T420 resolution help

Hello,

I'm trying to decide on 1600 x 900 vs 1366 x 768 for the T420 which is 14.0" HD+. 1366x768 seems like a bad resolution size and 1600 x 900 seems to big. Advice?

 

Personally I would go for the 1600 x 900 because it presents more information on the screen without scrolling. If your eyes can't handle the smaller pixels then you can use Windows 7's display scaling to enlarge everything.

John

 

I would tend to agree. If you get the HD+ and it's too small, you can always make things bigger via DPI. If you get the 1366 and it's too big, you're stuck with it.

 

I too vote for the higher resolution panel, the increased real estate helps while doing productivity work (graphic designing, document work) which means you don't need to Scroll or Zoom In/Out that often. Plus as others said, you can always adjust the DPI size if you find the fonts a bit on the small side.

 

1600x900 is not too big on a 14". I'd say it's average, and the 1920x1080 would be optimal.

For me personally at least.

 

the HD is about just right on X220, 14 inch with HD+ and 15 inch with FHD. The clarity of fonts and graphics with these higher resolution display blends in well with windows 7.

 

Tell me about it, I heavily considered the Sony Z series for this very reason. I opted for the ThinkPad though at the reduced res of 1600x900. I've owned one Sony... It was no Z series, F Series actually, but for the money I expected more, MUCH MORE. I have yet to be disappointed in a ThinkPad, fingers crossed hoping the trend continues.

 

Disagree there.

12.5" screams for 1440x900 or 1600x900.


12.5" is about half an inch away from the 13" 1080p Z series.

 

Which proves what?

 

1366x768 is not a bad resolution for a 12.5" laptop just like 1600x900 is not a bad resolution for a 15.6" laptop. But 1366x768 is too low of a resolution for a 14" laptop, get 1600x900.

 

That 1600x900 is perfectly fine on 12" and 1366x768 is not. Still confused?

 

Resolution choice is very subjective. There are good reasons to go 1366x768 on a 14" laptop. I think you have to see both resolutions and decide by yourself (ex: go to BestBuy or any other store, it will give you an idea).

I went for 1366x768 on my T420 and it took me a while to decide. My wife has a T510 with 1366x768 so I knew I could tolerate the same resolution on a 14". It's really a personal choice and debating resolution choice is kind of pointless.

 

If your eyesight warrants reason to get 1366x768 rather than 1600x900, that could be a reason to do it.

However, if it's just about the upgrade cost, take the higher-res display. It's $50, less than 10% of the total cost of the laptop, for an upgrade that makes a rather large difference for the overall usability of your computer (it literally affects everything you do. No other upgradeable spec makes that much of a difference.)

 

Fully agreed -- best seen with your own eyes. But good luck finding a screen that isn't 1366x768 at Best Buy with which to compare it... heh

 

Yes, how so?

 

Personally, I say, pack as many pixels as possible into the screen. I would love to have a ~13" TP with that Sony 1920x1080 screen. Many couldn't see the resulting fonts without increasing their size, but I can so pack in the pixels!

Moreover, what works for one does not work for all. To those that want less pixels, I'm fine with that... To those that want more, I'm fine with that too... Can we all just get along...

 

This is a subjective matter. It may be perfect for you now, but that may change later in life. Many people are going to have a hard time with 1600x900 resolutions on a 12, 13 or 14" screen. Perfect vision just isn't the norm.

Case in point. 1600x900 is fine for me on the T420s screen but my wife reacted very negatively towards it. For her, I would need to set the DPI to some percentage higher than 100% or 1366x768 would be a better choice.

 

There are work-arounds for imperfect vision. I've got bad eyes but have some varifocal lenses between them and my 14" 1600 x 900 screen. The result is that I'm happy but wouldn't want the pixels any smaller.

John

 

The place where I want the most pixels is on my internet browser. Most browsers allow for making text smaller, which has the same effect of a higher resolution.

 

if you have too low of a resolution, and you try to zoom out in your web browser, text becomes too pixellated to read.