What's the difference between Screen resolution and dpi

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Jeff wrote:
> I am struggling with the best options for the LCD screen on my Dell
> laptop which has a NVIDIA GeForce2 Go video card.
>
> The ideal resolution setting for this video card and screen is
> apparently 1600 x 1200, but that makes things too small for me. So I
> learned about the dpi setting in Display Properties\Settings\Advanced
> screen. However since this magnifies things for the same resolution,
> I am not sure why that is better than just using a lower resolution
> or even what the difference between the 2 options is.
>
> Can someone enlighten me?

You still have more screen resolution, your icons are just enlarged for
easier viewing.

LCD panels are "tuned" for a certain number of dots to be on the screen, so
if you have less or a refresh rate that is not "equal to the resolution" for
that particular monitor - things may look grainy/fuzzy.

Although your icons are now larger - I guarantee you can still fit more of
them on the screen at the higher resolution than you could a normal size
icon selection and a lower resolution. However, the truth of the matter is
that things won't look right unless you go the native resolution of the LCD
monitor - although you can tweak it some.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

"bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
news:1123672321.511351.8740@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Jeff wrote:
>> The ideal resolution setting for this video card and screen is apparently
>> 1600 x 1200, but that makes things too small for me.
>
> Yes, it would for most people, I imagine. These numbers don't sound
> right for a laptop, unless Dell has come up with a 19" monitor on
> theirs. The ideal resolution for an LCD would be the so-called "native
> resolution". Where did you get the 1600 x 1200 numbers?
>
The 1600 X 1200 sounds more like the maximum resolution.
--
Ron Sommer

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Jeff wrote:
> > The ideal resolution setting for this video card and screen is
> > apparently 1600 x 1200, but that makes things too small for me.
>
> bxf wrote:
> > Yes, it would for most people, I imagine. These numbers don't sound
> > right for a laptop, unless Dell has come up with a 19" monitor on
> > theirs. The ideal resolution for an LCD would be the so-called "native
> > resolution". Where did you get the 1600 x 1200 numbers?
>
> Several laptops have native resolutions of 1600+ --> just worked on one
> yesterday that was 1920+..
> The widescreen laptops and desktop replacement laptops are popular.

The 4:3 proportions of 1600 x 1200 preclude widescreen monitors. I
really find it difficult to imagine a 17" screen (assuming it's even
that) "forced" to resolution that produces such small characters, etc.

What was the size of yesterday's 1920+ monitor, and how far from (or
rather, close to) the screen did you have to keep your eyes? :-)

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Jeff wrote:
> The ideal resolution setting for this video card and screen is
> apparently 1600 x 1200, but that makes things too small for me.

bxf wrote:
> Yes, it would for most people, I imagine. These numbers don't sound
> right for a laptop, unless Dell has come up with a 19" monitor on
> theirs. The ideal resolution for an LCD would be the so-called
> "native resolution". Where did you get the 1600 x 1200 numbers?

Jeff wrote:
> I just assumed it was because that was the maximum resolution of the
> graphics card that came with it and in that resolution the letters are
> crystal clear.
>
> It is a standard Dell Inspiron 8100 with a standard size LCD screen
> (not wide type). How does one find out what the native resolution
> for the screen is?

Why do people fear asking questions from those who actual provide support
for the products they purchased? heh

http://support.dell.com/support/to [...] 19&s=dhs#3

Look at your manual/receipt/etc - which screen did you get?
Compare to table above.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:unsS%23ddnFHA.3960@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Jeff wrote:
>> I just assumed it was because that was the maximum resolution of the
>> graphics card that came with it and in that resolution the letters are
>> crystal clear.
>>
>> It is a standard Dell Inspiron 8100 with a standard size LCD screen
>> (not wide type). How does one find out what the native resolution
>> for the screen is?
>
> Why do people fear asking questions from those who actual provide support
> for the products they purchased? heh

Mostly because they do not know where to do it <grin>

> http://support.dell.com/support/to [...] 19&s=dhs#3
>
> Look at your manual/receipt/etc - which screen did you get?

Long gone!

> Compare to table above.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Jeff