screen size vertical inches; retail stores

Message

bill333 · #1 Post by **bill333** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:06 pm

Dumb question, but I can't seem to find a simple answer:
Does anyone know how much vertical screen size (in inches) is available on a 14 inch standard vs a 14 widescren vs a 15 widescreen?
Even better, does anyone know how many lines of text will fit in Microsoft word at native resolutions for different screen sizes? I'm one of those people that work mostly in text, and have been hesitating to get the 15 in WS T61 thinking it has less vertical real estate than a standard 14 (which, it appears, may or may never appear) or am I off base?

question 2: anyone know if the T61 will appear in a retail store like a stapes or best buy so we can actually see one before buying?

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:29 pm

bill333 wrote:Even better, does anyone know how many lines of text will fit in Microsoft word at native resolutions for different screen sizes?

What matters is the display's resolution, not its physical dimensions. In other words, a 10.4" 1024x768 (i.e. "XGA") screen shows the same number of MS Word text lines as a 15.0" 1024x768 screen. In this example, the first number "1024" indicates the number of pixels along the width of the screen, and the second number "768" indicates the number of pixels heightwise.

If you want to get more vertical real estate, choose a resolution with the highest possible vertical pixel count. 768 is the lowest for laptop displays. You can do marginally better by opting for a 1280x800 (i.e. "WXGA") widescreen display, slightly better with a 1440x900 ("WXGA+") widescreen, and even better by getting a 1400x1050 (i.e. "SXGA+") 4:3 aspect ratio or a 1680x1050 ("WSXGA+") widescreen display. If you can wait for a little longer, the T61p will offer a 15.4" 1920x1200 ("WUXGA") resolution.

bill333 wrote:question 2: anyone know if the T61 will appear in a retail store like a stapes or best buy so we can actually see one before buying?

Yes, but you'd find only one unit on display, most likely one with a 1280x800 screen, which is not very helpful because you want to compare several models with different resolutions.

#3 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:50 pm

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

A simple answer is not so simple. I don't think that you can compare "vertical inches" between different screens in order to determine how much of your Word document can be viewed. For example, a standard (non-widescreen, or 4:3 aspect ratio) 14" LCD can be XGA resolution (1024 wide by 768 high pixels) or SXGA+ (1400 wide x 1050 high). Of course that means you can see "more" on the SXGA+ display, at the expense of a slightly smaller text size given the same font setting on both displays.

On an R61 that I recently used, the 14" widescreen display was 1440 x 900 pixels (WXGA). So it can display more vertical pixels than the XGA screen, but slightly less than the SXGA+. If you go with the T61's 15" WSXGA+ display, then I believe the number of vertical pixels is the same as the 14" SXGA+ I have on a T23 (1050).

Blah... I see pianowizard already covered everything I said but took too long in composing. Really got to stop answering the phone when I'm typing....

bill333 · #4 Post by **bill333** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:07 pm

thanks. I didn't do a very good job of asking my question, which is why novices like me need help from you experts! I should have asked -- at the max resolution available on a t61, what is the number of lines of text I can fit in a MS word doc viewed at 100%...

I was using 'inches' as a proxy for the above question, since I can, on my desktop monitor, which has a high res than any laptop, test to see how many lines of text will show up under different resolutions.

hope this is clearer, thanks!

pianowizard · #5 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:16 pm

bill333 wrote:I should have asked -- at the max resolution available on a t61, what is the number of lines of text I can fit in a MS word doc viewed at 100%...

Different models of the T61 has different maximum resolutions. Tell me what version of MS Word, what font and what size you usually use and I can test it for you.

bill333 · #6 Post by **bill333** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:33 pm

pianowizard: what a helpful offer, thanks.
Right now I use MS 2000, Times New Roman, in 11 or 12 pt at 100%. I'd get whatever t61 comes with the maximum vertical resolution, not sure what that is...

I realize the there is a new version of MS which uses up more real estate for the menus, but they can be shut off. I don't need an exact number of lines, but if I could get a reasonable estimate that would be really helpful.
thanks again

pianowizard · #7 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:43 pm

I don't have Word 2000 installed, so I tested with Word 2003, Times New Roman, 12 pts at 100%. I've turned off the status bar, the horizontel ruler, and the horizontal scroll bar. Three resolutions, all of them widescreen, are currently available for the T61:

1280x800 (WXGA) for 14.1" and 15.4" models --> 36 lines of text

1440x900 (WXGA+) for 14.1" models --> 42 lines

1680x1050 (WSXGA+) for 15.4" models --> 49 lines

When the 14.1" models with standard aspect ratio displays are available, you will have two resolutions to choose from:

1024x768 (XGA) --> 34 lines

1400x1050 (SXGA+) --> 49 lines

jcvjcvjcvjcv · #8 Post by **jcvjcvjcvjcv** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:57 pm

1680x1050 for the 14.1"? Unfortunately, must be a mistake from you

I also wish that it would be available.

SHoTTa35 · #9 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:08 pm

a normal 14.1" (4:3) can have SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) which is what i'm using now... the widescreen version is 1680 x 1050 which is available on the 14.1" T61. That resolution is the WSXGA+ you see listed.

Puppy · #10 Post by **Puppy** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:46 am

This table might help http://www.prismo.ch/comparisons/notebook.php Notice that 15" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) has smaller pixel size than 15" SXGA+ (1400x1050). Since I consider extra horizonal space useless I can use it as another argument against widescreen displays. I get the same vertical resolution but smaller pixel size and landing strips on the side.

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:09 am

jcvjcvjcvjcv wrote:1680x1050 for the 14.1"? Unfortunately, must be a mistake from you

Thanks for catching that. I've corrected it.

bill333 · #12 Post by **bill333** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:09 pm

Pianowizard,
Thanks so much, this is EXACTLY the information I needed. It tells me that I could get by with a 15 inch WS in terms of vertical text space, but for weight reasons I'd still rather have the 14.1 inch.

Has anyone heard any more about whether there will in fact be a 14.1 inch 4:3 screen offered?
Thanks again!

#13 Post by **ZaZ** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:23 am

Supposedly it's coming. I think someone over on Notebook Review ordered one.

bill333 · #14 Post by **bill333** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:42 pm

from the tabook specs, it looks like the 4:3 T61 only has integrated graphics, no wireless N, and you can't get Windows XP? Am I reading that right?

screen size vertical inches; retail stores

screen size vertical inches; retail stores

Re: screen size vertical inches; retail stores

Thanks...

no separate video, Win XP, wireless N in 4:3 T61?

Who is online