Damn. Why’d I buy this new monitor? It’s a widescreen. Nothing looks right.
Why’d I rush into this purchase? My old monitor suddenly went kaput yesterday, and I panicked. Why'd this have to happen? Got to have computer access. So I rushed out to the store today. Just get the same size, no problem, right?
But it’s not the same. It’s too wide. It’s too short. It feels… alien. Like someone took and stretched out my eyes. My reality is altered. It’s all wrong. My desktop! My blog! My Internet peeps! You don’t look right at all.
Why’d I let the salesman talk me into it? It’s his fault! No, no, it’s my fault! Damn, why’d I make a snap decision? Why didn’t I take my time like I always do?
When did my computer become such a lifeline that I can’t take a day or two off? When did I become one of “those people?”
And why is it such a big deal to me? Why can’t I just get used to the widescreen? It’s all they make now… millions of people can’t be wrong… And yet, why does it feel like I’ll never enjoy blogging again? Why does change hurt so much?
OH, I SO get this - I am exactly the same way. My boss has a new widescreen monitor and it makes my eyes feel all wonky. Yeech. It's just WRONG!!!
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me twice in the past couple of years when my husband replaced our TVs and the definition or color or something was just off. It took me a really long time to get use to them—one in particular. Fortunately, now that I'm used to it, all is well, but it was a drag for a while.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they're horrible, but unless you've set the resolution to the monitor's default, it'll always look wrong...
ReplyDeleteThe other thing is that any resolution other than default will result in a blurry image because the LCD pixels are fixed on one place, so you get interpolation where the dots "should" be, and where the LCD pixels are to try to fit the image you want to the limitations of the screen.
I went from a 19" standard to a 20" widescreen. The resolution's fine, but the change is so jarring. Like if they started printing books in landscape instead of portrait. After looking around some more, I'm planning to exchange it for a 22", which looks slightly more square-ish.
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing when my monitor broke-and I fix these things for a living-I went out and bought a monitor before I even opened up the old monitor to see what was wrong-then I opened it up after buying a new monitor and fixed it-(very simple repair) and never took the new monitor out of the box-I still have the new monitor just in case.
ReplyDeleteC.R., I would have fixed the old one if I could. They would have charged me $100 at least, and I'm sure it was a simple fix.
ReplyDeleteI had the same problem when my monitor went kaput last year. I went to the store, and almost all the monitors were widescreen, with blocks of black at the top and bottom. Didn't like them. One demo they had set up wasn't like that, it was 10 1/2" high, and 13 1/2 inches wide, but they didn't have any more of them for sale. I offered to buy the demo for $100, and the deal was approved. I really don't like those widescreens. This one's fine.
ReplyDeleteLucky for you, Clay!. I checked several stores, and you cannot find anything but the widescreen anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem getting used to monitor and tv changes. I hate the stretched out look, but I've found that it's just as jarring to go back and forth from the widescreen display to the traditional display. Consistency ends up mattering more. I hope the one you're going to exchange this one for works better!
ReplyDeleteKim, I use a laptop at work, so it'll be inconsistent either way. My replacement should be in by the middle of the week, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteHope this comment makes it-I would have fixed it for you being a fellow aspie and it wouldn't cost that much if it cost anything at all or at least check it out to make sure of the problem-I know how it is as a fellow aspie how we get used to things-I know you are in the Philly area as am I-95% of the problems I fix with falt monitors are easy power supply problems.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the offer, C.R., but I already recycled it at the shop. And of course, I'm now getting used to the widescreen after a week, while still waiting for my replacement any day.
ReplyDelete