What's best screen for text?

[David M]

I'm planning to send back my new R52 for an upgrade to a T4x. I'd thought I would go up to a 15" SXGA+ screen (from the 15" XGA on the R52), hoping it would give me sharper text, but I see some postings complaining about reading text on the SXGA+ screens. So, now I'm wondering whether the higher resolution screen would be any better for me at all. I use the computer almost exclusively for word processing and reading text online. Any thoughts?

[Whyme]

I found the UXGA to be too small. I find the SXGA+ a little better (still a little small for me). You can adjust the size of the fonts also if necessary. Liquid View works well.

SXGA and UXGA will be much better for text over the XGA screen.

[christopher_wolf]

I find that the SXGA+ is a good screen for me, I spend hours coding, using MATLAB, writing scripts for use with PyMol..I can say that I have never gotten a headache from looking at my screen. Though you might want to turn the brightness down if you are in a darkened environment. The XGA Screen was, and still is, not as well suited as the SXGA+ for visual text display. IMHO, the UXGA is too small for me to read quickly and respond...the 15" SXGA+ would be a good, all around, choice.

[ddutta]

I find the SXGA+ fonts a little smaller so I use large fonts and things look ok. If you are just browsing and using Word etc XGA might be better. I have both and the XGA screen with cleartype on is pretty good too. But you need to personally check both types of screen to make a decision as its a personal one.

For the 1st few days, I did feel some eye strain with my SXGA+. Now I find it good with large fonts. I find the XGA screen brighter though.

[beeblebrox]

It depends, the 14" XGA is just perfect for internet, writing and reading, when you have default dpi settings.

I have been using the 14" SXGA+ for two years and always had to fool arond with dpi settings and font sizes, because standard defaults are too small to me to work (up to 14h a day, full week -> eyes sore, headache). And larger window fonts screw up the pixel-based software windows.

Actually, I spend again more time on a T23 with XGA which I seem to prefer over the T40p.

My recommendation is to get a 15" SXGA+ if you stay with Windows XP. UXGA is nice for photos but it is a mess to work with, I gave up.

If you use a vector-based GUI, then the higher the resolution, the better and sharper the text will be. UXGA is the answer. Pixel-based Windows XP is not really suitable and always needs messy work-arounds. For me 15" SXGA+ or WXGA would be the answer.

[aabram]

To chime in here: with 14" SXGA you can use cleartype to alleviate some of the strain BUT you have to remember that there are applications which do not use cleartype. Various dialogue boxes here and there, also some captions, system messages etc. It may or may not bother you. It did bother me.

On the other hand fonts in linux (I used Fedora Core back then when I had SXGA) looked absolutely gorgeus and way better than in Windows. I would've had no doubts using the SXGA with linux but under windows it did produce me eye strain even after I've tweaked font settings.

I'm mostly using my laptop for reading-writing and I found XGA better for that type of work than SXGA. Although SXGA is clear winner when you have to manage a lot of windows or need to have big workspace.

[ZaZ]

I have the 15" SXGA. It is perfect for me. I bought an XGA T41 last year. Right before I got it I had upgraded my desktop monitor to a LCD running at 1280x1024. While I liked most everything about my T41, I hated how big the text was. I sold it and got the SXGA. Now that they are selling ThinkPads at OfficeDepot, maybe you can go check some out and see what you like. Not sure if they have the SXGAs though. College bookstores also sometimes carry models if you want to see some. Good Luck.

[David M]

Thank you, everyone, for your input.

I've ordered a T43 with 15" SXGA+ FlexView display (model 2687D4U). It's supposedly in stock, so it may arrive before I have to send the R52 back, which would let me compare the 15" SXGA+ screen with the 15" XGA. I'll post my observations.

[dr_st]

I've ordered a T43 with 15" SXGA+ FlexView display (model 2687D4U).

IMO, you've made the best choice.