Fremont, Calif. — The super-widescreen 21:9 aspect ratio for HD displays hasn’t disappeared yet, but it is being repositioned as a monitor play.
AOC said Monday that it is now offering its Q2963PM ($499 suggested retail) 29-inch 21:9 super-widescreen HD monitor with IPS LED technology and multiple connectivity solutions, including DisplayPort, DVI and HDMI, “to provide a cinematic display experience.”
The Q2963PM includes 3-watt stereo speakers and WFHD 2,560 by 1,080 resolution.
AOC said the extra width of the screen will enable users to multitask on one screen, showing, for example, a Blu-ray movie on one half while working on a spreadsheet on the other half.
The different input options will enable a variety of picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture options, AOC said.
MHL technology is also added to mirror a smartphone or tablet using a wired connection.
Companies including Vizio, Philips and JVC had introduced or demonstrated prototype big-screen TVs using the 21:9 aspect ratio in recent years, but the trend never caught on as a dedicated living room play, so monitor makers, like AOC, instead realized the multitasking potential of the wider screen for desktops.
The 21:9 aspect ratio also allows Cinemascope and other widescreen movies to be viewed without black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. The display offers a 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, a 178-degree viewing angle, 250 cd/m² brightness, and a 5ms response time.
The display is also 100mm VESA compatible so that it can be mounted to the wall to save space and create a streamlined look.
AOC said it is currently selling the Q2963PM through Amazon, Microcenter, Newegg, TigerDirect, Canada Computers and other national retailers.
