when you lower the native resolution

[slampy]

I recently got a new laptop, well I bought it refurbished. Its an HP 8710w. It's very very nice, and has a WUXGA matte anti-glare 1920x1200 native screen resolution which is super sharp and clear. When I lower the resolution to anything else; 1680x1050 or 1440x900, everything looks a bit fuzzy or blurred. Is it normal for anything lower than the native resolution to look slightly fuzzy?

I'm planing to use this laptop for my web design. previously I was on a desktop with 1024x768. now when I view my projects or websites it of course is very small because of the ultra high res. I'm now concerned that at such a high res, it will be tough to design because everything is so small and it feels more natural to work in a lower res with things larger on the screen.

Does anyone else work with graphics or web in a super high res? And how do you like or dislike it?

 

[Dangman]

Is it normal for anything lower than the native resolution to look slightly fuzzy?

Yup. That's the one major flaw of an LCD monitor: crappy look at lower resolutions: crappy look at lower than native res.

That's why many (hardcore, highly paid, highly lucky) people use CRTS or $4000+ LCD monitors for graphic design

 

[slampy]

well that's sucks to hear, lol. I'm going to give it a shot for a week or so, take it to work, and see if I can live with designing in such a high res workspace. it would be perfect for photo editing, but when I have to build websites and make sure they compatible with as low as 1024x768 screens, it is a rather small space to design in on this particular screen.

So, if it turns out I can't live with this resolution, I'll probably sell this machine and either get something with a lower native res, or keep using my desktop. I really wanted to be mobile though, lol.

 

[Mithent]

That's why many (hardcore, highly paid, highly lucky) people use CRTS or $4000+ LCD monitors for graphic design

Well, on the LCDs that's not likely to get a lower native resolution, but rather better colour etc.

But, yes, it does surprise me how high the resolution of some laptops are; I'd not like 1024x768, but 1920x1200 is a 24" monitor resolution normally - it's going to look extremely small on a 17" laptop display.

 

[philjohn]

Well, on the LCDs that's not likely to get a lower native resolution, but rather better colour etc.

But, yes, it does surprise me how high the resolution of some laptops are; I'd not like 1024x768, but 1920x1200 is a 24" monitor resolution normally - it's going to look extremely small on a 17" laptop display.

Except you should be using a 24" monitor at a distance of around 1.5-2 ft, whereas you are normally close to a laptop than that.

As for designing for smaller resolutions, get the Web Developer toolbar which can automatically resize firefox to emulate different screen sizes. You can also whack the resolution up in windows to make menus etc. easier to read.

 

[slampy]

those are all good points, and I suck at deciding on these things, lol. I love how high the res is for general use, but it still bothers me for designing, and I've tried lowering the res and changing the browser res with addons, but I don't like the slight inconvenience. I'd prefer one res that I'm happy with and just use it. Although I'm worried I'll wish I didn't give up such a high res if I downgrade to a laptop with 1440x900. good for design, IMO, but poor for general use.