Are 19/20 inch LCD screens at 1600x1200 usable?

[Prognathous]

I just bought a Dell 2007FP 20 inch screen. It seems to be a good screen in terms of display quality, but I find its 1600x1200 optimum resolution to be a problem - text is simply too small to read comfortably. The high resolution also dwarfs 800x600 images posted in most websites. In fact, most of the images I'm posting to forums are not higher than 540 pixels. I choose this size to be sure that images are fully visible to users of (the very common) 1024x768 resolution who are not aware of Full screen browser mode (or simply don't like using it).

I'm looking at the possible solutions, from what I see they are all lacking:

1. Using a lower resolution (e.g. 1280x960) results in blurry text due interpolation. The blurry display also makes it impossible to accurately sharpen images.

2. Using a larger font size results in truncated labels on menus and buttons. It also truncates the file and folder names displayed on the desktop.

3. Returning the screen and getting a 1280x1024 19 inch LCD screen instead (e.g. ViewSonic VP930) is likely to result in lower display quality in other aspects (the 2007FP uses an ISPS panel, and those are considering the best for photo editing and graphic work)

4. Returning the screen and getting a good CRT screen is not practical, as none of those seem to be available anymore. In addition, I really like working in portrait mode (vertical orientation) and this is not possible with CRT screens.

In the time when 1280x1024 17 inch LCD were common I always found text to be too small, a fact that made me prefer CRT screens. But in the last year I used a 1280x1024 19 inch screen at work (CTX P972) and really enjoyed using it. It turns out that 1280x1024 is fine for a 19 inch screen, but too small for a 17 inch one. It was a bad oversight on my part to not notice that the 2007FP optimal resolution is in fact higher (1600x1200) and in turn the old small text problem is back.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Prog.

 

[Yyrkoon]

Well, I did not read you whole post, but if I understand what you're getting at correctly, then you're having pretty much the same issue I have been having with high resolution monitors for years now(CRT, or LCD).

An option I have given serious thought to is to use two screens, using a dual monitor setup. You could buy an in-expencive 19" ws monitor for normal use (ie for web browsing, Photoshop main application widnow, etc, and use that 20" LCD as your image editing screen. In this case, I would use the 19" ws monitor as the primary, and the 20" LCD as the secondary monitor. Since you would not need to use the 19" ws monitor for actual image editing, you would only have to worry about making sure the monitor in question was easy on the eyes, and displayed text well. This would also give you the added bonus of not having to worry about having Photoshop palletes etc open while editing an image.

In this scenario, you would only have to worry about if the 20" LCD were as close to accurate as possible concerning colors, while not worrying too much about the smaller screen except where text, and perhaps where eye strain is concerned. Dont forget to install and use MS' ClearType font adjustment tool if you're usiing Windows !

Myself, I use a similar setup to this, but my primary monitor is a 19" WS which I have setup fairly accurate for colors, with my secondary monitor being a cheap Dell 17" standard LCD. The differences in colors between the two is bad, but this has to do with the fact that I have been too lazy thus far to properly adjust the 17" LCD for color accuracy. When I finally do get around to doing this, then I will use the 17" monitor as the screen I use to make image adjustments in Photoshop for printing.

Short of this, or replacing the monitor you have already, the only real option I see you having is adjusting Font DPI, or perhaps the Font size for the desktop, and each individual options for your desktops while trying to make it look the best possible.
--
-Yyrkoon

'Thinking ones self to be superior is often the case of a delusional mind.'

• LT. Commander Data

 

[Cymen Vig]

Your problem seems to be two things:

1) Text is too small.
2) Images are too small.

1. 1 is fixable
2. 2 is not so fixable

To fix #1, change the default size of your fonts. You don't say what operating system you're using but let's assume it's Windows for now:

http://malektips.com/windows_xp_display_desktop_0005.html
http://www.wordstar.org/computing/pages/monitor_cal.htm

To fix #2 you would need to have a browser that has an option to increase the size of images. I'm not aware of such an option but perhaps a plug-in exists for Internet Explorer or Firefox. There is the "zoom" accessibility tool in Windows but it doesn't seem ideal.

I think the ideal solution is two monitors or to simply accept #2.

 

[Mark H]

To fix #2 you would need to have a browser that has an option to
increase the size of images. I'm not aware of such an option...

Internet Explorer has an extremely good zoom capabilty built in as standard. The zoom control is on the Status toolbar at the bottom of the window (you may need to show/enable the Status toolbar from the Tools drop-down menu.

The IE7 zoom control zooms the whole web page, not just images - it's very fast, and the upscaling is very good quality, that works very well with images.

 

[Mike G.75791]

I have a Dell 2007 WFP with a native resolution of 1680 x 1050. I also have trouble with small print but I think it is primarily because of my 65 yr. old nearsighted eyes. So, I use glasses that my optician has optimized for viewing the computer (you can also use reading glasses that are available inexpensively in various magnifications), and, using Firefox, I often increase the text size (Control + and Control -) Reading this forum, I use two + clicks and I can read it easily and the rest of the page looks normal.

I also use two monitors: my 15 " laptop and the 20" Dell. But, I do most of my reading and viewing on the Dell and use the smaller monitor for tool bars, etc. I just like to spread out my open widows, etc., which seems to make my work flow more efficient.

It took me a while to adjust to the wide screen monitor and 1680 x 1050, but I have adjusted and like it now. I hope you find a solution as I did.

Good luck.

MIke G.

 

[dormouse]

You can change the size of images as well as fonts through desktop properties - change the dpi in advanced settings on desktop properties.

Also, Opera allows total control of zoom settings and has done for many years - one of the many reasons I preferred it to ie.

 

[John Adler71924]

no text

 

[Robert Sheldon]

I have been using reading glasses for computer work for longer than I want to admit. In fact, they are called my "computer glasses". I find trying to use bifocals for computer work is literally a "pain in the neck".
--
Bob Sheldon
Photo Gallery at
http://www.bobsheldon.com

 

[Vernon D Rainwater]

To fix #2 you would need to have a browser that has an option to
increase the size of images. I'm not aware of such an option...

Internet Explorer has an extremely good zoom capabilty built in as
standard. The zoom control is on the Status toolbar at the bottom of
the window (you may need to show/enable the Status toolbar from the
Tools drop-down menu.

The IE7 zoom control zooms the whole web page, not just images - it's
very fast, and the upscaling is very good quality, that works very
well with images.

Mark, your above information is of interest to me since I need to be able to have a readable size text with screen resolution set to the higher settings such as 1600 x 1000. I now have to change to use 800 x 600 for text type activities and** so the others will not feel "alone" -- I also wear Computer Glasses [Grin].....

Presently, I now use IE Version 6 Browser and haven't found the mentioned feature in this version. Some time ago, I read comments of some type problems created when changing to IE 7. Do you (or did you) have any problems when changing to use Version 7.
Version 6 does not appear to have the feature you mentioned for version 7.
--
Vernon...

 

[Salt]

In control panel Click'display--appearance--font size--choose Extra Large--click 'OK' Click Display--settings--advanced--in the DPI settings choose 'Custom Settings' with your mouse move the scale to about 109% click OK click to change font sizes--click'Apply' on the General Panel click 'YES' in properties click'Close' in the systems change panel restart your computer-click Yes.

William

 

[Vernon D Rainwater]

In control panel Click'display--appearance--font size--choose Extra
Large--click 'OK' Click Display--settings--advanced--in the DPI
settings choose 'Custom Settings' with your mouse move the scale to
about 109% click OK click to change font sizes--click'Apply' on the
General Panel click 'YES' in properties click'Close' in the systems
change panel restart your computer-click Yes.

William

Thanks William, I had previously tried those changes and I again checked just to be certain that I did it correct -- however, the suggested settings will change the titles (names) under the icons on the desktop plus other "windows" functions, however; it does not seem to have any effect on the size of Fonts that are displayed when reading (for example) this DpReview Forum.

Any suggestions that may help for ALL text appearing on the screen including the text in the DpReview forums ?
--
Vernon...

 

[Eric Carlson]

I also prefer the larger pixels of 1280x1024 19" LCD's, which is what I have at home. When I look for my next home LCD monitor (hopefully larger than 19"), the pixel pitch (larger being better, in this case) will be one of the factors I'll be considering. If I get a 1600x1200 monitor, it will definitely be larger than 20".
--

• Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/

 

[Robert Sheldon]

I have been using IE 7 for several months and have had no problems with it. The zooming capability is standard with it.
--
Bob Sheldon
Photo Gallery at
http://www.bobsheldon.com

 

[rhy7s]

I personally find 1600x1200 is still limiting and find it very cramped working with less. My general purpose PC is a laptop with 1600x1200 on a 15" display which I find about the sweet spot but will get WUXGA the next time around. Working with photos though I still use a 21" IBM P275 CRT for the better colour.

In regard to the web, IE7 has come along in leaps and bounds in regard to accessibility but I know many people around my way who are very fond of Opera for the whole page scaling ability that it has implemented for quite some time.

 

[Mark H]

Presently, I now use IE Version 6 Browser and haven't found the
mentioned feature in this version. Some time ago, I read comments of
some type problems created when changing to IE 7. Do you (or did
you) have any problems when changing to use Version 7.
Version 6 does not appear to have the feature you mentioned for
version 7.

I have had very few problems with IE 7.

I guess there may have been a few more unexpected closures than the previous version, and one web-site I check regularly used to crash the browser - but I would say that the benefits of the various enhancements far outweigh the few bugs or glitches.

The page zooming is excellent - tabbed browser is very useful - the ability to change the default search engine is good - and the user interface is generally neater.

It might take a few days or so to adapt, but I would definitely recommend it.

 

[Prognathous]

Thanks for all the comments.

As good as the 2007FP is, I couldn't live with the 1600x1200 resolution, no matter what I tried. I returned it and bought a second-hand LG F900P CRT instead, and I'm much happier with it.

Prog.