LCD Resolution

I want to upgrade my old LCD monitor to something newer and better, with
more emphasis on graphics quality than on gaming (speed). This is a work
machine, but I will be using it for photo and video viewing and editing as
well.
My question is this: monitors like the Viewsonic VP2030b offer much higher
resolution (1600 x 1200) than my old display (1280 x 1024), and I imagine
that I will have trouble working with Excel, Word, etc. at such high
resolutions. My understanding is that if I operate the new monitor at less
than its native resolution, graphics quality will suffer. I suppose that I
could switch back and forth, but I'd rather not. BTW, if it's a matter of
graphics processing power, I have a big CPU with a powerful graphics card
(eVGA 7800GT CO). Is it utterly pointless to buy a high rez monitor and
operate it at lower resolutions?

- Magnusfarce

Magnusfarce wrote:
I want to upgrade my old LCD monitor to something newer and better,
with more emphasis on graphics quality than on gaming (speed). This
is a work machine, but I will be using it for photo and video viewing
and editing as well.
My question is this: monitors like the Viewsonic VP2030b offer much
higher resolution (1600 x 1200) than my old display (1280 x 1024),
and I imagine that I will have trouble working with Excel, Word, etc.
at such high resolutions. My understanding is that if I operate the
new monitor at less than its native resolution, graphics quality will
suffer. I suppose that I could switch back and forth, but I'd rather
not. BTW, if it's a matter of graphics processing power, I have a
big CPU with a powerful graphics card (eVGA 7800GT CO). Is it
utterly pointless to buy a high rez monitor and operate it at lower
resolutions?
- Magnusfarce

Magnusfarce,

I found that during the first couple of days with my new 20-inch 1600 x
1200 Dell monitor, I was not as comfortable as with the 19-inch 1280 x
1024 display I had been using before. But it's OK now.

If your eyesight requires it, I would suggest trying out a monitor in the
shop before purchase. I am a glasses wearer and sit about 56cm from the
screen.

Cheers,
David

Under XP you can arrange for screen fonts to display larger regardless of
overall screen resolution. This will not affect graphic image processing.

Thanks. I can find some of those controls for the desktop, etc., but is
there a global way to make all the apps do the same?

BTW, are you talking about the DPI settings under Settings/Advanced? I
haven't tried that yet, but I will.

- Magnusfarce (OP)



"gowanoh" wrote in message
...
Under XP you can arrange for screen fonts to display larger regardless of
overall screen resolution. This will not affect graphic image processing.

On Mar 6, 9:24 am, "Magnusfarce" wrote:
I want to upgrade my old LCD monitor to something newer and better, with
more emphasis on graphics quality than on gaming (speed). This is a work
machine, but I will be using it for photo and video viewing and editing as
well.
My question is this: monitors like the Viewsonic VP2030b offer much higher
resolution (1600 x 1200) than my old display (1280 x 1024), and I imagine
that I will have trouble working with Excel, Word, etc. at such high
resolutions. My understanding is that if I operate the new monitor at less
than its native resolution, graphics quality will suffer.

You're right, LCD monitors can't really operate at a setting other
than their native resolution. Still, based on the VP2030b model
number, I guess the new monitor is 20", right? That's definitely big
enough to run 1600x1200. This resolution would indeed be too high on,
for example, a 15" laptop screen. But 20" shouldn't be a problem.

Also, I wouldn't be worried about Excel and Word specifically. In both
those programs it's very easy to adjust at what magnification you're
seeing the document, so if the font is too small for you, you can zoom
in to 125% or 150% or whatever.

I would suggest going to your local computer store and finding a
display model computer with a 1600x1200 20" screen. Play around with
it in the store and see if the resolution works for you.

-Gniewko

On Mar 6, 6:24 am, "Magnusfarce" wrote:
My question is this: monitors like the Viewsonic VP2030b offer much higher
resolution (1600 x 1200) than my old display (1280 x 1024), and I imagine
that I will have trouble working with Excel, Word, etc. at such high
resolutions. My understanding is that if I operate the new monitor at less
than its native resolution, graphics quality will suffer.

Well, for graphics editing, of course higher resolution is better. But
for regular office apps, not necessarily.

Is it utterly pointless to buy a high rez monitor and
operate it at lower resolutions?

for LCDs, yeah. although if your goal is to be able to sit farther
away from the monitor, it could still be useful to get a larger lcd
monitor and run at non-native resolution. since you're sitting further
away, the bluriness will not be as apparent.