Why is it that all new "dedicated" satnavs have a "landscape" screen rather than "portrait" Surely we are not particularly bothered about what is off to the side but what is ahead and a "portrait" view would be able to show more?
Or is this a daft question?? I only ask because I have an old PDA which has satnav with a "portrait" view and prefer it to my PNA which is "landscape" - but it may be purely subjective of course.
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Phil
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Hadn't though of that - the only reason I can think of they need to be landscape to fit in all the icons/displays at the bottom of the screen.
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It could be because we are all so familiar with the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio of televisions, laptops and computer monitors that a portrait style satnav would look somewhat strange.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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It's landscape so you can get the full name of the side roads off the one you are driving on- maybe?
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I can flip my PDA between portrait and landscape.
To be honest, I hardly look at the thing, just listen to it so it doesn't make much difference.
However, it fits better between the gearlever gaiter and the radio when in landscape!.
I've just fired it up and you do seem to be able to see more in landscape - road names and the stuff at the bottom is in a bigger font.
Don't forget - when you're going straight on you don't need instructions or a map, it when you are turning off that you need them and landscape seems to display more of the side turn you will be taking.
Martin
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If you are in 3D mode then the physical patch of ground that the view represents is actually portrait or tending to it, isnt it? In any event my guess wouild be that they are made as they are simply because TV and PC screens are this format and its what people expect!
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Solely for marketing purposes.
Whilst 16:9 almost makes sense for TV (as opposed to 4:3), it makes no sense in the world of Sat Nav IMO.
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What you are actually looking at is a window showing a scrolling view of a map approx 200m wide and of potentially vast length (start ot finish of your journey).
You shouldn't be looking at the screen anyway.
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