Choosing an external monitor for my T420s (4170CTO)

[rlyacht]

I want to get an external monitor, and I'm a bit confused about what I need to look for.

I like the size I use at work, which has and aspect ration of 16:10 (dell). My machine has NVIDIA graphics and I see it supports 1440x900, which looks like 16:10 to me. Could I get this dell: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... u=320-9704 What confuses me is that the quoted resolution is 1680 x 1050 , and I've somehow gotten the impression that it's not a good idea to set up a monitor for anything other than its "preferred" resolution. Or is it no problem to use 1440x900 for this monitor?

I'm also open to any other suggestions of 16:10 monitors I could get that might be cheaper. But mainly I'm trying to understand what I have to look for.

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
That resolution of 1440x900 is 16:10, but your T420s screen is 16:9.
An external monitor can display whatever resolution it wants or is capable off, not necessarily/usually the same resolution as your laptop screen.
It can have lower or higher, the decision is ultimately yours.
But indeed, an external monitor should display only its 'native' resolution.
Go for a LED-backlit screen in IPS quality (= wide viewing angles).
I'll leave specifics of make/model to others (I prefer non-widescreen in 5:4 and a resolution of 1280x1024).

If you are a programmer, or writing long(er) texts/spreadsheets, you'll want height more than width.
Height:
900 = your T420s
1050 = that Dell screen, much better.
1200 = great. At one time (and probably still) a lot of people preferred Standard 4:3 screens in 1600x1200 or Widescreen 16:10 screens in 1920x1200)
1440 = available, but apparently not too popular.
Others? Who knows, what with Apple's Retina screens...

[rlyacht]

Unless I'm really missing something, 1440x900 is 16:10. Just divide 1440 by 900 , and you get 1.6. Alternatively, if 1600x900 is 16:9, 1440x900 can't be 16x9 too!

At work I have dual 1680x1050 and they are really nice!

I get what you're saying about the sizes. I would really prefer an old 4:3 or 5:4 screen too! I hadn't even thought it was possible get them. I guess I'l list out the resolutions I have available to me on this laptop and then do my best to match up with a monitor.

[RealBlackStuff]

Oops, I got confused!
The T420 series and up has 16:9 screens but the resolution you mentioned (1440x900) is 16:10.
(corrected my mistake).

BTW, the external display resolution does NOT need to match your laptop's LCD resolution!
Get whatever suits you best!

My monitor is an older 19" HP LP1965 with 5:4 display at 1280x1024.
Bought two of those new in 2008, still as crisp as on day one!
This used one on eBay looks decent enough: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-MODEL-HP-LP1 ... 51c0dcb14c

[rlyacht]

Thanks for sending the link - that looks great!