XGA vs. UXGA

Okay, I am ordering my Inspiron 9300 soon and need to know the differences between the two screen options. On Dell.com, the I9300 comes with these screens:

Wide Screen XGA+ 1440 x 900

or

Wide Screen UXGA 1920 x 1200 with TrueLife

I am temtped to go with the XGA+ because it will be easier to see and, from what I've heard, has had less problems. The notorious UXGA with TrueLife, from what Iv'e heard, has a sparkle effect. Does any one know what a sparkle effect is?

Basically, is it really worth it to upgrade? Please do not take money into consideration, only quality. I will be playing lots of games (Half-Life 2, Battlefield 2, etc.) and using it for web surfing and school as well.

 

IMHO, XGA is the way to go for your needs, the UXGA renders stuff way too small. You'll have your face up next to the screen trying to read text. And you'd pay extra for such an experience. I just know way too many people that went for UXGA and then regretted it, myself included on an older Dell 8600.

 

Sorry, but WUXGA does not "render stuff way too small" (ie compared to WXGA). Incorrectly set-up software renders WUXGA hardware "too small". I have used xga, uxga, wuxga for a decade and more and assure you that nothing beats the clarity of WUXGA. Font size and "other stuff" is entirely software-determined, not hardware-fixed. On the other hand, the density of everything on the screen is determined by the hardware: the higher the native density of the screen the clearer an equally sized font or "other stuff" will be. Some software does not have the ability to be configured for high definition screens. In those cases WUXGA hardware is a problem. One just have to steer clear of outdated HD-non-compliant software. Then all fonts, icons, and "other stuff" are just clearer, that's all. Granted that Windows XP is not so easy to configure for HD, at least XP's replacement is said to be properly HD-friendly at last. The future is HD, and for many it has been here for quite a while.

 

I would say that the only reason you outta get the WUXGA is if you really want the glare type displays. The resolution difference is an entirely personal preference. After having mine for about 6 months (I bought the 9300 right when they came out in mid Feb, WUXGA display), and used it heavily since then -- my take on it is that the higher res really isn't all that useful on a 17" screen. True the display looks pretty sharp when showing videos, but that's more because of the glare screen and not because of the resolution. As to making the fonts bigger -- yes I've also done that, and have since switched back because it to me defeats the purpose of having such a high resolution in the first place IMHO. I have a 20" flat panel which I connects to the 9300, at 1600x1200 resolution, and I find it FAR more usable than my 17" screen simply because I can have multiple screens open all at once, and all of them being easily readable

However the WUXGA screen does draw more attention thou... lol If you do a lot of typing, I would strongly suggest you to NOT get the wuxga, as sometimes the glare does become annoying.

cheers,

yass

 

I'd go with the WUXGA. Hey it's the best and well worth the money. High resolutions will keep you more productive, like working on 2 things at the same time. I have 2 webpages side by side all the time. Or watching a music video, chatting, and cruising the internet simultaneously. It's great for games too. Also, if the WUXGA screen was on something like a 13" notebook, then yes it may a tad small, but you can always adjust the fonts and/or resolution. But the original poster is saying it'll be on a Dell Inspiron 9300- that's a 17" screen I believe. It'll be perfect for you. I still dont know why they would make a low res 17" WXGA, unless it's for my grandma- but she doesn't know what the hell a computer is.

Edit: Glossy Screen? Yuck.

 

Well, I wouldn't get anything over a SXGA+ 1400x1050. Had one of those on my Dell Insprion 5000. I liked it, but then I went to a 15.4 WXGA - I liked that better, because it was a lot easier to read fonts and stuff. Higher res screen was better for pictures and movies though. That would be the only reason I would get a high res screen - Hi Def videos and most of all, pictures!

I wouldn't opt for the WUXGA - things can get really tiny, and if you type a lot, as already posted, don't get it - you will seriously strain your eyes. But if you're a photographer, then it's a good choice because you can view your 5 megapixel pictures at full size without having to scroll much.

 

lol...i thought u changed your mind and was going to go with the Dell XPS Gen 2??..lol...but b/w those...i would go with the WXGA without TruLife....i don't have trulife and i absolutely loooveeeeee my screeen!!!!!!

 

Very observant. I was going with the XPS2 until it went up $150 in base price. It really sucks too because I love the performance and looks of the XPS2.

 

ahh...i see...lol...that's funny u should say i was observant...b/c in another post i posted that i was observant about the page numbers...lol...oo well...but now there is the 40% off coupon...so use it for the 9300 or the XPS gen 2...1 OF THEM THO!!!!!!!!!

 

If I do go with the XGA+ screen, it's not going to look blurry or anything like that when watching a movie is it?

I would imagine the jump from XGA+ to UXGA would be like upgrading from VHS to DVD (XGA=VHS, UXGA=DVD). Some in turn I am just paying for a little clearer image.

Or is it more drastic than that?

 

go to a store and check it out for yourself


you're never going to know what you want asking peoples' opinions on a forum on an issue like screen resolution; it's way too subjective

 

Go with the WUXGA TrueLife - the glossy screen does increase the contrast dramatically. If you think the text is too small, switch the resolution to the 1440x900 and increase the "image sharpening" under the Color Correction option on the nVidia Go 6800 - looks great.

 

yup, thats what i do too... :glossy:

 

I was in the same boat you are in and let me just start by saying that I have perfect vision and I have used both these panels on the 9300 and other inspirons. My recommendation is that you go with the WXGA+, it is an ultrasharp, non glossy screen that is very bright and sharp and has a resolution of 1400x900 which is more than enough for the 17 inch widescreen display.
The wuxga panel is a true life, which means it is glossy, something I dont like, all the background reflections and your face too lol. The other problem is that the wuxga resolution is 1920x1200 which is just overkill on this size of a display, especially if you are used to say 1024x768 on your desktop. Text at normal 96dpi will appear rather tiny. Sure the Wuxga is a head turner at first when watching it but when it comes to practical use its a nuisance. The video card will have to work harder to render all those extra pixels, dropping games frame rates by 20-40 fps as tested by review sites. All those extra pixels mean the potential for extra problems too.
Games and DVD's look great on the matte finish of the wxga+ and it is much easier on the eyes, I highly recommend you avoid the WUXGA, sure some users like it but most find its not convenient and you will find alot of wuxga panel owners looking for ways to make their panels look better at 1400x900 resolution which begs the question ofcourse, why buy it in the first place?? Because many do soo ignorantly thinking that the picture quality will be brighter and dramatically improved. Not so and open for much speculation, I didnt find any wuxga picture improvement to be worth the hassle of everyday use.

 

Just a note too, if you go to best buy you wont find any 1920x1200 resolution panels on any of their laptops, same at circuit city........
If you do look at one somewhere, be sure and check the settings to see if it is set to normal 96 dpi and soo forth. Chances are one on display somewhere will be enhanced to make the text look bigger or icons look better at a non native setting.
Ask yourself, is 125 dollars worth all this hastle?

 

the best buy by my house has a 17" sony (can't remember the model) that has wuxga

 

No not at all, ive used bothn WUXGA and WXGA and I can tell you that for reading, WXGA is a treat where WUXGA is torture, WUXGA is too high a resolution dont get it. Nothing looks blurry on the WXGA, its an ultrasharp matte finished panel and looks great when watching DVD's and playing games.
Most of the time WUXGA users have to use their screen at non native resolutions because software and web sites dont support the 1920x1200 resolution. If youve never used resolution that high I would definitely stick with WXGA

 

Best buy doesnt carry ANY laptops with a WUXGA resolution

 

I have used both and the contrast is not "dramatically" sharper. Again I must stress since I have used BOTH resolutions that if you are not currently using a WUXGA or run your desktop at 1024x768 or less, then you will be much happier with WXGA+
Alot of people make the mistake of attributing qualities to their panels based on resolution which have nothing to do with this at all and more to do with the make and model.

 

What is your opinion of the whole "WXGA looks washed out at the sides, there's a small place you have to look straight-on etc." vs. "WUXGA's contrast is better etc etc."...

I use a Viewsonic display for my desktop and I have to look "straight on" to get the full color... but it's not washed out anywhere. But... if you look at it from an angle... it washes out... but... I don't use it viewing it from an angle...

I briefly had a Macbook Pro and it has the matte finish and I thought it looked great. I don't recall trying to see it from an angle so I'm not sure about how it looked. (Note: The harddrive went belly-up after a couple of weeks so I returned it)

What are your takes?

 

I got a UXGA "Truelife" 1920x1200 on my Dell Inspiron e1705.

I agree with those who say the fonts are too small, and lowering the resolution makes it blurry.

I'm a gamer so the wide screen didn't go well with "Battlefield 2".

Thanks for your time guys.

 

I agree. For a majority of people WSXGA+ is the best balance of resolution and screen real estate. I have to squint on the WUXGA.

 

darn I ordered uxga and I love gaming for the e1705... what to do ? return and go for the other option xga+?

 

These two threads answered a lot of my questions regarding wuxga vs wxga.
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=80139
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=45740

The first one says that the Dell wuxga's look great running at xga res.

 

i have to same pb with uxga. the fonts are too small with it 1900x1200 native resolution. im trying many different ways to make the font bigger but there is little use with it. it can never be as clear as the native resolution. i realize i dont need such a high resolution.

i can hardly read the text. it hurt my eye when i tried to read the web site. now return it for a full refund. will reorder for a wga+. hopefully its great with its native resolution.

 

I agree. My wife has the shiny Sony

I WANT THE FRAME RATES! At native resolution.

I think the big problem is the choice of XGA+ screens Dell has chosen. A lot of owners have returned to UXGA to get away from the washed out and limited view angles of some of the XGA+'s(Samsung?)

While my Samsung XGA+ 1705 with in house warranty is shipping, I'm typing this on a 4 year old Latitude at work. The Latitude and my 3 other laptops at the house have very nice non washed out matte screens with good view angles.

So far I have had good response from Dell support and the English is improving so I'm ready to work with Dell if I have screen problems

 

I just returned the E1705 to Dell

It's a fast machine, mind you. But the display was terrible. Washed out.. sparkly.. whatever you want to call it... but it wasn't like a normal display where you can look right at it and see the entire screen... there's banding of sorts.. you can only see like 1/3 of the display... moving your head up and down the screen you can see the other 1/3... hard to describe..

I didn't think they could screw up a matte finish.. I work with alot of matte finish laptops at work.. they look just like the LCD I would with on my desktop at work and at home.. so I thought.. that's what i want.

I had the shiny/glossy Sony LCD at home.. for about 2 hours before I went made from the reflectiveness... so i gave it to my mom. She loves it. (Also, the Sony... beautiful design, but impractical.. cannot be raised/lowered like the Viewsonic.. or most any display).

I have a Thinkpad T60 on order.. I hope not to have the same experience with a matte finish. I'm hoping that I can play non-fps games on it as well (Radeon 1400 chipset). Man I wish video cards were external on laptops (USB?) that would rock.. I wouldn't have to be concerned with which laptop I choose. Hard to find a core duo AND geforce 7800GTX.

 

Chris, I'm bummed.

I had read your other post but was hoping Dell would work with you on the lousy screen. I guess it's true we get what we pay for and the IBM will be a step up in quality.

Good luck with you new notebook!

 

Sorry to do that... but that kind of quality I would expect.. around the time when matte finish first came out... I don't think i mentioned the light bleed and movies either... ugh..

I just couldn't be sure Dell could do the glossy (WXUGA+?) justice too so I returned it (restock fee waived since the display was terrible to me).

I just don't see the attractiveness of the glossy display.. I'm looking at a 19in Viewsonic desktop right now... I have it at 50% brightness and it's great, very sharp and legible. No shadows with games etc etc etc.

In other words.. matte finish is FINE for me for games and work.