Resolution Question

I'm going to get a bigger LCD than my current 15" for many reasons, one being gaming not only for it to look better but so I can see properly. I notice in Day of Defeat Source and Counter Strike Source I often have to lean into the screen to see people far away because its just too small.

However, I notice 17" and 19" both have the same native res (generally) of 1280x1024. Does this mean 19" looks a little worse as the same amount of pixels is being stretched over a larger area?

Yes and 19" screens tend to be a little slower as well. I've got one of each and I don't really notice the bigger pixels on the 19" but they are in fact bigger (they gotta be if both displays have the same res). My 19" is some fancy, expensive Viewsonic swivel head (191b) and I hate it because of noticable smearing on the screen during gameplay. It seems everybody but me loves this stinking thing. Perhaps mine is faulty and extra slow or perhaps I'm extra picky. Reguardless, before you waste 250-500 bucks you should check out the display in person at a real brick and mortor store.

I solved my 19" problem by trading up to a 1366 by 768 Sony 50" plasma .Plasma's do not suffer from lag/smearing.