Ok what's the verdict... 1080p on a 15" screen... comfortable or eye-straining?

Richdog · 3 Nov 2012 at 11:08

I am considering a new laptop in the very near future with an i7 processor and decent gaming performance that will last me a couple of years. Even though I don't really take my laptop out of the house much, I think a 15" format is still preferable over a 17" behemoth. I want a higher than HD resolution (HD+ or HD1080p) but can't find any definitive discussion on how small things look on a 15" screen.

I have it in my head that the text is going to look cramped or that I am going to be squinting to read webpages etc. I know you can increase dpi of text but in my experience it always makes it look a little blocky and annoying.

So guys, can you please give me some good feedback on what 1080p is like in general on a 15" screen for:

Web browsing
Office work
Gaming (is the UI very small and cramped, or does it look ok? I play a lot of RTS games so need to see what's going on)

Or am I worrying needlessly?

Cheers!

random_matt · 3 Nov 2012 at 11:43

Less eye straining. For about a decade the only solution I desired was gaming rigs, however, since getting my GX60 the thought of going back to a gaming rig is zero. A 15" screen Is far more healthier for your eyes, in addition, the text and whatever else does not look cramped, size looks the same, although, I believe it is compressed which is completely different.

The thought of screen size never crosses my mind when playing any game, maybe it is all relative person to person, however, gaming laptops are awesome especially when you are a university student like myself who needs to take it with me.

Voicon · 3 Nov 2012 at 11:52

I use a 15.6" Dell XPS 1080p screen everyday in my work and have no problems reading the screen with word docs or web pages, I wouldn't worry about it you will be fine.

DarrenM343 · 3 Nov 2012 at 16:18

Should be alright but depends on the quality of the screen. I used 1920*1200 on an old Dell Inspiron 15" and it was bit of a struggle at times. But this was 2005 technology. Because of this I was rather scared at the thought of 1920*1080 on a 13" Laptop when I was deciding on a new laptop recently but it's fine for me - but just about. I'm finding I have to be directly facing the screen to get a good image. People can't easily look from beside me. This is on a Sony Z

But on a 15.6inch screen it should be totally fine for all your requirements.Dell IMO make good monitors and Laptops (and associated screens). So you'll have the same resolution as my current laptop but with > 2inches more screen size

Fallen god · 3 Nov 2012 at 20:16

I have very bad vision due to an eye illness, and 1080p at 15" is better then a lower res screen, UI elements scale just fine, everything is sharper and looks much better. I was really scared getting it at first but now I cant go back to anything less. Never once found myself needing to increase any size, Games run perfectly fine and the UI is just the same. Get 1080p and never look back man

bartledvd · 4 Nov 2012 at 01:27

i have just got 2 msi GE60 for my kids for xmas and had little play on them to make sure all is ok. it was little strange at first being used to my 24" screens but everything was clear after couple of hours removing some bloatware and installing and testing games they want i have no complaints tbh after i adjusted the screen to right angle it felt more comfortable that when im sat at my pc.
on a side note can't believe how quick and powerful them little laptops are almost makes me want to trade my pc in for one

Richdog · 4 Nov 2012 at 08:39

Thanks for the feedback guys good to see that some people don't find it too much of a problem (or not at all). More opinions will be appreciated too!

Rroff · 4 Nov 2012 at 13:11

I think its cutting it a bit close - my 15" laptop has 1680x1050 res and it feels just right for the size - my 17" laptop has 1920x1080 and I wouldn't want to go much smaller physical screensize at that res. I don't think it would be a major issue for most people but I definitely think its more suited to 17" panels.

tigerstyle · 4 Nov 2012 at 13:18

Richdog said:
I want a higher than HD resolution (HD+ or HD1080p)

I'm confused by this? Unless you mean to just say a retina macbook?
Or what have I missed, what is HD+?

Anyway, have 1080p on my 15@ Vaio, wouldn't want anything else!
Except 1080P on a 14@ laptop maybe...

It looks superb.

Richdog · 4 Nov 2012 at 13:50

tigerstyle said:
I'm confused by this? Unless you mean to just say a retina macbook?
Or what have I missed, what is HD+?

Anyway, have 1080p on my 15@ Vaio, wouldn't want anything else!
Except 1080P on a 14@ laptop maybe...

It looks superb.

HD is 720p. HD+ is 1600x900, and Full HD is 1080p.

Good to know you like the Full HD resolution on a 15" though!

Fallen god · 4 Nov 2012 at 16:27

Richdog said:
HD is 720p. HD+ is 1600x900, and Full HD is 1080p.

Good to know you like the Full HD resolution on a 15" though!

Tried out the Vaio Z (1080p at 13") and it also looked just fine, as I said before without contacts my vision sucks (Right eye is legally blind) but it didnt cause much trouble. Some fonts were a bit to small. However at 15" things get a lot better, I never really strain to see anything and I find things are very sharp and clear.

If you have also tried a MBPr its even better has its packing 2x the pixels. I use it sometimes at 1200p and its really good.

tigerstyle · 5 Nov 2012 at 11:29

Richdog said:
HD is 720p. HD+ is 1600x900, and Full HD is 1080p.

Good to know you like the Full HD resolution on a 15" though!

I know this is wrong, but regarding laptops I don't consider 720/900 to be 'HD' and personally reserve that moniker only for 1080p screens. 720p at laptop distance on a 15" screen just doesn't looks special enough to be called 'HD' to me.

I'm not a snob though! My 32" TV is 720p and at a normal viewing distance is superb. But obviously a different world to laptop use!

More people should go full on 1080p HD!

Mercutio · 8 Nov 2012 at 22:38

My ladies eyesight is crap and she's got no issues with my laptop (which she seems to have commandeered).

Muel · 9 Nov 2012 at 07:18

Personally, I can't abide massive resolutions on tiny monitors. My mate has a 17" laptop running at 1080p, and I can't use it, not sure why but I just really struggle to focus on the text.

Just had new glasses recently, and my vision is better than 20/20 with them, yet I still can't use his laptop.

Richdog · 9 Nov 2012 at 08:24

Well, the other day I saw two resolutions on a laptop for the first time: 1900x1080p, and 1600x900.

I have to say, between the two, 1600x900 was absolutely perfect for that size monitor. All icons and text were pin sharp yet perfectly proportioned at default, whereas with 1080p my eyes were straining (even with glasses) to read text at its' default setting. I don't care a jot about whether Blu-ray scaled properly or not, I watch media on a plasma.

Shame that it's not a common resolution among 15" laptops.

Muel said:
Personally, I can't abide massive resolutions on tiny monitors. My mate has a 17" laptop running at 1080p, and I can't use it, not sure why but I just really struggle to focus on the text.

Just had new glasses recently, and my vision is better than 20/20 with them, yet I still can't use his laptop.

Interesting, thanks.