which screen resolution ?

Ok I'm not sure which-
-17.0" diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
- 17.0" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)

The second is an extra $50 bucks and i'm at $1500. So is the difference worth it? With a lower resolution will i still be able to play oblivion on very high? and I heard since the second is dual lamp (not sure, some please check and tell me) that it takes up more battery life to make brighter picture, is it true? and if so and i dim it down to same alot more energy?

 

WSXGA+ is worth $50 if WSXGA+ is what you want.

Actually you would likely be able to play with higher settings with the lower resolution (both at native) vs higher.

I have no clue on the dual lamp issue, except yes likely sacrificing batt life for improved appearance.

 

I would go for the higher resolution. More screen real estate is always a plus.

 

I own the 17.0" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050) and it's a beauty. I had never had a high screen res like that and now I'll never go back!

But it really is a personal preference. For gaming, you can always lower your resolution but with a lower res, you can never go up. I play Oblivion on my 1680x1050 at both 1440x900 and 1680x1050. It runs well on both if you're getting the 8600M GS with your HP since that's probably your only graphics choice besides the 8400M GS. (I'm assuming since I don't know which system you're considering.)

 

well if you can playoblivion higher with lower res then awsome! more power less money! here are laptop details
– Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
– Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
– 17.0" diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
– FREE Upgrade to 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)!!
– 50% OFF 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS!!
– FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
– Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
– 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
– LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
– No TV Tuner w/remote control
– High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
– Microsoft(R) Office Home and Student 2007

 

Personal Preference.

 

I have 1680x1050 on my 15" screen and can see & read everything with no problems.

dont be mistaken and think that your forced to play a game (or even have windows set) at the resolution of your screen. I play almost every game at 1280x800 since a laptop in general is not powerful enough to play a game at high settings and have a good frame rate.

so in general a higher resolution is better, you can always scale things to fit the way you want and it gives you the option to see more on screen at once, but with a lower resolution you cant really do the opposite.

 

As mentioned above personal choice. Also as mentioned higher resolution gives you more real estate. And as I mentioned above about playing with higher settings. Let me make clear, if you play the game at 800X600 you will do even better with higher settings. The downside is when you move away from native resolution you get interpolation which causes visual distortion. To what level depends on what native resolution is and what you switch to. Is it acceptable? Personal decision. I found with my SXGA+ going to XGA was OK. It is not the screen that affects the performance of the game and settings just the display quality. On a CRT monitor there is no such thing as "native resolution". So it is what it is just wanted to make clear for you. Both have their pluses.

Edit: Written before I saw ViciousXUSMC but I do agree with what he says.

 

I'd go for the higher res as well. More real-estate is always good, imho. Also, as has been said, you can always go down from your max if you have to, but you can never go over your max, even if you want to.

 

so i should get highr res. makes sense. just one last question. since its hp's brightview tech i'm pretty sure it uses dual lamp for brighter screens, well can i dim the screen, so it's not at max brightness, and save more battery life?

 

I know my eyes can't handle 1680 x 1050 @ 15.4", but if I was buying 17" then that's the resolution I would choose.

John

 

I would be a bit concerned about 1680 x 1050 on a 15.4 too. I think it would be hard on my eyes as well.

my current laptop is 15.4" @ 1280 x 800... but I would really like more space! It seems like I have to scroll down for just about everything!

I think 1440 x 900 for a 15.4" or 1680 x 1050 for a 17" would be about right! Although I saw a 17" HP (forgot the model#) with a 1440 x 900 screen and it looked great.