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Xbox 360: Not LCD Monitor Friendly
Xbox 360: Not LCD Monitor Friendly
Sun, 03/23/2008 - 02:15 — Feature by MJB
I recently got an Xbox 360. I am holding off buying a new widescreen television as my 8 year old Sony Wega XBR still produces a beautiful picture but of course this poses some challenges when trying to play the Xbox 360 in high definition. The Sony has a resolution of 480i and has an aspect ratio of 4:3. Fonts can be very difficult to read. To solve this problem without investing in new equipment I thought I would connect the Xbox 360 to my PC monitor. I recently bought a Samsung Syncmaster 226BW LCD monitor with a rectangular screen which I assumed had an aspect ratio of 16:9. The Samsung Syncmaster 226BW has two sources either analog or digital. I have my monitor connected to a digital source from my computer which leaves the analog source available for the Xbox 360. The native resolution of this monitor is 1680X1050.
I found that Microsoft sells a VGA cable for the Xbox to be connected to a monitor so I thought this was going to be an easy fix. Finding the cable at the local Future Shop was no problem. The cost was about $40 CAN. Connecting the cable to the Xbox 360 and the Samsung monitor was no problem. Dealing with the set up on the Xbox 360 to adjust the resolution was straightforward, I thought.
Once everything was hooked up and adjusted I started to play a game. At the start the quality of the image seemed fantastic compared to what I had been experiencing on the Sony television.
But when I started to play a game it became clear to me that something was wrong as the people and objects on the screen were all stretched just enough to be very distracting. Of course I immediately thought that there must be some adjustment that I had overlooked and needed to make in the setup. Well guess what . . . I am still looking for the setting to adjust.
After several frustrating attempts to address the issue, I decided to go to the official Xbox 360 forum and see if anyone else had had this problem. Well I found out that I am not alone. There are a number of threads on this topic. One thread entitled Need 16:10 Resolution Support... 1440x900... 1680x1050... with close to 2200 posts starting in November 2006 outlines the main reason for my frustration.
Most LCD widescreen monitors are 16:10 not 16:9. This slight difference in aspect ratio causes the graphics which are produced by the Xbox 360 to be stretched when displayed on the PC monitor. Despite numerous pleas by consumers who have purchased the Xbox 360 as well as a cable to connect to a monitor requesting Microsoft to provide an update to address this issue, nothing has been done to address the issue. Microsoft has been particularly silent, having failed to respond to any questions posed by customers. Customers have become so frustrated with the lack of communication that they have commenced an online petition trying to get Microsoft to “Bring 16:10 Resolution Support to the Xbox 360”.
The speculation is rampant as to why Microsoft snubs these customers. Presumably either the fix is not possible given the hardware and software within the Xbox 360 or that there is no money in it for Microsoft or maybe both.
Some people who have commented on the forum have not been kind to those customers who want to use the monitor as their display of choice. They claim that the Xbox 360 was designed for use with a television and the 16:10 v. 16:9 issue is not Microsoft’s problem. To me this begs the question: Then why does Microsoft sell a cable to connect the Xbox 360 to a monitor? Microsoft must know that today’s widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio that is different from what has been programmed in the Xbox 360. Why would they not warn customers that the image that would be displayed on a monitor might not be proportioned properly?
The shabby behaviour of Microsoft in not responding or making some kind of statement to its customers regarding this 16:10 issue combined with it own bad decisions regarding the Xbox 360 like supporting HD DVD are proof for me that console gaming is a mere money trap. You invest in a system (sometimes at the high end of the product’s price range) and then get lousy support from the manufacturer. It counts on you not having enough power to cause it to be accountable. Only a class action in this case would get Microsoft’s attention. Most gamers do not have the financial resources to take on this kind of corporation. That’s probably why they want to use their monitor in the first place so that they will not have to go to the expense of buying yet another piece of equipment.
In any event the only way to make these unresponsive manufacturers pay is to not buy their products. You have to have the strength and courage to vote with your feet. Boycott the consoles. You have an alternative. Use your PC. It is the best and most flexible gaming system out there. Unfortunately Microsoft will still make a profit on your alternative because it probably sold you the operating system unless you use Linux.
So I wanted to alert you to this issue as it is not evident on its face. This may not be an issue for you but you might want to help out fellow gamers by signing the online petition.
Let me know if you have experienced this issue or some other frustrating experience with a console not living up to expectations.
Comments
some clarification
Bipolar Monkey — Sun, 03/23/2008 - 18:54There is a major issue right now with HDCP compliant monitors and videocards in the PC market as well, and to an extent it is a hundred times worse then the xbox issue. Right now most major videocards are only able to display HDCP content(HD/Blu-Ray)on monitors no greater than 22", as they are only capable of doing single-link DVI. As soon as you go above 22" you need a dual-link DVI input to properly display HDCP content. So what you have is $200-$1000 videocards that either downgrades your signal to 720p(or worse) on your monitor, or does not display an image at all. This is a catastrophe of epic proportions and neither the monitor manufacturers or videocard manufacturers are publicly aknowledging the issue. The issue is starting to be fixed(videocards that support HDMI/Dual-link DVI), but millions of people will either have to upgrade videocards or buy a new monitor to fix the problem.
Yes your PC is the most flexible gaming platform out there, but the implementation of HD has been a disaster far worse and damaging to the industry then the Xbox VGA cable fiasco.
At least with the Xbox you are still getting a HD image, sure it may be stretched slightly, but at least the image isn't being downgraded, or not displayed at all.
Further it depends on the monitor you have, some LCD models work perfectly with the VGA cable, and some don't. Does that suck, yes, but it is the risk we all take when we buy new hardware.
Certainly Microsoft is the not the worst offender when Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, Dell, HP, NVidia, ATI, PNY, EVGA, Viewsonic, XGX, and dozens of other major monitor/GPU manufacturers are contributing to a issue far greater and affecting many more people.
Besides you said yourself that you will be upgrading your TV eventually. Spending 40 bucks to get a VGA cable that will at least give you a widescreen, HD image(playing a 360 in 4:3, and in 480i should be considered a crime against HD lovers everywhere) is a great interim solution while you save for a new tv.
I am not a Microsoft fanboy, but an industry fanboy. I own a high-end pc, an xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, and have had every major system released over the past 15 years. So please don't take this as plea for Microsoft supremacy, because it is not.
Also take into account that I have a Sony receiver that is capable of displaying a signal up to 1080i. When I first brought my Sony PS3 and hooked it up to my Sony receiver I was confused to find that it would only display in 720p. After much research I was disgusted to find that my SONY receiver was not capable of decoding the 1080i single from my SONY PS3!?! There is no firmware update for this, and my only option is to get a new receiver. I think this is far worse then the xbox issue, as both products are from the same company. I bought a PS3 for Blu-Ray and I can only display in 720p, so what's the point of owning the PS3? Now I have to buy a new receiver, and it will be out of my own pocket because their is no chance Sony is going to help me with this one.
Basically what I am saying is that we have all had conflicts like this, it comes with the territory, but I just think the Xbox 360VGA cable issue is one of the lesser evils.
I hear your pain
MJB — Mon, 03/24/2008 - 12:14I accept that manufacturers need some leeway when working in new territory; however, they have to bear some responsibility and accountability when they drag consumers along with them especially when they are young and under 18 or 19 years old. I know that I am not in that vulnerable category but as an avid technology geek I am disinclined to accept the marketing hype of the MBA types and the profit margins that they seek. I am generally hard to persuade given my age. I am in favour of seeking new consumer laws to protect the public from the technobabble speakers that I hear so often. I think there needs to be either an Ombudsman to mediate these technology issues or alternatively a means to reduce the salary and bonuses of these "executives" who have "visions" which amount to nothing more than smoke and mirrors. They think their technospeak is so impressive but I beg to differ. If the executives got down and actually listened to the consumers in a realistic manner they would be far less inclined to ignore and be disrespectful to the consumer.
Ultimately I have the power to refuse to purchase new products from unresponsive and disrespectful manufacturers/vendors. Consumers recently demonstrated this collective power in their general refusal to participate in the corporate war relating to high definition DVD formats. Such a war is a terrible use of resources and many consumers expressed their dissatisfaction by not purchasing. Remember the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Corporations need to remember that they have reputations and once that it is damaged they can never get it back. Consumers will not trust them. That is why I have a lot of time for a vendor/manufacturer like Voodoo. You pay a premium but you get a quality product and service in the end. I hope HP remembers this. I would never have looked at the BB if it only had the HP name on it.
I think all of the technology led by corporate interests is doomed in terms of mediocrity as the level of risk that needs to be taken generally does not meet profitability bottom lines demanded by shareholders, directors and EX's who often forget to respect the needs of their customers especially those who are the most vunerable. Don't get me wrong, I am not against profitability; however, there must be more to a business besides monetary profit. If the corporate interests lack any sense of passion for their product or service then the overall business relationship with consumers will be lackluster. The principle of profit must be balanced with other socially acceptable principles which then allows for a better market relationship; however, realistically there is no easy way to balance the power between the manufacturer/vendor and consumer except for the consumer to refuse to buy and to do so en masse.
Bipolar Monkey, thanks for your comments. We need to hear about more of this. If there is a real pattern of abuse by manufacturers/vendors then we as consumers need to stand up and use whatever our leverage or power is to demand respect back from these people who have treated consumers in a shabby way and who hide behind the corporate veil. Yes, some of the products we buy are great but others are just a rip off. We need to make sure that there is justice for both the manufacturer/vendor and the purchaser. This is the only way technology will be able to progress with a good reputation.
I noticed the same
Virago — Mon, 03/24/2008 - 13:03I noticed the same stretching of the image when I plugged in my VGA adapter to my Samsung LCD (which is also 16/10). When fiddling with the resolutions in the settings menu of my xbox didn't help, I decided to try the actual monitors manual screen adjustment feature. I know its a less then favorable way of having to deal with this issue but pulling the sides in slightly worked perfectly. And best of all, it saved the setting for that monitor input so that when I switched back to my PC... it was back to normal!
I've since plugged in my HDMI input instead my my VGA cable and it still works. In my opinion, the culprit here is the monitor manufacturer who isn't following HD specs for their designs. What the hell is 16/10 anyways and why would they invent a product of that aspect ratio? makes no sense. Content out there is either 16/9 or 4/3 and developers have a hard enough time as it is trying to develop for those two let alone adding a third because some lazy manufacturers can't be bothered to designs their monitors properly.
- my two cents :)
Good Tip
MJB — Mon, 03/24/2008 - 18:23Virago. I agree. Who came up with 16:10? I had never heard of it until I started trying to figure out this Xbox issue. It seems a little like the chicken or egg. I will try out the suggested work around and let you know if it works.