Pictures of 14.1" SXGA+ screen in non-native resolution

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DaveH · #1 Post by **DaveH** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:14 am

I know it's a lot to ask, but I've seen that people on this forum are extremely helpful and knowledgeable, so I'm wondering if you could help me out. Could someone post pictures of the SXGA LCD while it's displaying at lower res?

Right now I'm torn between the 2378FVU or similar spec model with XGA & 7500. I definitely want the 14.1", would really like the 9600, but I'm concerned about my eyesight (laptops will come and go, but you've only got one set of eyes).

At home I use a 17" LCD running at 1280 x 1024 (native) for my desktop. At work I've got a 15" CRT running at 1024 x 768 (1280x1024 is max but there's letter-boxing). If I crank the 15" up to 1280x1024, my eyes are a little uncomfortable.

I've read all the threads that I could find on the issue and it seems either or. Simply lowering the resolution does not seem to be an option. But this too is a matter of taste. My work monitor is a little "soft" so I might be able to tolerate the antialiasing in non-native lower-res. Could someone post pictures for me to look at how good/bad it looks?

"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." or something? The picture needs to be clear enough to distinguish the difference between native and non-native.

Regarding what I plan to do with the machine. Primarily word processing, web surfing, movie watching (DVD and .AVIs), with a little game playing (probably hooked up to an external monitor and inputs). This would be a semi-desktop replacement as it's higher spec than my home machine even.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

edelrc · #2 Post by **edelrc** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:54 am

I only have the 15" T42p, so better someone with the 14" give you those pictures. But regarding your concerns with the high resolution, I do not like high resolution on regular screens either, however when it comes to laptops, my preferences changes. It must be something with the technology and/or the fact that you have that screen much closer to your eyes...

Must people like the high resolution... but it make takes a couple of days to get to that point, then there is a small minority never get to that point. I would get the SXGA+ and test it for a few days, stats will be in your side!

A laptop, in non-native resolution, it is not good as a long term solution.

JHEM · #3 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:33 am

Dave,

If you really want to know what the 14.1" display will look like at XGA (1024X768) just look at your work 15" CRT!

A 15" CRT only has approx 14" of viewable desktop (closer to a 13.3" LCD actually), whereas your home 17" LCD is akin to a 19" CRT in viewable image.

Never, ever change from the default resolution of your LCD display for long periods of time, they're not designed for it and neither of you will be happy.

For those of us with ancient eyes, there seems to be general agreement that XGA is the go-to resolution in a 14.1" display unless you're willing to wear reading glasses, in which case SXGA is an excellent alternative.

But if you want an XGA resolution, then get your Thinkpad with an XGA display. Getting one with an SXGA+ display and then changing it to XGA will result in a LESS viewable desktop, not more.

Regards,

James

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 12:20 pm

The default resolution of my T41 is 1024x768. In fact, it will not go higher. I use Clear Type, and I am very happy with the resolution and the LCD display. I also happen to like 1024x768 and don't want higher at this point.

I have a NetVisa A30 desktop. I put a NEC AccuSync 17" LCD monitor on this machine, and I run it at 1024x768 (a) because I like it, and (b) because it is the same for document resolution as the Laptop.

I use Clear Type and Clear Tweak (available from Microsoft) and have tweaked the contrast so as to make the display very clear. I am happy with the results.

Why won't the NEC AccuSync be happy with my resolution? It has higher native resolution but works well the way I set it. ... John Hurst

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:28 pm

what is, where is clear tweak?

awolfe63 · #6 Post by **awolfe63** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:23 pm

Just take my word for it - it is bad enough that you don't want to use it. Not a judgement call at all.

#7 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 6:28 pm

Clear Tweak is available from Microsoft - just search for it. I have no idea how awolfe63 formed his/her opinion, but it is completely wrong. Clear Tweak works great, and on a Desktop Large Flat Screen, you want it or the monitor will look terrible. I am using a monitor with the contrast tweaked and it looks super.

It may be that Clear Tweak did not work for awolfe63, and I accept that. But the sweeping generalization is wrong.
... JD Hurst

DaveH · #8 Post by **DaveH** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 6:38 pm

Okay, thanks for your help all. I'm going to try hard to find a SXGA to look at in person. I have another crazy question... is it possible to buy a replacement part LCD that's XGA then put it on a T42 that has the ATI Radeon 9600? Crazy, I know, I'm just wondering....

plucky duck · #9 Post by **plucky duck** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:24 am

My work place has the Samsung 17" LCD with 1280*1024 native res and EVERYBODY is forced to use the non-native 1024*768 resolution.

And we're not allowed to change it, even if at the end of the shift we switch it back. Apparently for those who monitor our calls and screen remotely it messes up the screen on their end. Bah.

I brought this up to my supervisor and she does absolutely nothing. What the hell is with IT choosing to buy quality screens and having them downgraded to a lower res. If you want us to use XGA then get screens with that natively.

How can you not notice the non-native screen resolution's blurry text??

taphil · #10 Post by **taphil** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 3:37 am

I tried to take pics of native vs. non-native resolution, but it doesn't come out well. The non-native res is horrible, so I would not recommend getting SXGA+ and running the lower resolution.

I did take a pic of the screen though. I really like the display and am not sure what others are complaining about regarding the 14" LCDs

1 - 14.1" SXGA+
2 - 14.1" SXGA+
3 - Samsung 213T 21.3" LCD 1600x1200 for comparison (it's actually brighter than it looks in the pic)

DaveH · #11 Post by **DaveH** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:29 am

taphil, I really appreciate the pictures. Those are under native res? Or which one's which? If those are in Native res, then I don't think I'll have a problem.

benz · #12 Post by **benz** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:03 am

As you can see in my signature below, I have a T42p with an SXGA+ screen. Here are some pictures of the full screen (only thing I did was go into display properties and change res between shots) in all the different resolution modes the default display panel will allow:

SXGA+ (1400x1050)
SXGA (1280x1024)
XGA (1024x768)
SVGA (800x600)

And these are closeups of a small area in the upper corner of the screen as I did the same thing:

SXGA+ (1400x1050)
SXGA (1280x1024)
XGA (1024x768)
SVGA (800x600)

Hope this helps, but as always, don't make your decision based solely on this....remember, IBM has a 30 day 'trial period' so to speak.

I just had a chance to look them over pretty closely, and I really gotta say they don't do the screen any justice at all. The SXGA+ pics almost look the worst, and the most pixelated, but thats because the camera does not work the same way our eyes do. It just picks up the image as a series of pixels, whereas our eyes look at the image as a whole, and sort of blend the pixels together so it looks like a continuous image. In fact, it kind of looks like the lower resolution I go the better the camera likes it - of course, this is quite the opposite to my eyes! Again, these are not representative of the real thing so don't make any decision based on them.

fireracer7 · #13 Post by **fireracer7** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:25 am

benz,

Very nice picture. I was interested in two pieces of software which were showing in your system tray: the one to the right of Outlook (looks like a signal indicator) and the one to the left of the IBM Active Harddrive Protector (looks like a gold shield). What are they? This is my first laptop and I don't know too much about laptop specific software.

Thank you!

benz · #14 Post by **benz** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:39 am

fireracer7 wrote:benz,

Very nice picture. I was interested in two pieces of software which were showing in your system tray: the one to the right of Outlook (looks like a signal indicator) and the one to the left of the IBM Active Harddrive Protector (looks like a gold shield). What are they? This is my first laptop and I don't know too much about laptop specific software.

Thank you!

Thanks, actually that signal indicator type icon is the new icon for Windows wireless connection (new in SP2). I use IBM Access Connections and its wireless utility (next to the windows icon) to setup my wireless connection, but the windows icon still appears. I don't really care, it doesn't cause any problems. The gold shield is my antivirus software, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition.

DaveH · #15 Post by **DaveH** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:41 am

benz, that was extremely helpful, thank you. Looking at that, I doubt I'll have a problem. Actually, I've be "practicing" using my monitor at work with the res turned up and I'm slowly getting used to it.

taphil · #16 Post by **taphil** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:04 am

DaveH wrote:taphil, I really appreciate the pictures. Those are under native res? Or which one's which? If those are in Native res, then I don't think I'll have a problem.

Those are all at native res and with the Windows default font size setting. I think working with 14" SXGA+ is comparable to 17" 1280x1024 because I usually sit a bit farther away from the desktop LCD than from the laptop (you have to pretty much be within comfortable typing arm length from the laptop), so it works out to be the same.

Pictures of 14.1" SXGA+ screen in non-native resolution

Pictures of 14.1" SXGA+ screen in non-native resolution

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