Windows DPI scaling, how good is it?

by Oskare100 Nov 2, 2009 7:04AM PST

Hello!
Thinking of buying either a 1280x800 or a 1680x1050 15.4" screen on a Lenovo T500 laptop. When I'm at home I need 1280x800 since I'm a bit away from the screen but for example on a train 1680x1050 would be better since I then would be closer to the screen.

So my question, how good is the DPI scaling in Windows 7? Can I by using the scaling function (not XP style scaling) be able to make the 1680x1050 screen look like a 1280x800 screen?

Regards

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I'm going with yes.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 3, 2009 9:40PM PST

While the scaling works the issues that can't be fixed are what happens when you use non-native LCD resolutions. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_resolution

This means that while 7 does this quite well, the issue of non-native resolutions mean that you will still see less than optimal display compared to the native resolution.

Hope this helps,
Bob

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Native resolution

by Oskare100 Nov 3, 2009 11:23PM PST

Hello! That would be native resolution... But with DPI I'm not changing the resolution, just the DPI from the default 96 DPI to something else... Would that have the same affect?

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That's new technology?

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 3, 2009 11:32PM PST

Sorry, how would one change the DPI of an LCD display? Today the LCDs are fixed DPI or only so many dots per inch.

So sticking with DPI you won't be changing that!

It is however possible to get the DPI of Windows to match the DPI of the display. Then it's as good as it gets.

-> Some need bigger fonts on the display. That's not done with DPI.
Bob

Windows DPI scaling, how good is it?

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