MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - 4:3 vs 16:9 aspect ratio

nrapallo · 02-13-2011, 08:12 AM

I had gone through a similar evaluation of content vs aspect ratio when migrating from 4:3 TV screens to HDTV screens. In the end, the landscape nature of viewing TV/Movies allows one to enjoy the content better on a 16:9 display.

However, most books are read in a portrait orientation, and as a result, that's the way my ebook device should display page content, IMHO. But is the 4:3 aspect ratio the optimal screen size? Historically it is, but what should the BEST aspect ratio be?

I voted for Other!

Perhaps a bit of math may shed the light on our ultimate reading enjoyment, namely that Golden Ratio. Using a Golden Ratio calculator, to retain the same width more or less, I would like to see current 5" and 6" e-ink use a screen size of 633 x 1024 while larger e-ink devices could use say 742 x 1200 (or 791 x 1280). These all retain the Golden Ratio!!!

I've summarized various sources/uses of page content as well as which current ebook readers best suit them in the following table:

02-13-2011, 08:12 AM	#42
nrapallo GuteBook/Mobi2IMP Creator Posts: 2,958 Karma: 2530691 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: REB1200 EBW1150 Device: T1 NSTG iLiad_v2 NC Device: Asus_TF Next1 WPDN	I had gone through a similar evaluation of content vs aspect ratio when migrating from 4:3 TV screens to HDTV screens. In the end, the landscape nature of viewing TV/Movies allows one to enjoy the content better on a 16:9 display. However, most books are read in a portrait orientation, and as a result, that's the way my ebook device should display page content, IMHO. But is the 4:3 aspect ratio the optimal screen size? Historically it is, but what should the BEST aspect ratio be? I voted for Other! Perhaps a bit of math may shed the light on our ultimate reading enjoyment, namely that Golden Ratio. Using a Golden Ratio calculator, to retain the same width more or less, I would like to see current 5" and 6" e-ink use a screen size of 633 x 1024 while larger e-ink devices could use say 742 x 1200 (or 791 x 1280). These all retain the Golden Ratio!!! I've summarized various sources/uses of page content as well as which current ebook readers best suit them in the following table: Last edited by nrapallo; 02-13-2011 at 08:39 AM.