Is 1366x768 really that bad?

[dawza]

No, not at all. I think that is a fine resolution for a DESKTOP monitor that you will be using in a completely different manner than a NOTEBOOK monitor (i.e. viewing distance). And your statement about dot pitch is a total straw man. I said nothing about dot pitch, or desktop monitors for that matter.

Look, there is nothing elitist about what we are saying with regards to notebook screen resolutions and notebook size. I hardly see how being able to fit more windows on a single screen for whatever reason (do you want to play a game+ browse at the same time with two windows side-by-side? Definitely more comfortable on a higher-res screen) is elitist. It's pragmatic.

 

[cerebusPu]

i think what bugs most of us is that laptops from 4-5 years ago had higher resolution for the same size screens. now the push is for widescreen and glossy, and 1366x768 on a 15inch screen. thats fine for people who need reading glasses, but if i want to get work done, i want to see more work at once.

 

[Tom]

No, not at all. I think that is a fine resolution for a DESKTOP monitor that you will be using in a completely different manner than a NOTEBOOK monitor (i.e. viewing distance). And your statement about dot pitch is a total straw man. I said nothing about dot pitch, or desktop monitors for that matter.

Look, there is nothing elitist about what we are saying with regards to notebook screen resolutions and notebook size. I hardly see how being able to fit more windows on a single screen for whatever reason (do you want to play a game+ browse at the same time with two windows side-by-side? Definitely more comfortable on a higher-res screen) is elitist. It's pragmatic.

The point about dot pitch is, it's a comfortable viewing size. You could ask for resolution to view 2 pages of text on an iphone, but you won't be able to read it.

The elitist part is about rejecting a perfectly comfortable dot pitch in favor of one that's too small, and saying everybody who disagrees has bad eyesight. Not you in particular, but that's the jist of many complaints about what is the de facto normal screen resolution.

 

[beginner99]

Whatever 90% of 15.4 inch laptops come with, you know better ?

The point about dot pitch is, it's a comfortable viewing size. You could ask for resolution to view 2 pages of text on an iphone, but you won't be able to read it.

The elitist part is about rejecting a perfectly comfortable dot pitch in favor of one that's too small, and saying everybody who disagrees has bad eyesight. Not you in particular, but that's the jist of many complaints about what is the de facto normal screen resolution.

You are the only one talking about dot pitch. Higher resolution = you see more stuff on your screen. I know that for word and facebook you don't really need it. But try to work on such a res with PhotoShop or any IDE. It's possible but it will have a negative impact on your work.

I don't care if 99.99% come with that resolution, it doesn't make it any better. Same is for glossy and 16:9 aspect ratio.

 

[Tom]

You are the only one talking about dot pitch. Higher resolution = you see more stuff on your screen. I know that for word and facebook you don't really need it. But try to work on such a res with PhotoShop or any IDE. It's possible but it will have a negative impact on your work.

I don't care if 99.99% come with that resolution, it doesn't make it any better. Same is for glossy and 16:9 aspect ratio.

Dot pitch is what determines usability.

And screen resolution won't negatively impact photo work, nobody works on photo touch up without using magnification, and full screen manipulation it wont matter.

For viewing photos more resolution will be nice, but that's not working.

Try to focus on the actual question. It isn't what your personal preferences are, or what's the ultimate setup for Photoshop..

 

[aceO07]

Most people (outside of those complaining in forums) probably don't care as long as it is cheaper.

I agree. I think it's also a mix of:
1. Don't care, it's cheap
2. Haven't seen better or don't notice details
3. Don't do any work (that requires better)

A good number of people here read review, benchmark, good attention to details.. etc. Most people aren't like that.

 

[Chiropteran]

I don't think it's bad at all, but for me a laptop's purpose is to be a portable device. If I need a lot of screen estate, I use a desktop. I prefer smaller laptops & netbooks, so going higher than 1366X768 results in text that can be painful to read and the advantage of higher res is lost as soon as you start using zoom functions to make it bigger again.

That said, I understand why some people want higher res and are willing to pay extra for it, I just don't see a huge benefit. Perhaps in a few years the standard will move up to 1440X900 or something, and I'll switch, but I am not willing to pay a lot more for a higher res screen currently.

8 years ago, I would have answered completely differently. I recall buying a Dell laptop sometime ago with 1600X1200 resolution thinking it would be awesome how much desktop space I had. While it didn't bother me enough to return or sell it, I did realize that there was a point of diminishing returns and the screen just wasn't big enough to really support the resolution.

 

[Tom]

i think what bugs most of us is that laptops from 4-5 years ago had higher resolution for the same size screens. now the push is for widescreen and glossy, and 1366x768 on a 15inch screen. thats fine for people who need reading glasses, but if i want to get work done, i want to see more work at once.

I agree. I think 1280x1024 is more useful than 1366x768 and matte is more useful than glossy.

My points in here are that 1366x768 is ok, not that it's great.

 

[fralexandr]

i can't stand the 1366x768 on my m11x sometimes. The resolution just stinks for multitasking and when viewing pdfs that are embedded into webpages that have annoyingly large border things. then you get < half useable space for the actual pdf >.<.
other than that, 1366x768 is great!

 

[kwo]

Hah, just the argument I've been having with myself.

I am coming from an Inspiron 8600 with 1680x1050 (2004, baby!) which served me very very well until I finally killed the graphics (darn Win7 and Rivatuner!) and have been in the market for a new laptop.

I was thinking to myself, "what the heck is up with all these laptops having *lower* resolutions nowadays?".

Granted, I did wind up adjusting the dpi on my inspiron, so I can see why the resolutions have dropped down....but.......to 1366x768?? That seems almost too low.

I just picked up a Lenovo 15 Edge from walmart (gasp!) yesterday and am trying to decide if I like it enough to keep it or not....

 

[Spicedaddy]

1366x768 is alright on my 11.6" laptop, but I use a desktop with 1920x1200 screen most of the time.

I wouldn't want 1366x768 on a 15" laptop, but most people don't understand when you explain they won't be seeing more stuff on the bigger screen since it's the same res.

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

1366x768 for 15.6" is okay for me, but mainly b/c I find it much easier on my eyes. I do use it as a work computer actually, but also have the Windows Taskbar set to autohide to get some vertical real estate back. My work involves dealing with text mainly, lots and lots of text.

Yeah, higher is better I guess, but not worth the extra cost to me. On the go, it's just fine, and at home, I have it plugged into an external monitor w/ extended desktop.

 

[fire400]

1280x, 1440x, 1600x are all better than 1366x in my opinion.

at this point, you get what you pay for.

 

[Emulex]

i need 2560x1600 in 17" or 18.6"

 

[RaistlinZ]

Don't feed into the crapification trend of current laptops. Just say no to 1366x768 on anything higher than 13". It's a shame that the industry is going backwards on screen quality from where it was 5-6 years ago.

 

[biostud]

I've just got a HP with a 13.3" and for that size 1366x768 is fine.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Don't feed into the crapification trend of current laptops. Just say no to 1366x768 on anything higher than 13". It's a shame that the industry is going backwards on screen quality from where it was 5-6 years ago.

Every laptop is moving towards 16:9 and with mediocre TNs, whether you like it or not. Me myself want to see IPS panels commonplace, but that is not going to happen.

 

[kwo]

That Lenovo Edge I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread lasted about 24 hours in my house before going back.

15.6" with 1366x768 was just not very good looking. Windows text had obvious pixelated lines through it and the image was just not that great.

I've now received an E6520 with the same size screen (15.6") but at 1600x900 resolution. Much much much much much much better.

I'm coming from 1680x1050 resolution on my i8600 that recently died (liked that the best!) and I definitely much prefer the 1600x900 over the 1366x768.

Just one opinion (valued at $0.02)

 

[996GT2]

I have a 1440x900 screen on my 14.1" Thinkpad T61 and I find that even 1440x900 is too low at times for multitasking. Since nearly all laptop displays have gone 16:9, I feel that 1600x900 would be the ideal resolution for anything 13.3" or larger, and 1920x1080 for anything 15.6" or larger.

 

[biostud]

Moving the windows taskbar to either left or right pane, helps with 16:9 screens, making the work area more like 16:10 screens.

 

[Herald85]

I have an XPS M1530 with the 1900X1200 panel. The 8600m obviously can't handle any recent games on that resolution but it's brilliant for work.

I had to work on my girlfriends 1366x768 for two days when I forgot my laptop at work and it was doable.. But also quite frustrating. Office 2010 (huge bar) in general, reading pdf's (and yes also WoW :whiste: ) was awful.

Check out this example: http://imgur.com/a/YmBVl

47 rows vs 27 rows!

EDIT: my pictures are wonky, you have to click them to see the full image..

 

[Tom]

You could print War and Piece on one sheet of paper, but that doesn't make it a better book.

 

[Piano Man]

1366x768 is fine for a 15" until you see one with 1080p. You can get 1080p for under a grand with Dell, HP, Sager, and I"m sure others. Unless you have poor eyesight, don't settle for 1366x768 unless its on a 10-12".

 

[CFP]

1440 x 900 would be great on a 12.1 incher. Not great if you wanted to do gaming though.

 

[zerogear]

1080p on 13". Never ever want to go back.