why landscape format for most dedicated gps units

Si · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2003 Posts: 26

Why is the most common format that of "landscape" for gps units

Surely when you are driving you are going ahead, and even if you turn the map re orients itself so where you are going is at the top, so why have a longer format than a taller one? Must be good reasons what are they please.

Thanks Simon. 8O

MarkHewitt · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:53 am Post subject:

One reason is that landscape is more pleasing to the eye. If even subconsiously most people would prefer looking at a landscape screen than portrait, thus more sales. Remember this is *before* they purchase the unit so actual usage has little to do with it!

Also most people put these as windscreen mounts and landscape units are easier to see over the top of. Plus it gives you more space on the bottom for information.

But I do agree with you, when I used my PC I stuck to portrait mode as it was superior.

Darren · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:21 pm Post subject:

Because our eyes operate in 'landscape' format this is the most preferred even though it offers less in a satnav.
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martike · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 02, 2005 Posts: 194

TonyV5 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject:

I use a GPSmap76sc for in-car nav. & it would be nice if it switched to landscape. the buttons are at the top, so if you want to change something you have to use a finger & thumb or chance pushing it off the mount. but having said that the portarit is great for the route display.
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Darren · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject:

neil01 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:01 pm Post subject:

I have seen, both versions, and to be honest I dont think that either format is better in all cicumstances.

If the map display is actually square, with the surrounding space filled with other details, I really think there is little difference - it is simply personal preference.

But if the map is a rectangle, I prefer portrait for 2D maps and landscape for 3D maps.

Because the driving heading is normally shown up, I like to see as far ahead as I can, so the increased vertical in landscape can be an advantage. But with 3D, the perspective is distorted, it being squashed vertically increasingly towards the top and stretched horizontally increasingly towards the bottom (this being how the 3D effect is obtained). This results in much more of the road ahead being shown, so any extra hight doesn't really make that much of a diferrence to what you usefully see, but, what you see to the side of where you are is reduced. So any increase in width is now an advantage. This can be provided by a wide map display.

Because I have been reading paper maps for so long, I am used to translating what I see on the map, to what is on the road, so 3D doesn't really bother me too much. In fact I rather prefer the lack of distorted perspective, and the additional detail often provided on 2D maps.

So for me, its portrait mode.

MarkHewitt · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

neil,
Your post makes a lot of sense!

I too prefer looking at the map view, as I've been looking at maps since I was about 5 years old. I just can't get with the 3D view at all.

However all the marketing pictures you ever see for SatNav's show the 3D view exclusively, and indeed, this looks better on a landscape screen.

neil01 · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject:

Perhaps the ideal would be a 'square' screen where you can chose between Portrait with buttons down the side(s), or Landscape with the buttons at the top and/or botton.

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