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Free Desktop Wallpapers |
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help · faq |
Frequently Asked Questions |
Why Does COOL PICS Use Such Large Thumbs?Quite simple really, have you noticed that most desktop wallpaper websites use small thumbs which are often hard to see what they are, and this situation is even worse if you are using higher resolution monitors - so you are forced to click on the small thumb and you are taken to another page with a slightly larger thumb, and you would still have to click again to see what the image looks like full-size or to download it. Now thats 3 clicks you have done just to see a decent sized image of the picture you might, or might not like, and yet another 3 clicks to get back to where you were before. Thats 6 clicks for a view of each full size image !!! Here at COOLPICS you don't have to click the thumb image at all, our thumbs are huge - 750x563 - you can see exactly what the picture is about and only need click on it if you really want to see full size and / or download it, and there is only one click to get back to where you were before. Thats only 2 clicks for a view of each full size image. Our large thumbs are optimized for clarity, but with low file sizes to help with page loading - so it should be quick and easy to get around and view our galleries without wearing out your mouse - or your patience ! |
Why Does COOL PICS Only Offer 3 Desktop Wallpaper Resolutions?The answer to this question is two-fold. The first answer is a result of technology. With the ever changing release of newer devices, each featuring it's own particular design - from desktop computers, to laptops, notebooks, mobile phones, HDTv, etc. etc. it has become increasingly more difficult to keep up with all the non-standardized screen sizes and resolutions. We have considered the most common monitor types and screen resolutions in use and decided that there are still enough CRT monitors around to continue offering desktop wallpapers for them. We can also see that the first generation of LCD monitors are still extremely popular, so we include these also. The newer generation of LCD wide screen monitors and laptops are a fast growing minority although within this latter group there are variations regarding sizes and resolutions - some of these are often called native resolutions (non-standardized) which certain manufacturers have decided upon regardless of what the majority of manufacturers are using. We support the standardized wide screen resolution but It is the latter group of native resolutions that we do not currently support although we do watch the market trends and will certainly incorporate native resolutions if we see a significant increase in usage. So to recap - we support the following monitors: CRT monitors with an aspect ratio of 4:3 LCD monitors with an aspect ratio of 5:4 LCD wide screen monitors and laptops with an aspect ratio of 16:10 The second part of the answer is somewhat less technical - you may notice some websites offering screen resolutions like this: CRT Monitors: 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1152x864 1280x 960 1600x1200 While the above example of resolutions is regarding CRT monitors, the same thinking is also applied to LCD monitors - however the above is mostly a complete waste of time - more a case of website eye candy than anything else. From the above example, why download inferior quality resolutions when you might just as well get the best available resolution which in the example above is 1600x1200. This will work perfectly on all inferior CRT monitor resolution settings because it is the same aspect ratio, so really there is only one resolution necessary for all 4:3 CRT monitors. The same goes for all LCD and wide screen resolutions. Here at COOLPICS we only offer the very highest screen resolution that we have available - if the highest available is 1024x768 then that is what we offer - we will not offer an inferior 800x600 at the same time. We will not offer a 1024x768 resolution if we have a quality 1600x1200 available. We will not offer a 1280x800 resolution if we have a quality 1920x1200 available. We no longer offer 800x600 resolutions.
Oranges & Apples? While many other websites will claim that there is no advantage to using a 1600x1200 desktop wallpaper on a monitor which is set to display only 800x600 (this is correct - your monitor will "drop" all excess pixels) the end result will not be a noticably improved quality (it will most certainly NOT be worse), the fact remains that you are definately most likely to upgrade your current monitor, and the newer monitor will almost definately offer higher resolutions - so if you have been creating a personal desktop wallpaper collection over the years based on 800x600 resolutions, and you upgrade your monitor to 1024x768 you now have a problem - all those 800x600 desktop wallpapers CERTAINLY WILL LOOK WORSE on your new monitor (your monitor is now missing pixels). Are you now going to go around the internet looking for your favourite desktop wallpapers all over again ? NO - This is why we advocate getting the best resolution quality available while you can - it will save you frustration and headaches in the (not so distant) future. |
