Thinkpads Forum

I have a T20 with a native resolution of 1024x768. When switched to 800x600, the scaling is very jagged. On newer lcd panels, the scaling is a smooth interpolation.

My question is: at what point did Thinkpads switch to smooth scaling? I would like to get an A22p, but only if it has smooth scaling. Some games will only run in 800x600 and I would like to use the full screen (no black bars).

It is fundamentally an OS problem. With Windows XP, and a very high resolution screen, large fonts (not the DPI setting) work pretty well. But low resolutions do not (jagged as you point out).

Vista is supposed to solve that. Unfortunately Vista does not yet run critical software (still in the alpha stage so far as I can see), so I cannot use it to test.

... JD Hurst

Thanks for the reply, jdhurst. I've seen a lot of talk about the merits of high res vs low res, but the issue of scaling hasn't really been addressed. Older laptops like my T20 do not interpolate smoothly. Newer laptops (and older expensive lcd monitors) have no problem. Compare a T2x at 800x600 and a T6x at 800x600 to see a blatant example.

Scaling is more of an issue with the graphics chipset. The three ThinkPads that I have that are in full use, a T21 (with 8mb Savage IX), a 600 (with 2mb NeoMagic 128XD) and a 770ED (with a 4mb Trident chipset) the scaling looks pretty jagged and illegible but on my friend's A21m with a 4mb ATI Mobility M, scaled resolutions look pretty smooth and sharp.

Sounds like anything that's a basic ATI and above will do it. Excellent, thank you.

Your best bet would be to post in the A series forum and ask for someone with an A22 to try it at 800x600 ...