External display for my Latitude laptop

I just bought a Dell E6400 Latitude. It has a 1440 x 900 hi-res LED screen. I am looking to replace my 3-yr-old desktop monitor, a 17" standard format (non-widescreen) Dell 1704 FPV.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is there any way I can get higher resolution out of my current desktop monitor? I am only getting 1280 x 1024--lower res than the screen on my 14" laptop!

2. Can my computer handle the transition from a widescreen format on my laptop to a regular format on my desktop monitor? Will the picture come out weird or less sharp as a result?

3. What do you guys think of the Dell 1908 WFP? http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=320-6138

At $164, it seems like a deal. However, will the 1440 x 900 be enough resolution for me? I using the computer for general computing--web browsing, microsoft office, maybe a game or two. I'd like to stick with Dell--do they make a 19" widescreen monitor with a higher resolution?

Oh, and I love the USB ports on this one--gotta have 'em.

David

PS--Does Dell have some kind of trade-in policy for upgrading monitors? I read that somewhere. If not...does anyone want to buy my old monitor?

 

Sure you can go all the way up to the resolution of a 24" monitor. They have had the 22" ones for not much more. The regular one has been going for 175 and the ultrasharp for 225. I picked up the ultrasharp for my mom. I think you should go bigger than 19" as the difference in size wont be that great.

And how much for your old one?

 

$164 is 22in territory. You should be able to do better than a 1908WFP.

 

Actually, I don't want a huge monitor on my desk eating up alot of desk space. I think 19", maybe 20" is big enough already. I mainly want a higher res screen, not a bigger one.

Back to my question about widescreen vs. standard format--is there a loss of signal quality of any kind when my laptop has to convert from widescreen to standard format? is my video card set up for widescreen since my laptop screen is widescreen, or does this not matter in the least?

thanks
David

 

why don't just get a widescreen monitor?
but no, your laptop shouldn't have a prob with it. Your card isn't made for a specific type of screen or resolution. It will put out any resolution up to the max it supports.

 

Another question--I want the highest quality cable available as I will need at least 10', maybe 15' of length to reach my monitor. I noticed that Monster Cables makes DVI-D, but they are only single link.

What do you think of these? They are dual link and look well-constructed. They claim to be "1080 hp" certified (whatever that means) and to be as good (if not better) than Monster Cables. Since they are dual link, they should be better, right?

http://www.bestdealcables.com/p-94-click-here-for-dvi-cable-lengths.aspx

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/dvitodvivica.html

 

I have a 21 inch and hook it up to my lappy and really enjoy that size.

 

I think you should get a 22”, especially since you are worried about resolution. Going from a 17” standard to 19” wide is not exactly an upgrade. Your vertical resolution is dropping from 1024 to 900 = more scrolling (less visible text lines for documents).My university LCD was recently upgraded from a 17” standard to a 19” wide, but didn’t really feel like much of an "upgrade" its more like a horizontally stretched 17”. But if you move to a 22” you’ll feel it, because I see a noticeable difference between that 19" wide and my home 22” wide (Which BTW I’m planning to upgrade to a 26” soon …. full HD )

Most cables are single link and I think most devices only support single link. You don't need dual link for resolutions below 1900x1200. For shorter distances, any cheap cable will do fine. Don’t spend $60 on a cable!

BTW are you using a docking station? because AFAIK E6400 doesn’t have DVI or HDMI.

 

You have a displayport on the e6400 and i think it's best to get the displayport to DVI cable from Dell. DONT buy any cheap VGA cable as a lot of them aren't even shielded (like most you get with new monitors) That said the cables supplied with my 2709w were of very good quality.

I agree with what's said above, get a 22" widescreen with 1680x1050 resolution. Great work space and not that large opn desk

 

So you think the display port --> DVI would be better signal than DVI --> DVI? I am using the E-port replicator.

So dual link is no better than single link?

 

Newer Dell displays also have the displayport on it so you could connect directly. If using the E-port replicator that changes ofcourse. The displayport cable is dual link afaik.