Laptop LCD Screen Resolutions - Annoying?

[GizmoFreak]

I've noticed that most high end notebooks today come with high-resolution LCD screens. The common XGA (1024x768) screens have been replaced with SXGA+ (1400x1050) and UXGA (1600x1200).

But doesn't text look too small under SXGA+ or UXGA? Even with a 15 inch screen. I guess you can increase system font size (which looks rather poor in Win 2000 IMHO), but what about web pages? Adusting the Text Font in Internet Explorer increases the fonts on only some text and sometimes distorts the layout. Web pages look so small and distant. Induces eye-strain.

Anyone else bothered by this? Are there any ways around this? Laptop screens don't really work well outside of their native resolutions, so bumping down the res won't really work.

You can't even get Dell's flagship Inspiron 8200 with a XGA screen anymore.

Just wondering what people think.

 

[Oscar1613]

as long as you've got semi-decent eyes, text shouldnt be a problem... text on my compaq 2800 with 15" sxga+ is only a tiny bit smaller than text on my samsung 753df 17" monitor at 1152x864. i actually prefer the laptop because its alittle clearer and gives me less eye strain

 

[GizmoFreak]

How do you like that 2800 by the way? One specific question... is it annoying that the insert key is right next to the smallish space bar?
I'm considering a 2800 or a Dell Inspiron 8200. The USB 2.0 on the Compaq sounds nice

 

[Viper GTS]

1600x1200 is pretty damn small for me on my 19" CRT, I don't even want to think what it would be like on a laptop LCD.

Not all of us have perfect or better than perfect vision, I will consider myself damn lucky if I ever see 20/25 in my left eye and 20/30 in my right - And that's after surgery, contacts, and glasses.

Viper GTS

 

[TNTrulez]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
1600x1200 is pretty damn small for me on my 19" CRT, I don't even want to think what it would be like on a laptop LCD.

Not all of us have perfect or better than perfect vision, I will consider myself damn lucky if I ever see 20/25 in my left eye and 20/30 in my right - And that's after surgery, contacts, and glasses.

Viper GTS

Isn't there some utility to bump up the font size for laptops?

 

[GizmoFreak]

Isn't there some utility to bump up the font size for laptops?

Would love to know if anybody has any information about this

 

[Alphathree33]

First of all you should use Microsoft's ClearType on LCDs screens.

Secondly, you can bump the font size in windows and the default font size in IE quite easily.

Thirdly I have my 15.1" Enhanced UXGA screen on my inspiron 8200 in 1600x1200x32 sitting right next to me, and I use it just fine all the time. It's not too small.

 

[IcemanJer]

12.1" LCD running 1024x768.
VAIO superslim pro, oh yeah.

I've seen some of those SXGA+ and UXGA on laptops.. 14" and 15" screens. I'd say the text and everything is way too small. If I'm going to up the icon and font size, might as well save some money and go for a screen with lesser resolution.

 

[hoihtah]

i think i can get used to 1600x1200 resolution on a 19" CRT... (only if my samsung 955df supported higher Hz.)
considering... 15 LCD inch is more like 17 CRT... i'd say... it'll probably be a bit too small for my taste

 

[Tripleshot]

Alphathree33

I have my Dell 8200 right here also, and at 1400x1050, MSNBC.com does not even open to fill the whole screen. I have clear type on this laptop as well. Some websites are hard to read text on and lowering resolution looks like crap.

I will monitor this thread with great interest, because I am not happy with looking at my 15" screen as if the damn thing is supposed to be a 21" CRT. This flat sucks.:|

 

[dartworth]

I'm on a Inspiron 8100 running at 1600 x 1200... looked small at first. Now I am used to it. When I go back to using my desktop the icons just look huge.

This screen is awesome.

 

[Oscar1613]

Originally posted by: sjk
How do you like that 2800 by the way? One specific question... is it annoying that the insert key is right next to the smallish space bar?
I'm considering a 2800 or a Dell Inspiron 8200. The USB 2.0 on the Compaq sounds nice

i'm very satisfied with it... havent had one problem with it that i didnt cause:Q only complaint is that the bottom gets very warm after extended use, but if you're using it long enough for it to get warm enough so that its uncomfortable, chances are you should be in a place with something to put it on other than your lap. also, itd be better if battery life was alittle bit longer, but thats the tradeoff for a P4 (m) processor..

yeah, the insert key is kinda in an annoying position... but not quite as annoying as my desktop keyboard... i've got an old one, so the backspace key is the same size as a regular key, so i cant tell when i go one key too far over and accidentally press the insert key... that pisses me off :| but i dont have that problem with the 2800... i rarely hit the insert key by accident on it.

 

[Nefrodite]

err just go to display properties/advanced and then choose large fonts. having more pixels is a good thing, screen res aren't all that high when you think about it ever look at output from your laser printer? thats sharp

 

[GizmoFreak]

Thanks for the comments about the 2800.
That it has an XGA option gives it a leg over the Dell 8200 in my book.

Looks like you need XP to take full advantage of ClearType. Bummer

 

[vi edit]

Maybe my vision(corrected with glasses) is better than others, but I really don't have any problems using the 1400x1050 on my Dell 15" screen. I only sit about 18" from my laptop screen vs a good 24"-32" from a CRT monitor, so it evens out. The closer you sit to the monitor, the higher res you can comfortably use.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
First of all you should use Microsoft's ClearType on LCDs screens.

WOW!! that made a huge difference , i am running at 1024x768 but with this cleartype turned on , i might try a little higher settting
thank you

 

[Oscar1613]

Originally posted by: sjk
Thanks for the comments about the 2800.
That it has an XGA option gives it a leg over the Dell 8200 in my book.

Looks like you need XP to take full advantage of ClearType. Bummer

this might help some too... dell vs compaq. there's no clear winner tho, it all depends what you want to do with the laptop and how much you're willing to spend...

and i think the compaq only comes with XP... as long as you're not horribly far-sighted and sit reasonably close to the screen, you shouldnt have a problem reading text on 15" sxga+

 

[Dudd]

Originally posted by: jfano
I'm on a Inspiron 8100 running at 1600 x 1200... looked small at first. Now I am used to it. When I go back to using my desktop the icons just look huge.

This screen is awesome.

Exact same here. My 8200 with a UXGA screen looked small at first, but now my desktop looks horribly big compared to it. Unless you have horrible vision, I recommend the UXGA screen.

 

[GizmoFreak]

Anyone tried Dell's enhanced UXGA screen? Is it an improvement over the UXGA? Enough to justify the price difference?

 

[bacillus]

for those of you using IE & find that the fonts are too small with high resolution laptop screens then go to internet properties>accessibility & check the box for "ignore font sizes specified on web pages".

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: sjk
Anyone tried Dell's enhanced UXGA screen? Is it an improvement over the UXGA? Enough to justify the price difference?

My enhanced UXGA is nicer than my 18" Sony LCD.

 

[vailr]

An 1152x864 LCD native resolution would be nice.

 

[Leland]

I use a uxga dell 8200 for work, but I need to buy a system for the home. I like the screen, but hate the system -- it feels like it will break and I can't stand travelling with it.

I want to get one in the 5 lb range - either dell latitude c600, dell 4150, thinkpad t30 or compaq 610c. Now, all these come with xga screens. I like the extra resolution, will I find xga too small? More importantly, is sxga+ worth $500 more?

Opinions (I assume there's no factual answer to this)?