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DVD Player on Powerbook Question


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DVD Player on Powerbook Question
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Skull
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2005-01-30, 12:52

I have the 15.2" powerbook and wanted to know if the dvd player takes advantage of DVDs with 16x9 enhanced movies. Thanks.
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DMBand0026
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago
 
2005-01-30, 12:56

I believe it does. The screens on the 15" and 17" PowerBooks are 16:9. Unless I'm greatly mistaken, they will play movies in widescreen.

If you already have the PowerBook, there's only one way to find out. Throw in a DVD that has a movie on it in widescreen format and see what you get.

Come waste your time with me
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The Return of the 'nut
BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Berkeley
 
2005-01-30, 13:49

the screens on the 15 inch are 3:2 not 16:9. I believe the 17 inch is 16:10 though or something like that. that's why the 15 inch is called "mega-wide" or whatever.

so, you'll still have bars on the top and bottom. even cinema displays which are 16:10 have bars on the top and bottom on most DVDs
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autodata
hustlin
 
Join Date: May 2004
 
2005-01-30, 14:03

Not sure what "takes advantage" means, but, yeah, there are still bars and, yeah, it will play them 100% fine.
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mass_transit_prophet
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Detroit, MI
 
2005-01-30, 18:17

I think by "takes advantage" he means plays in full screen without letterbox in a widescreen aspect ratio.

It depends on the DVD and what type of WS aspect ratio the DVD was made in.

Only the 17" can take advantage of 16x9 I believe without letterboxing...I believe.

Again, though, one should take these things on a disk to disk basis.
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neuron
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2005-01-30, 18:56

the resolution on powerbook 15" is 1280x854 = 3:2
powerbook 17" is 1440x900 = 16:10
HDTV or 1920x1200 = 16:10
Movies: 16:9 / 2:35:1 (The good ones) usually enchanced for widescreen tv's which are usually HDTVish

So, the 17" or any monitor 16:10 should play the movie at fullscreen with NO blackbars comfortably


15"
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Luca
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2005-01-30, 21:00

No, HDTV is either 1080i (1920x1080, 16:9) or 720p (1280x720, also 16:9). The reason computer monitors use 16:10 resolutions like 1920x1200, 1680x1050, 1440x900 and 1280x800 is because 16:10 generally works a little better for computers. The little extra vertical space is helpful on a computer.

Apple started the 3:2 resolution when the original Titanium PowerBooks came out, at 1152x768. They boosted the resolution in 2002 and it's stayed that way since then. I'm not sure exactly how many other laptops use 3:2 vs. 16:10, but I have definitely seen a number of PC laptops with either 1280x854 or 1280x800 widescreens. However, I doubt Apple would switch to the "more standard" 1280x800, thus actually removing pixels from the current PowerBook.

Long story short - there will be black bars when you watch a widescreen DVD on any PowerBook or Cinema display, but they will be very small.
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