Screen size recommendations

[patfla]

Hi,

Programmer, 47 with good eyesight (have eyeglasses for only for a slight correction at distances [i.e. somewhat short-sighted]).

Am thinking (after many yrs) of buying my first laptop - a T43.

I know from work (or home for that matter) that 1024 X 768 just doesn't work for me. Not enough desktop real-estate. What I prefer (and use) on my work and home PCs is 1280 X 1024.

It seems that with the differing aspect ratio on laptops the step up from 1024 X 768 is 1400 X 1050.

So my question: how well does 1400 X 1050 work on a 14.1" screen (what I would prefer if it works ) as opposed to getting the 15" screen. (I'd prefer the smaller, lighter, less expensive machine [screen]).

I know that a great deal of this is subjective, blah, blah, blah. But would still like to hear people's opionions.

pat

[daeojkim]

Well if you are a programmer you will need a lot of room for coding.

THe SXGA+ on a 14 inch is nice. You have a good eyesight so I would not worry about it. My eyesight is -6.5. (Yeah very very bad) and I love the UXGA on 15".

I personally do not think there is a big difference in real estate b/w SXGA+ and UXGA as opposed to XGA to SXGA+. But if you think that your eye sight is good enough then the 15" UXGA would be a choice for programmers if you do not plan to carry it around often.

If you would have the need to carry around at least once a week then 14 inch SXGA+ would be a perfect balance b/w mobility and real estate

JK

[thedonnybrook]

i have the 15" uxga that runs 1600x1200. unfortunately due to seven years of education my eyesight is not that great, so i have to increase the dpi settings so tha ti can see verything. screen is great though, definitely has enough real estate, and is nice and clear. the 15" makes the machine bigger and heavier, but if you need the space it might be worth considering.

[hoya]

here is a great thread (with excellent pictures) comparing the 14" and 15" machines:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1364

if that thread doesn't help, I would just order both from Lenovo (the T42 2373H6U is on sale at thinkpad.com) and return whichever one you don't like. my guess is that you will love the size & portability on the 14", but I suspect you will prefer the FlexView 15" display (both SXGA+ and UXGA are Flexview, which has 200 nits of brightness, while the 14.1" SXGA has only 150 nits of brightness).

good luck and let us know which one you choose.

[RonS]

I have been programming continuously for many years. The 15" Flexview 1600x1200 display is fantastic for writing code. When on the road, it use it exclusively. I typically sit 18-26 inches from the display, depending on whether I use an external keyboard or not.

While at my desk, I use the 15" Flexview as an auxillary screen along side multiple 1920x1200 Dell 2405FPW monitors. The dot pitch is just right for my eyes, with the screens pushed back about 40" from my head (I just measured the distance with a tape measure).

I have excellent vision. If I had poor vision would consider going for larger pixels. But by all means, get 15" Flexview. The 14.1" non-flexview is terrible, in my opinion. I've used 3 or 4 Thinkpads with 14.1" displays, and they were all poor quality. Passable for quickly checking e-mail, but unacceptable for using hours on end coding.

[Kenn]

I have both 14" SXGA+ and 15" UXGA. For all intents and purposes, they're the same (qualified to read as: way better than 1024x768).

Other considerations should inform your decision - the 14" is noticeably smaller and more portable (a pound is a huge difference), and gets better battery life.

I like my 15" because I'm a resolution nut, but there are quite a few days when I wish I could keep it docked and have an X41 to carry around on a daily basis

[stgreek]

IMO the 14" SXGA+ screen is the best screen for a programmer: portable enough to take everywhere, yet with high enough resolution to have 2 terminals and 2 editors open at the same time. I have used every single resolution the Thinkpad line offers, and I now refuse to work on anything else than the SXGA+ (if only they offered it on high-end X32s too....)

[hoya]

these pictures might help to inform your decision:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11221256@N00/

http://home.att.net/~murphj/wsb/html/vi ... html-.html