T43 15" UXGA native resolution question

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GibLP · #1 Post by **GibLP** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:00 pm

Hi Everyone. I am considering buying a T43 with a 15" UXGA (1600x1200) screen. If I decide that for some applications the 1600x1200 resolution is too small, will I be able to lower the resolution to 1400 x 1050 and still be in "native" resolution (not stretched or look bad)?

The reason I ask is that for one, the price difference between a 15" SXGA+ and UXGA would be only about $150 for the pricing I was looking at. Second, the 15" SXGA+ resolution is 1400 x 1050 so therefore I should be able to step down the UXGA to that, right?

Thank you for the help.

#2 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:12 pm

LCD monitors only have one native resolution because the native resoultion refers to the physical number of pixels the screen contians. If you want a lower resolution, get a laptop with a different screen, that's all you can really do.

GibLP · #3 Post by **GibLP** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:15 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:LCD monitors only have one native resolution because the native resoultion refers to the physical number of pixels the screen contians. If you want a lower resolution, get a laptop with a different screen, that's all you can really do.

thank you for the reply. But why then does both the 14" and 15" models come in sxga 1400 x 1050 res? Which one is "native" then?

JHEM · #4 Post by **JHEM** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:43 pm

They're both "native", one's just 1" larger than the other.

Don't confuse display size with display resolution.

Regards,

James

#5 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:06 am

Native resoulution, as I already said, is set by number of pixels. The screen size is set by how big each pixel is. Here's one example: my FrankenPad 760XD has the same size screen as my 760E but the 760XD has smaller pixels and more of them, so it displays in 1024x760 as opposed to the 760E's 800x600.

dukajoe · #6 Post by **dukajoe** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:35 am

I posted a similar question a few days ago, and so I went to the store and looked at a UXGA, and it was awesome. It sounds small, but you can read everything because it is so clear, or at least I was able to. If you use 120 dpi fonts or even the 135 (next step up) it makes the font bigger if you like and it looks a lot better than on a lower resolution screen. If you have problems with internet explorer, use mozilla with the enlarging feature. Basically, things are small but they are readable, unless you are old man withers. Moreover, this font problem is a ridiculous defeciency in technology. The next windows focuses heavily on catering to higher res screen, because they will be very prevelent in the next coulple of years, except for early oled, but that will be really expensive anyways. If you plan to keep your laptop for 4 years, you will be glad you got UXGA, I believe, but for sure go to a store like bestbuy or cicuit city and look at the screen.

GibLP · #7 Post by **GibLP** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:12 am

Thanks! So, in other words, the T43 14" 1400 x 1050 will look considerably better than 15" 1400 x 1050 because they both have the same number of pixels. Is that correct?

sonoma · #8 Post by **sonoma** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:23 am

T43 14" 1400 x 1050 will look considerably better than 15" 1400 x 1050 because they both have the same number of pixels. Is that correct?

--> I think it is the opposite.

stgreek · #9 Post by **stgreek** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:30 am

GibLP wrote:Thanks! So, in other words, the T43 14" 1400 x 1050 will look considerably better than 15" 1400 x 1050 because they both have the same number of pixels. Is that correct?

14" might look sharper, but that is only because the pixels will be smaller. Of course, that means that everything on your screen will look smaller.

GibLP · #10 Post by **GibLP** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:06 am

The reason I'm asking is because the difference in price isn't great between a 14" sxga and a 15" UXGA:

2686E7U: T43 14" SXGA, 1.86Ghz, 60GB 7200, cdrw: $1721
vs.
2687EJU: T43 15" UXGA, 2Ghz, 60GB 7200, cdrw: $1841
vs.
2687EHU: T43 15" SXGA, 1.86Ghz, 60GB 7200, cdrw: $1796

So, I would guess it would pay to go for the 15" UXGA, right? What do you guys think? Bascially, I'm I would like great graphics, pretty fast processor, pretty compact, although I'm not going to be travelling a lot. I'm mainly going to be using this for software programming, spreadsheets, word processing and web browsing.

Thanks!

stgreek · #11 Post by **stgreek** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:09 am

If you go for mobility, take the 14", no question about that. The weight/size difference is bigger than it seems. If however you go for a 15" take the UXGA, you will especially appreciate the extra screen estate the first time you try to code on it.

Stavros

PinaColada · #12 Post by **PinaColada** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:08 am

About the UXGA resolution and text size questions, I came across this helpful article today, not sure if you've seen it already:

http://www1.la.dell.com/content/topics/ ... =en&s=corp

I know it's written by DELL, and this is an IBM forum ... but the info should be quite useful to anyone wanting to know more about high rez screens.

dukajoe · #13 Post by **dukajoe** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:26 pm

Good article, Pina. Thats better than most of the stuff I found. And Gib, for Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and programming, the UXGA is awesome for. You can see more on the spreadsheets and programming layouts, and the high dpi fonts on Word look really pimp, in my opinoin. For web browsing, its a mixed bag. If you get mozilla firefox, you can resize web pages relatively easily, but if you do it in IE, some fonts look big and some look really small. It sounds like you could use a uxga, but definaltely go look at one before you decide.

GibLP · #14 Post by **GibLP** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:37 pm

Thank you everyone for the help! I would like to check out some T43s (mainly for helping decide about the screens) at a store, but I don't know of any chain electronics stores that carry IBMs. Are there any?

#15 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:19 pm

Your best bet is to find a friend with a similar ThinkPad or look in the used computer stores. IBM doesn't really market out to retail like the other companies do.

dfumento · #16 Post by **dfumento** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:49 pm

RCS Computer Experience in NYC
http://www.rcsnet.com/www_site/index.cfm

plucky duck · #17 Post by **plucky duck** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:07 am

I don't know if you guys have Rogers wireless down there, if so go to one of their retail shops as they have a few T40s and T41s hooked up with internet access and you can see one in person to give you an idea.

Aramitz · #18 Post by **Aramitz** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:15 am

If I can say
14'= SXGA
15'= UXGA

-If you can , try watching the same DVD on a 15' SXGA & UXGA !?
-For surfing, you can use Mozilla or Opera 8 with font size
-If you've a surging big problem....Fn + spacebar

GibLP · #19 Post by **GibLP** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:28 am

I guess the deciding factor is that I really don't need ultra-portability. I will be using this around the house, outside...etc and occasionally travelling with it. From what I've read here, the 15" T43 is relatively portable and light for any 15" model.

The way I see it is that the 14" sxga is $1721 and the 15" uxga is $1841, how can I not pass up the 15" for an extra $120 even though I don't really *need* the better graphics card.

As said before I value screen real estate for my coding and web browsing and also watching DVDs.

I'm just concerned that the screen res will be *too* small for some applications, eg. word processing.

Thanks.

Leon · #20 Post by **Leon** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:16 pm

If you don't need/want "ultra portability", you are making the right decision.

The Weissman · #21 Post by **The Weissman** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:21 pm

Hell, I've got an A30 (over 7 lbs.) now, and I cart it everywhere, so the 15" T42 I've got coming (over 5 lbs.) sounds wonderful to me.

1400x1050 looks pretty tiny, even on 15", to these aging eyes, but I want that real estate, and I will not buy a 1024x768 laptop. I've installed a trial of LiquidView (mentioned elsewhere on this forum) and I like it (though I don't see $30 in it).

Steve

Aramitz · #22 Post by **Aramitz** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:50 pm

IMHO a 15'UXGA will be the best choice for coding'n watching DVDs.
It's easy to increase the font size.
As a seaman , we say: the best is never too much

GibLP · #23 Post by **GibLP** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:05 pm

cool...Thanks for the replies! Sounds like the 15" UXGA is best for my application. I haven't actually touched a thinkpad since the T20 series so I think I will try to make it out to a store to check it out at least size & weight wise.

One more question: Can anyone decipher the various waranties available? First, the computer comes with a 3 year Base warranty? Is that good enough for most problems that may come about? Beacuse there is:
IBM Thinkpad Protection 3 years +169
Waranty service upgrade, Cons Spac TP, etc...

Sounds like the add'l Thinkpad protection may be good.

Thanks.

Aramitz · #24 Post by **Aramitz** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:49 pm

Don't worry !
TP are the strongest'n the most tested notebooks.
IBM guarantee is the best'n fastest .
3 years is largely enough. You'll be rich enough to buy a new one

I'm thinking to change mine for a T43p (a real TP) coz I'm afraid of the chinese quality !!??

Leon · #25 Post by **Leon** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:43 pm

The Protection is very good and recommended! For VERY short $$ (about $57/year) you have the peace of mind that if you drop it and/or break the screen, IBM will make it like new! This is NOT a profit item for IBM, but a Value Add!

Daniel · #26 Post by **Daniel** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:41 am

Don't forget that the 15" screens have Flexview, unlike the 14" ones.

T43 15" UXGA native resolution question

T43 15" UXGA native resolution question

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