WXGA vs WXGA+ for 14.1" business notebook (6930p)...

Hi there,

I've decided to purchase an HP 6930p. I will mainly be using it for business - Word, Outlook, the Internet, Excel etc. I won't be playing many games on it (if any) or be doing any video editing. I have a 24" display, which I can use for any graphics work (Photoshop etc). I'll be using the laptop about 50% of the time away from the office - at libraries, coffee shops, or other offices/meeting rooms.

I'm trying to decide which resolution to get - the WXGA or WXGA+. I know a lot of people on these forums recommend the higher res screens; however, I imagine a lot may use their systems for games, video editing, CAD, web work etc. I'll be doing intensive office work. For a 14" business machine, what is the best resolution?

Also, if anyone happens to be a 6930p user, is there any difference in brightness between the two screens? That could be a factor.

Price is not really an issue. Due to the limited range of models available in Canada, there is a $400 price difference (for the two systems that otherwise have same specs). If it's better, however, I'd pay the extra.

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

ill start at the end - brightness: i heard complaints from people about the WXGA at the 8710w or 8730w (not sure) regarding brightness, so here the point would go to WXGA+. btw. there also the monitor's manufacturer was a factor.

i love the WXGA+ screen on my 8510p, however when talking about gaming, i would prefer the native resolution to be lower, since 1680x1050 is quite demanding for the graphic card (memory), when playing newest games. but still, i game a lot on my 8510p at its native resolution (since anything else looks ugly), and i am very satisfied with it.

since you wouldnt game on it, and considering the smaller monitor (8510p has a 15.4''), a lower resolution wouldnt hurt - maybe it would be more comfortable for office use since the fonts aren't that small. but since the WXGA+ native resolution @ 6930p is 1440x900, i assume thats proportional to my 8510p @ 1680x1050, and for me its perfect for office use.

so i would recommend the WXGA+, although not having tried the WXGA yet.

but try comparing 2 6930p notebooks with either of the monitors simultaneously, and then decide which one to take. any bigger store should offer you to try the notebooks out, and hopefully they have both, the 6930p with WXGA & WXGA+.

 

When I reviewed my unit here http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4710, the WXGA+ screen is nice and bright.

 

Dont get the WXGA+ screen unless you want eye strain. The native resolution is too high for a 14.1" screen and everything is so TINY to read. Its sucks and changing the resolution to anything other than native makes everything blurry.

 

That is your personal opinion. I find the higher resolution screens to be a better option because 14" is definitely large enough to support WXGA+.

 

No in reality. Unless you have the laptop on your desk and you're hunched over close to the screen WXGA+ is not an option. Forget chilling on your couch and laying back using your laptop while watching TV. The resolution is too high which makes everything so small its a PAIN to use.

 

I can do that without a problem. It really depends on your personal preference and tolerance for higher DPIs. I'd hate to see blocky low resolution screens.

 

as i said before, since the native resolution of 1680x1050 on my 8510p, which has a 15.4'' monitor, is perfectly ok for office use, i assume the same applies to the 1440x900 @ 14''. i dont have any problems with the small fonts etc. in contrary, i like the high resolution since theres merely no document, excel sheet, webpage etc. i could not see entirely @ 100%. ..and this i find is a great advantage to smaller resolutions where you have to scroll around or zoom out in order to see the whole document your working at.

of course, if you have another monitor, extended desktop is the function to use, but without, i prefer the highest possible resolution for office use.

 

It would be great to have a look at the different models in person. Unfortunately, the shops here only carry consumer models and there isn't a business reseller with a showroom. I might have a look at the a netbook (which has a similar resolution) to the 14" with wxga+.

Brightness is a concern. If the higher res screen is brighter, I'll probably go with that. Good review chrixx - I don't suppose you've had a chance to compare to the wxga? Can anyone confirm if there is a difference in the brightness between the wxga and wxga+ on the 6930p? Thanks!

 

That's your opinion, doesn't apply to every body else.
Screen resolution is pretty much an subjective topic. To some higher is better, to some others it's vice versa.

 

I'd really like to know this too. If anyone could answer this question, I'd appreciate it.

 

Well brightness depends on what screens you are looking at. Some of the 14" WXGA LCDs on the 6930p have "Illumi-Lite" (AKA LED backlighting). It's a shame that they don't have it in WXGA+.