exciting the whole thing looks like, at least for me...We will the all cross our fingers for Giorgia from where we are
