[WEB4LIB] Re: TView Micro XGA by Focus Enhancements

[Bob Rasmussen]

See clarifications below.

On Wed, 16 Dec 1998, Kyle Harriss wrote:

> Re: Scan Converters
> ...
> What kind of input connectors are on your TV?  If it's just
> coax or RCA jacks, that's not so good.  If you are in luck, your
> TV has an SVHS connector.  Then you can look for a scan converter
> with the same.  This style connection apparently allows for 
> separation of the color signals - minimizing "color bleed".

It is true that SVHS is better than coax, but I believe RCA jacks are even
better, as they provide a "component" signal - separate wires for red, green,
blue, and sync.

However...

> 
> The other piece I would ask you to check is this:  how many of the
> web pages and other images you use for presentation are formatted
> for 640x480.  A standard TV cannot provide 800x600.  Some scan
> converters will provide mechanisms to allow you to see all of an
> 800x600 image, but the quality suffers!

American television sets can display only 511 lines. Furthermore, they are
displayed interlaced. Scan converters can not change this. Consequently, while
they may work for graphics and large text, I don't believe they will be
satisfactory for small text or precise graphics, because there are just not
enough pixels to work with. Also, certain content will show flickering caused
by the interlacing.

Scan converters appeared then disappeared a few years ago, when computer
screens showed mostly small characters, such as when word processing or doing
terminal emulation. I believe the reason they have reappeared is that more
content is web pages now, with larger text. But similarly, you'll notice in
the fine print for devices such as WebTV that they include disclaimers for
small text.

Regards,
....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.

personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
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