17 inch: 1920 x 1200 vs 1440 x 900

What are the real differenced between a laptops of 17 inches where one has a native res of 1920 x 1200 and the other 1440 x 900.
Wont the letters be too small for the 1920 x 1200 laptop?
If the laptop of the 1920 x 1200 is scalled down to 1440 x 900 will there be loss of quallity?

 

I have a 1920X1200 laptop, and I don't find the letters too small. Keep in mind that a laptop is generally closer to your face than a desktop, so relative size is different. Plus, with the ultra high resolution, things are so crisp that smaller letters are easier to read.

Edit: I personally love the 1920X1200 screen as well, because you get so much more screen realestate.

 

It probably depends more on your own eyes and personal usage. My FZ has 1280x800 and I have a 19" external display with 1440x900. That is about as high as I want to go on either. We also have a 22" in da house with 1680x1050 and it looks about the same as my 19". It would really help, IMHO, if you could actually see one before you buy. I had a Dell 1720 for a week and the 1440x900 was OK on it, but I personally would have not gone any higher.

 

I would get the higher resolution if I were in your position, but it does depend on your preferences/eyesight.

 

But what if a 17 inch laptop that was designed for 1920x1200 is scalled down to 1440x900, would there be loss of quallity?

 

I think 1440x900 is not enough real estate on a 17" monitor. That's what I'm running on my 14.1" laptop. No option for 1680x1050? If not then I'd go for 1920x1200.

 

Yes, there would, but if your main concern is text size, pretty much every program for which it matters has a text size ajustment setting somewhere. Just set the text to display at a larger size rather than going down in resolution.

 

I would recommend 1920x1200.

 

if you're playing games I'd go with the lower res, unless you have an 8800gts or greater.

 

I'm having 17" and 1440x900. Honestly, 1920x1200 is MUCH better! Everything is crisper and if u have problems with texts etc, you can always configure every element of windows to your needs.

But 1440x900 screen is cheaper)

 

Go with 1920x1200 .... I had before laptop with a 17" screen with 1680x1050 and my actual screen it is a big improvement.

 

But if i scale a laptops 1920x1200 down to eg 1024x768 for a heavy game will there be a huge impact in quallity loss?

 

Depends on the game and your specific computer as to impact. However, with games, it should be ok.

 

I went for the 1920x1200 screen; it was a little weird at first but after I adjusted the font, cursor and icon sizes I've got used to it and I'm really happy with it.

 

I had a 1440x900 on one DV9700T (17" notebook) that I sent back and upgraded to a 1680x1050 screen. I bought a Vostro 1700 about a month ago and opted for the 1920x1200. I LOVE it. I was skeptical when I ordered because I just turned 35 *gasp* and my eyesight isn't what it used to be. My eyesight is decent, not spectacular but I didn't have to adjust anything at all on it. I left the fonts and icons the same.

The real estate is wonderful as others have mentioned. I do a lot of work online and I love being able to have four windows open on the screen at once without having to switch back and forth.

My husband has terrible eyesight and he uses the Vostro with zero complaints. He doesn't even need his glasses to use it.

As for gaming, I've scaled The Sims 2 and Oblivion down to really low resolutions and had no loss of quality. I prefer to play it at 1920x1200 and haven't noticed any performance drops. I don't have any games that really require a lot of FPS.