Screen resolution question

[yukon]

Yesterday, I acquired my first Thinkpad, a T60 notebook with ati graphics. Downloaded the video drivers, installed them and the native resolution is 1400x1050 or close. Having been used to the 1024x768 resolution, the higher resolution just_feels_abnormal. At the lower resolution, the screen is blurry the higher resolution is making me wince. My concern is similar to this member's http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... gh#p433243 . I've set the DPI at150 % normal size(144dpi) and while it is better, doesn't feel natural. The T60 also doesn't have a parallel port..

Question: If you got a laptop with a higher resolution screen, did you get used to it over time or went back to one with a lower resolution?

[Marin85]

I have a Z61p which has a WUXGA display (1920x1200) and I definitely get used to it. I like the higher resolution because the screen image looks detailed, also you can squeeze a lot of things on a high res screen One of the features I like about Vista and the upcoming Win 7 is the ability to set custom DPI without degrading the image (unlike XP, where some things get really messed up when changing the dpi). Both Vista and Win 7 can handle different from default dpi extremely well. In the beginning I used to set higher dpi (128), but over time I got used to the default one (96). I now rather tend to customize appearance settings like bigger icons, menu fonts etc.

Hope this helps

Marin

[hausman]

Question: If you got a laptop with a higher resolution screen, did you get used to it over time or went back to one with a lower resolution?

I have been on 1600x1200 since I got a A21p back in 2000 to upgrade a 770 at 1024x768. Most of the time I have used the A21p (and subsequent models) with an external monitor but when travelling I use the built-in 15" LCD without strain. It didn't take long to get used to higher resolution and it's now hard to go back. I know this because recently I bought an X61s which has a native resolution of 1024x768. Now that is very hard to get used to

[RealBlackStuff]

One important aspect to consider here, is the state of your eyes!
I have to wear glasses, and I can hardly read SXGA+ (1400x1050) on a 14.1" screen, let alone 1600x1200 on UXGA 15".

My main monitor is a 19" LCD (HP LP1965) with 1280x1024 native resolution. I couldn't be happier!

[Marin85]

One important aspect to consider here, is the state of your eyes!
I have to wear glasses, and I can hardly read SXGA+ (1400x1050) on a 14.1" screen, let alone 1600x1200 on UXGA 15".

My main monitor is a 19" LCD (HP LP1965) with 1280x1024 native resolution. I couldn't be happier!

Indeed, high resolutions can be a problem for the eyes. That´s why I´m so happy that Vista has so successfully implemented the dpi change feature. Apart from this, with the release of FF3, increasing the fonts (with ctrl++) works very smooth for me. At the same time I don´t have to give up the real estate (W)UXGA offers

Marin

[hausman]

One important aspect to consider here, is the state of your eyes!

Indeed. I wear trifocals with the middle band intended for reading computer screens which typically are farther away than paper. But for people with "normal" vision that shouldn't be a problem until middle age.

In my experience, once you get used to high resolution it becomes awfully difficult to go back. It's not just text size but also all the extra horizontal scrolling, vertical paging, window swapping, etc. that makes it more awkward and takes longer to do things.

[RealBlackStuff]

I wear varifocals, which have a perfectly smooth changeover between close (for e.g. reading), medium (e.g. computer screen) and far (e.g. driving).
At 63 I am what I consider at the top of 'middle age', considering that my families' average lifespan is almost 94!

[hausman]

I wear varifocals, which have a perfectly smooth changeover...

FWIW I was advised by an optometrist that bifocals and trifocals have a much wider field of view than varifocals. There's less need to "horizontally scroll" your head in order to read across a screen. I've never had varifocals nor do I use widescreen monitors, so I can't say how valid this is in practice.

Edit:typo

[yukon]

Thanks for your replies. I'm in my late 20's and wear glasses but for the past 6 years, have used the 1024x768 resolution. I like it a lot and many laptops that I see are that resolution(or close to it.) No second monitor for me and I don't want to use the T60 in a half-hearted way. This laptop is just perfect except for the screen. The parallel port issue could be managed somehow but the screen issue might compel me to sell it. Will give it a week before I make a decision.
Are thinkpads with discrete graphics generally in a higher resolution than 1024x768 these days? Any suggestions for a suitable laptop? R61, T61?

[jdhurst]

I, too, wear varifocals (full time, and love them). I use a 4:3 screen, not widescreen, and I do not find myself scrolling my head at all. I once knew a professor who studied this stuff, and observed that most of us can train our brains to adapt to things like varifocals, but a small number of people cannot. ..... JDH

[Troels]

Are thinkpads with discrete graphics generally in a higher resolution than 1024x768 these days? Any suggestions for a suitable laptop? R61, T61?

The last batches of the 15" T60p featured 15" 1024x768 LCDs and sold at lower prices. I guess had a lot of extra parts, except UXGA LCDs. So that might be possible.
Or maybe you can sell the SXGA LCD or trade for an XGA screen from a T60 on this forum - 14.1" is more portable than 15".

[Aroc]

I wear glasses, too (without glasses I can only read the big 'E' on the Snellen chart). I learned to adapt to my 1400x1050 14 inch displays on this T43 and T61p. My doctor mentions that I need to take frequent breaks. I find that it I work for 2 hours straight I have problems and can no longer focus clearly using my left eye on either 1400x1050 14 inch or a 1280x1024 19 inch display. My right eye would still be 'OK' if I squint with it and close my left! Clearly that's not a workable long term solution. So I decided to actually follow my doctor's advice and every 20-45 minutes I make sure to take a rest. I also try to do some of his suggestions that help to relax and strengthen my eye muscles during some of the breaks. If I don't take breaks, I have all sorts problems.

I've also noticed that using the Thinkpad Magnifier (included with the Lenovo Hotkey Driver) blurs the screen less than chaning the resolution does. At least to my eyes it does! You can toggle it by pressing Fn+spacebar if the hotkey driver is loaded. I find the 1024x768 (140% magnifier) and the 800x600 (180%) to be "OK" and "usable" but still blurry. The 110% (1280x1024) is very poor. I only use the magnifier late at night when my eyes are beyond tired, but I still need to use the computer for some reason.

Another tip from my Doctor that had helped was to push the LCD monitors in my den and at work as far back as possible. Normally one might find this unintuitive and shouldn't it be harder to read? But for some reason, it actually makes it easier to use for longer periods. I don't think the eye likes to focus at close distances for a long period of time. I believe there are studies that may reflect this (and probably studies that refute it as well!). I keep my two 1280x1024 19 inch LCDs at work and my 2560x1600 30 inch at home about an arm's length and a half away from me. It's actually worked out better that way. I also follow the advise to keep the top of the display at chin height. Previously the I'd keep them much higher than that (far above eye height). I also turn up the contrast and reduce the brightness. You doctor or his/her assistant can help you with all of this.

I vote for native resolution and take more breaks!

[TheRedFox]

I got used to my 1024x768 12.1" screen from my old 12.1" 800x600 resolution screen
that's a switch from like 80dpi or something to 105dpi. It is still a bit sharp though, but the internet sucks in SVGA resolution. XGA or more is essential to modern usage.

[dr_st]

The last batches of the 15" T60p featured 15" 1024x768 LCDs and sold at lower prices. I guess had a lot of extra parts, except UXGA LCDs. So that might be possible.

XGA non-Flexview LCDs on a T60p? You sure? I know that they shipped with SXGA+ Flexviews instead of UXGA, but XGA? Can you find a reference for that? Because having such a low-end part on a T60p makes no sense to me.

[Philippe Laurichesse]

Thanks for your replies. I'm in my late 20's and wear glasses but for the past 6 years, have used the 1024x768 resolution. I like it a lot and many laptops that I see are that resolution(or close to it.) No second monitor for me and I don't want to use the T60 in a half-hearted way. This laptop is just perfect except for the screen. The parallel port issue could be managed somehow but the screen issue might compel me to sell it. Will give it a week before I make a decision.

I'm in a similar situation and am curious to know what you decided. Did you end up keeping your T60 ?

[Troels]

XGA non-Flexview LCDs on a T60p? You sure? I know that they shipped with SXGA+ Flexviews instead of UXGA, but XGA? Can you find a reference for that? Because having such a low-end part on a T60p makes no sense to me.

I can't find the corresponding model number for the US currently,
but in the UK and Germany it is 2007-FE2 ... Searching google reveals this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/%2F-IBM-ThinkPad- ... 5002r11178

That is simply ridiculously cheap - throw in a flexview, and sell the XGA for $50 and that T60p would have cost about $120

Still available from new also http://www.magicdevices.de/shop/product ... t=2&kind=1

[ajkula66]

2007-FE2 was billed by Lenovo as a T60, and not T60p, although it has an ATi 5200 GPU...likely reason would be the screen...


Product: ThinkPad T60 2007-FE2 [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: Based on 2007-5DG: T2400(1.83GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 15in 1024x768 LCD, 256MB ATI FireGL V5200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li-Ion, WinXP Pro

What a weird duck....weak CPU and HDD, low-end LCD but high-end GPU...