Settings guide to improve SXGA+ readability -Pls Improve

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kc · #1 Post by kc » Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:10 am

Background: I have a new 2378FVU (t42 SXGA+ resolution). My eyes are better than XGA, but not good enough to read SXGA+ without straining. Using the very helpful advice from this forum -- and a bit of experimenting -- I've settled in on the following adjustments. I primarily use a browser, PS for digitial photo editing and selected apllications. These settings seem to get it right about 95% of the time. I welcome any comments, suggestions or improvements.

Windows Settings (note: I've only indicated changes to default settings)

Resolution: 1400x1050
Display DPI: 135 DPI (custom)
Edge Smoothing: Clear Type
Title Bar -- active and inactive (size 29, font 9)
Icon (size 40, font 9)
Icon Spacing (vertical 63, horizontal 61)
Menu (size 22, font 9)
Message box (font 9)
Pallette title (size 22, font 9)
Scrollbar (size 23)
Selected items (size 22, font 9)
Tooltip (font 9)

Browser

Mozilla Firefox 0.9 (see note below)
Options:General:Fonts & Colors:Minimum Size 15
View: Increase/Decrease Text Size -- Increase or decrease until set to look like intended browser layout (once set, I do not need to change the setting on all but a few web sites)

Browser Note:

This was the hardest part. I tried MSIE6, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. My strong preference was (and remains) MSIE6.

I put the greatest effort behind MSIE6 to no avail. The best solution employed setting the registry to enable scaling (see prior posts). It worked great for scalable fonts and layout, but, as you would expect, created blurry, pixellated images (including lots of "type" encoded as images). Other font sizing workarounds (without the registry adjustment) produced inconsistent text results.

Opera scales like MSIE6 with the registry setting on. Same issues.

Mozilla scales virtually all fonts, but maintains original image size. The original issue with Firefox was inconsistent font scaling using the Increase/Decrease command. This was resolved by using the minimum font setting.

In summary, this is one person's journey through the "simple" subject of "just increase the DPI" on SXGA+ to increase readability. In the end, a good outcome (recognizing that good is an entirely personal and subjective view). I get much of the benefit of the enhanced resolution, but have readable and consistent layout virtually all of the time. I would welcome ways to improve it.

sktn77a · #2 Post by **sktn77a** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:18 am

Actually, I think this is quite an issue for the Thinkpads. The 14.1" screen, in my opinion, is too small for SXGA+ but to get XGA you have to go to an outdated video chip (the radeon 7500). With higher resolution chipsets and LCDs (God knows how anyone can read the 1600 x 1200 15" on the T42Ps) you can only set XGA at non-native LCD resolutions, which ends up quite fuzzy.

What to do???

Qapf · #3 Post by **Qapf** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:51 am

Its not a huge difference, but it also doesnt generate a huge ammount of letterboxing. Go into display properties -> Settings Tab -> Advanced Button -> Displays Tab -> Click on the Word "FPD" -> Uncheck Option "Scale Image to Panel Size".

Now your lcd will letterbox any lower resolution, and 1280x1024 produces minimal letterboxing.

Chun-Yu · #4 Post by **Chun-Yu** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:13 am

Uh, but by having it not stretch the smaller image, you aren't gaining any readability since the pixels will still be the same size

You're just losing the extra space.

Qapf · #5 Post by **Qapf** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:24 am

I am providing suggustions, not GOOD suggustions

In reality, if you are doing the EXTREME modifications to fonts that you are doing to see the screen, go see an eye doctor. I myself am slightly nearsighted, and as a result get a slight magnification of upclose objects, you may be impared with farsightedness because with fonts at 135dpi, and the windows tasks bars that huge...it aint right.

jschunkew · #6 Post by **jschunkew** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 1:32 pm

Why not just lower the resolution? Sure it's
a waste of the high-resolution capabilities but
at least you'll be able to use your computer
without straining your eyes. As for an internet
browser you may want to try Netscape
which has zoom (Ctrl +). It works great.
At home I can surf the web with my 17" LCD 12
feet away.

Kenn · #7 Post by **Kenn** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 1:51 pm

jschunkew wrote:Why not just lower the resolution? Sure it's
a waste of the high-resolution capabilities but
at least you'll be able to use your computer
without straining your eyes. As for an internet
browser you may want to try Netscape
which has zoom (Ctrl +). It works great.
At home I can surf the web with my 17" LCD 12
feet away.

Unfortunately, lowering the resolution puts the LCD into a blurry antialiased mode, which can be annoying to look at and fatiguing on your visual system (uneven line widths, no hard edges to focus on). Even choosing 800x600 on my 1600x1200 display, which should be an even multiple, does this.

If the OP just got his computer, I recommend using the default dpi and settings for a few days. It does take a little while to get used to a higher-resolution screen, but often, after a short adjusting period it starts looking just right

kc · #8 Post by kc » Sat Aug 07, 2004 2:40 pm

Thanks to all posters.

Several comments: First, I'm not quite as blind as one poster implies (guess I'm sensitive about this). Second, using this forum as a comparison, type appears roughly 10-15% smaller using these settings on the T42 vs. regular settings on my old TP 570. Third, never thought of Netscape as an option. Would it perform any differently than MSIE in registry enabled zoom mode? (Many of the browser suggestions came from Dell notebook user groups who have grappled with their own resolution issues). Finally, I'm intrigued by the final post. With only a week under my belt with the new t42, maybe I'll adjust and grow more comfortable with less "magnification" over time.

I continue to welcome additional thoughts -- especially from other "visually challenged" users who have tried to find successfull magnification strategies.

kc · #9 Post by kc » Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:36 am

Last point. MS has a web based utility that allows for customization of Cleartype settings. By using the utility, I was able to increase contast more to my liking.

atlacatl · #10 Post by **atlacatl** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:51 am

kc wrote:Last point. MS has a web based utility that allows for customization of Cleartype settings. By using the utility, I was able to increase contast more to my liking.

What's the URL?

n3il · #11 Post by **n3il** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:58 am

I think this is it:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cle ... uner/1.htm

atlacatl · #12 Post by **atlacatl** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:05 am

n3il wrote:I think this is it:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cle ... uner/1.htm

Cool tool...I've changed my cleartype settings...Thanks...

Leon · #13 Post by **Leon** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:33 am

I tried your settings and like them...thanks! When I changed them, I made a notepad file where I recorded my original (unmodified) settings for each of those items. But I lost the file. Can you, (or someone who has not made the changes), annotate a copy of your original post with the original default setting. Thanks!!

kc · #14 Post by kc » Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:55 am

Sorry. I didn't keep the original settings. Hopefully someone else can annotate.

aabram · #15 Post by **aabram** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:18 am

I use Arial instead of default Tahoma, it seems to give me more distinctive letters at small sizes. Tahoma is bigger and more square-ish and better at bigger sizes but Arial has better letter spacing so I prefer it over Tahoma for dialogs, menus and such.

RoadHazard · #16 Post by **RoadHazard** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 5:35 am

Most problem that people have would be readibility of fonts. You can try increasing the font size under advanced display settings. I never tried myself though but that may be something you can do.

Matt_ · #17 Post by **Matt_** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:27 am

Great information in this thread !

I have a few questions.

I have a 2373-CWU with 15" sxga+ Flexview screen.

I can adjust the settings in IE and Firefox so that during long stretches in front of the laptop I can comfortably read the text.

What is driving my eyes nuts is working with the 1400x1050 and 96dpi settings in other places such as the explorer.exe windows or in Notepad. After awhile I am experiencing a lot of eye strain.

I was wondering which one of these two settings I should try changing first :
'Display Properties' --> 'Appearance' : 'Font size'
Options : "Normal" , "Large Fonts", "Extra Large Fonts"

or

'Display Properties' --> 'Settings' : "Advanced"
96dpi --> 120dpi

My first laptop for a short time was a Dell with a uxga resolution screen. My bad memory of dealing with that resolution was that dealing with a dpi over 120 caused problems such as text not aligned correctly inside dialog boxes.

Is experimenting with "Extra Large Fonts" preferable to playing around with dpi settings as far as ensuring that everything stays correctly proportional ?

Under 'Display Properties' --> 'Appearance' : 'Effects' --> "Use large icons", will this adjust the size of the desktop, quicklaunch, and system tray icons ?

Also, I noticed this setting :
'Display Properties' --> 'Settings' : "Advanced" > 'On Screen Display'
The font type, size, and something called "Fadeout" can be adjusted. And there is a button toward the top of the menu "Access IBM Customize --> Enable Text Output". What exactly are these settings changing ?

Last of all, I wanted to pass along something.
I turned on "Cleartype" and made some adjustments: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cle ... uner/1.htm
And then I noticed that you can download and install the online ClearType tool into your control panel :
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartypeInfo.mspx
Once you do that, you can quickly access it by clicking 'Start' , 'Run', and then entering: cttune.cpl

Thanks in advance !

davidspalding · #18 Post by **davidspalding** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:34 pm

Lot of questions....

Well, I use the Display ... Settings ... Advanced .. DPI setting. It effects all of Windows. You're not limited to the drop down choices, either, you can type in 110[%], one of my favs. On my 1400x1050, I use the standard 120%.

The Appearance setting, I think, only modifies all the font settings that you can set in Appearance/Advanced, which was the old Win2K Appearance tab. Win2K and earlier had color schemes with LARGE and EXTRA LARGE fonts. Same thing here.

That Large Icons thing in Effects seems to have lost its context: large icons on the Desktop. I don't think it even effects how Explorer windows appear. Used to use it a lot in a test lab when test systems had 1024 res on 13" CRTs.

Try the 120% dpi setting for a while, will probably ease your eye strain. I would NOT do it combined with other settings all at one time.

hoya · #19 Post by **hoya** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:11 pm

Has any one tried Liquid View? I found that to be the perfect antidote for my 14" SXGA+ display. a trial copy can be downloaded here:

http://personalcomputing.portrait.com/u ... rview.html

IR0NMAN · #20 Post by **IR0NMAN** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:48 pm

Well, I find SXGA+ on my 14' to be perfect, everything is clear and smooth, but I always wear glasses because otherwise it is blurry.

Matt_ · #21 Post by **Matt_** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:27 am

David, thank you very much for your help and taking the time to reply.
Your advice was right on the mark.

The 110dpi suggestion got me to the right vicinity, and now I'm experimenting with dpi values in the 105-110dpi range.

I don't know if it is asking too much of Microsoft, but I wish there was more of an all-around proportional adjustment when changing the dpi. The main thing I am interested in in the aim of easing eye strain is achieving the right text size for me, so if that means that the quick launch icons look a little jagged and the minimize, maximize, and "x" icons in the upper-right corners of the windows look a little off, I guess I can live with that. I like how things turned out font size-wise inside the explorer windows, but I wish the text inside the control panel menus were a hair bigger without having to crank up the dpi some more.

Is there any special rule of thumb to changing the dpi settings ? i.e. are there certain dpi numbers where the adjustments in size are less proportional than other dpi numbers ?

You were also on the mark about leaving the icon adjustment and 'Display Properties' --> 'Appearance' : 'Font size' Options : "Normal" , "Large Fonts", "Extra Large Fonts" alone. The desktop icons get blown up to Readers Digest extra large print size, and the font sizes in the top borders of the windows xp windows just look too strange.

hoya:
Since there's a 30day trial period, I'll give that a try. How do the results from the program compare to how things turn out by adjusting the dpi setting ?

IRONMAN:
I agree about how sharp everything looks, but it's after loooong stretches in front of the screen working on projects that my eyes start getting strained.

hoya · #22 Post by **hoya** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:16 am

matt - liquid view is definitely 'one-stop shopping' in that it takes care of everything from one app. for me, it made the difference between keeping my 14" SXGA+ T42 and sending it back to Lenovo. I rarely buy software but this turned out to be one utility that seemed worthwhile.

before installing, I would switch everything back to 'normal' settings and then go from there. good luck and let us know your results.

Aroc · #23 Post by **Aroc** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:22 am

Since you aren't in the mood for the "get stronger glasses" suggestion, I suggest upping the DPI, using a web browser that can scale fonts (Internet Explorer, or FireFox) and wait for Windows Vista, which should provide vector scaling.

Aroc · #24 Post by **Aroc** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:27 am

Matt_ wrote:I don't know if it is asking too much of Microsoft, but I wish there was more of an all-around proportional adjustment when changing the dpi.

Windows Vista is purported to having this ability.

I agree about how sharp everything looks, but it's after loooong stretches in front of the screen working on projects that my eyes start getting strained.

Maybe take breaks after every 120 minutes or so?

What are you exactly doing for hours on end? If it's just typing in Word or viewing the web, you can adjust those without resorting to changing system fonts and DPI settings.

davidspalding · #25 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:24 pm

Haha, good idea, but I've heard ergo'xperts suggest 20 - 30 minutes for breaks. Search on Microsoft's site, I'm sure you'd find their Healthy Computing Guide for download, it's usually installed with the IntelliPoint software. Maybe with keyboards, too.

Matt_, thank you sir (deep bow), glad to have been helpful. All members who take time to respond on these forums deserve applause, I learn something every day on these forums.

To your question, here's what I do: open up Display properties (shortcut: Start > run > desk.cpl > OK). In the Appearance tab, click Advanced (this was the old Appearance tab in Win2k). Here you can size things around. I find that the "XP theme" often mucks up sizes of icons, particularly in the System Tray (aka Notification tray, aka "Windows Dessert Tray"). If you click the Application title bar, or select item "Active Title Bar," then change the font size from, say 10 to 9, or 8, then you'll see the bar, and the application control boxes ( [_], [X], etc), change sizes too. Depending on the DPI setting, The active title bar (and inactive title bar, whch sizes with it) are usually either 18 or 20 (that's not font size, but their size up above the font schtuff). You can fiddle around with this (I use the font size for changes) to your hearts content, and the Icon item (for desktop items), too. (BTW, changing Active Title Bar will also change the size of your Taskbar and Notification area, apparently because the Taskbar buttons are technically tied to the Active Title Bar. Your "dessert tray" icons may get funny-looking, but don't snap back to normal unless you logout and back in again.)

For a demonstration, in the Appearance tab, try the "Classic Windows Style" Windows and Buttons Style, then pick a color scheme ("Windows Classic," "Windows Standard," etc.), then click Advanced, and see what sizes those items I mentioned are.

After you've monkeyed around with it and found your favorite, you can load a theme (first tab of Display properties), then make the changes, and save it to your own customized theme, or (if you're daring) overwrite any theme files in %windir%\Resources\Themes\. (This is where I save my themes anyway. I think the default XP theme, and windows and button style, bloats the Active title bar to 22. I find that shrinking it down to 18 makes the application control buttons smaller, but the Title Bar far less greedy of screen space.

Have fun. Remember ... once you've got it set the way you like it, save it to a personal theme. In case you whack things up, you can restore the settings.

Settings guide to improve SXGA+ readability -Pls Improve

Settings guide to improve SXGA+ readability -Pls Improve

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