I am in the process of buying a new Windows 7 PC to replace my aging and very sick XP machine. My new machine will inevitably come with a widescreen monitor as it's impossible to get standard 4:3 monitors these days. My understanding was that most widescreen monitors are in 16:10 format. However it seems to me that most if not all the current batch are in "true widescreen" 16:9 format. I have never had a widescreen monitor and don't really understand the implications of screen resolution and format on TFT monitors - things were much simpler in the days of CRT monitors. From what I can tell, the problem with FS9 will be with 2D panels being stretched out and gauges becoming oval. Am I right in saying that VC is not affected in the same way? I fly Aeroworx' excellent King Air, and they have produced a widescreen panel based on 1680 x 1050 resolution, and this is therefore designed for 16:10 format. Will I have problems using this if I can only get hold of a 16:9 monitor? What sort of effect would this have on the appearance of the panel? Do I ideally need to find a monitor that will run in 1680 x 1050 resolution for this panel to look its best? And do you have any suggestions for good 16:10 monitors that are still available?Thanks for your help.

Yes - the panel will be stretched and the gauges will become more oval (not in all cases, but in general that holds true), yes - the VC is unaffected.If the panel is desgined for 16:10 widescreen, there will be a slight deformation on 16:9, but I don't think it will be all that noticeable. I have not tested this however (don't have a 16:9 monitor), so I'll defer to whoever has that experience. I'm sure there are still 16:10 panels out there, surely most manufacturers still make them?

Adrian, When I brought my new 22" Samsung Monitor home a few years back I was disapointed with our and others 2D Panels.Tried all the tips and tricks at the time and was still not satisfied so set out to build a Widescreen 16:9 2D Panel.Liked the results and made the decision to include Standard 4:3 ratio and 16:9 ratio Widescreen 2D Panels in all of our products.We were the first commercial dev to introduce this into our products despite the extra work involved and we are pleased to hear that others are doing similar 2D Panels.Some prefer VC Panels only which are not as subject to stretching and oval shaped circles as 2D Panels are.We suspect that 4:3 ratio 2D Panels will gradually fade from the scene as folks transition to the newer monitors and others commercial devs provide Widescreen 2D Panels. :(

Adrian, When I brought my new 22" Samsung Monitor home a few years back I was disapointed with our and others 2D Panels.Tried all the tips and tricks at the time and was still not satisfied so set out to build a Widescreen 16:9 2D Panel.Liked the results and made the decision to include Standard 4:3 ratio and 16:9 ratio Widescreen 2D Panels in all of our products.We were the first commercial dev to introduce this into our products despite the extra work involved and we are pleased to hear that others are doing similar 2D Panels.Some prefer VC Panels only which are not as subject to stretching and oval shaped circles as 2D Panels are.We suspect that 4:3 ratio 2D Panels will gradually fade from the scene as folks transition to the newer monitors and others commercial devs provide Widescreen 2D Panels. :(

And despite the fact that I don't like the VC of your latest product (again, personal taste), I HIGHLY appreciate (Oh man, you have no idea how I appreciate this!) you providing 4:3 AND 16:9 ratio 2D panels. WAY TO GO !!! :(

And despite the fact that I don't like the VC of your latest product (again, personal taste), I HIGHLY appreciate (Oh man, you have no idea how I appreciate this!) you providing 4:3 AND 16:9 ratio 2D panels. WAY TO GO !!! :(

No problem Epikk, we've known for years that we can't please everyone with everything we do.Do keep track of that project up to a month or so from now to see what improvements may be made in that area.Thanks for the appreciation. That's why we started including them. :(

This company do some Boeing WS panels for FS9.http://www.sky-decks.com/

This company do some Boeing WS panels for FS9.http://www.sky-decks.com/

Good to see other devs providing this feature. As more folks go to the new monitors this will become more important for those who prefer a combination of 2D and VC. :(

I am in the process of buying a new Windows 7 PC to replace my aging and very sick XP machine. My new machine will inevitably come with a widescreen monitor as it's impossible to get standard 4:3 monitors these days. My understanding was that most widescreen monitors are in 16:10 format. However it seems to me that most if not all the current batch are in "true widescreen" 16:9 format. I have never had a widescreen monitor and don't really understand the implications of screen resolution and format on TFT monitors - things were much simpler in the days of CRT monitors. From what I can tell, the problem with FS9 will be with 2D panels being stretched out and gauges becoming oval. Am I right in saying that VC is not affected in the same way? I fly Aeroworx' excellent King Air, and they have produced a widescreen panel based on 1680 x 1050 resolution, and this is therefore designed for 16:10 format. Will I have problems using this if I can only get hold of a 16:9 monitor? What sort of effect would this have on the appearance of the panel? Do I ideally need to find a monitor that will run in 1680 x 1050 resolution for this panel to look its best? And do you have any suggestions for good 16:10 monitors that are still available?Thanks for your help.

Adrian- I would expect that the distortion or ovalization (from a 16:10 panel design being displayed on a 16:9 monitor) will be quite negligible. Possibly a very slight vertical ovalization on a round gauge. If you wanted perfection, you could always drag the bottom of the panel up slightly so that you create a 16:10 proportioned panel on the 16:9 screen. If you set your desktop background colour to black, you would see only a narrow black strip below the panel.Alex Reid

... it's impossible to get standard 4:3 monitors these days.

is your current monitor broken? is there a reason you can't use it on a new system? i would agree if you puchase a pre-build finding a system that comes with a standard monitor is a great challenge.NOTE: with a pre-build you 'collect' all the pre-installed system slowing garbage 'convienance'.build you own system (not hard) and purchase a 'standard' monitor.your other options:

• is the buy a pre-build, buy a new 4:3 monitor and sell the widescreen
• use your old system's monitor and sell the widescreen
• or set up a two monitor system (if you can with the videocard(s) your new system contains) using a new 4:3 or your old monitor

--

Why on earth would you not want a widescreen monitor, it is so much more convenient for everything related to everyday PC use because you have so much more screen real-estate. Fortunately its only a few FS developers that are living in the past and wont supply WS 2d panels and even fewer that don't supply any 2D panels at all. Humans see in WS so to speak too so it just feels much more natural seeing an aircraft panel in WS.

Why on earth would you not want a widescreen monitor, it is so much more convenient for everything related to everyday PC use because you have so much more screen real-estate. Fortunately its only a few FS developers that are living in the past and wont supply WS 2d panels and even fewer that don't supply any 2D panels at all. Humans see in WS so to speak too so it just feels much more natural seeing an aircraft panel in WS.

I cannot agree with this chap at all.Fact is there are lot's of sheep in the world who when see something new just jump in and say it must be better.Forget what your eyes see in the real world. We are in a virtual world..... a cockpit depicted on a tiny monitor.Fact is that the 4:3 ratio best suits the 2D panel (note I said 2D panel!) you will get the max use of screen space (the essential gauges plus some view out of the window space)I have been making 2D panels for years and every other panel designer I know agrees with me......widescreen is just useless extra space! I tried to buy another 1600x1200 just the other day because I knew the manufacturers would stop making 4:3 ratio screens just like one year all TV's are silver...next year they are black! It annoys the he** out of me.So yes now developers have to start to make widescreen panels because they are forced to NOT because they are better!. To make my panels widescreen I would simply add rubbish at the sides they could not be improved height wise.I am definitely the black sheep lol. I hated Vista,FSX and widesrceen LCD'sLook at AVG antivirus version 9....an improvement? ....no! they have gone from one of the best freeware antivirus programs to one of the worst in one jump.Ofcourse there will be some sheep bleating the latest is the greatest.

... more convenient for everything related to everyday PC ...

widescreen is driven not because of easy use ... it is driven by more and more folks wanting to watch movies on their computer(s). this is why laptops are being built as widescreens ... making them so large as to be less portable.--

Ed, as a long time admirer of your 2D work I'm surprised at your response to the current state of the industry.Drop by any electronics store and see if they even offer CRTs with 4:3 Ratio. The same is true of Television.The reality is that people want and prefer to use thinline Widescreen Monitors and Television Sets.To ignore or fight against that is a losing proposition. :(

... even offer CRTs

now that is a challenge ... finding a CRT TV or monitor!--

Fact is after a post like that it says to me you are a goat not a black sheep, (i.e. jumping on peoples backs :( ) I think it says more about you as a developer if you cant make use of the extra real-estate, it doesn't mean that widescreen monitors are rubbish. Have a look what PMDG did with the MD11 panel if you choose the WS panel option and tell me that panel just has rubbish stuck at the sides!!