Difference between 15.4 in. WXGA screen (1280 x 800) and 17 in. WXGA+ screen (1440 x 900)

Hi, I asked is in another thread, but it seems to have got lost amongst the many other questions, so I thought I would post it again separately!
I'm trying to decide between the Dell latitude D 830, and Vostro 1700 (I think I've narrowed it down to those two...)
Anyway, the latitude is a 15.4 in. WXGA screen (1280 x 800) and the Vostro 1700 has a 17 in. WXGA+ screen (1440 x 900) . I have recently returned a 15.4 in. screen with a resolution of 1680x1050, because the font size was just ridiculously small -- I have my screen approximately 2 to 3 ft. . away.
I unable to go out to look at screen sizes in person due to ill-health (this is also why the screen is so far away from me), so I really need some advice about which screen would be best for me... PLEASE!
My Mum has a lap top with a 15.4 in. WXGA screen (1280 x 800) , and this is much better for my eyes, but I am rather tempted by the extra space I would have on a 17 in. screen. Can anyone post some side-by-side photos of the to screen sizes I'm interested in (preferably showing the same web site page or something)? That would be fantastic... Alternatively, can anyone tell me how much difference there will be between two?
I REALLY, REALLY would be grateful

 

WXGA+ screen (1440 x 900) on the Vostro 1700 should look almost identical to a WXGA screen (1280 x 800) on a 15.4". If you're really worried about font size, Vista allows you to change your font size in windows under DPI settings. With this, you should be able to have big readable fonts and high res pics even on a WSXGA+ (1650 x 1050). Back to your question, the WXGA+ screen (1440 x 900) on the Vostro 1700 is similiar to a WXGA on a 15.4" except on a slightly larger physical screen.

 

Thanks -- I did fiddle with the dpi /font size on the last laptop, but still struggled terribly on some websites. And, and of course the more you alter things,the worse some websites look, once you start messing around with the settings.
Unfortunately am not going with Vista, but sticking with Windows XP.

Anyway, thanks for reassuring me that the text size won't be much different. I still feel it's a bit of a risk going for it as I've never seen it in person, so I would LOVE to see some pictures though if anyone has some...

Do you think there would be a big benefit in going for a 17 in. screen if I was going to be working with multiple applications at once -- spreadsheets and the like?

 

Dell use several different brands...AUO, LG-Philip, Samsung & Sharp.

in 15.4" wxga+ have LG, Samsung really good screens

in 15.4" wsxga+ have LG really good screens............

in 17" wxga+ have Samsung & LG really good screens...........(but the best True life 17" wxga+ is actaully a AUO...and that screen was on a Inspiron 9400, bought in Spain)

in 17" wuxga have LG, Samsung & Sharp really good screens

what i mean is, that you "never" know who good your screen is BEFORE you see it yourself...........

 

Thanks, I appreciate that I won't know in advance what QUALITY of screen I'll receive -- at this stage I am just concerned with resolution and text size. I am unable to get out and look at the 17 in. WXGA+ screen (1440 x 900) in a shop, and my only reference is the 15.4 in. WXGA screen (1280 x 800) that my mum has. I'm just trying to establish whether the font size will be the same on the larger screen... ie, whether it will appear the same to my eyes, and will have the same readability factor. Any thoughts?

I've just found the following web page, which shows exactly what I've been looking for

http://www.notebookcheck.net/DPI-Fineness-of-Displays.1310.0.html

It looks to me as if the text on the two screens I'm considering are in fact very similar in size, as Spoodo said at the start (thanks!) Thought I would post it for anyone else who is interested...