Screen shape

[LonBe Me]

I'm used to utilizing my Motion M1400 in "portrait" orientation, but it's time for a new unit.

I think if the new unit has "wide screen", that means in portrait mode, the screen will be actually be narrower with less room to write. Am I understanding this right? I'm not certain how higher resolution will effect this (the Motion is 768 x 1024)

I'm focusing on convertibles from Dell, HP & Leveno - I THINK everything is wide screen

Thanks,

[Steve S]

<<...I think if the new unit has "wide screen", that means in portrait mode, the screen will be actually be narrower with less room to write...>>

Lon: Yup, that's correct. The current WXGA screen, in portrait mode, is approximately the size of an A4 paper size...

<<...I'm not certain how higher resolution will effect this...>>

...All LCD screens look best at their native resolutions. WXGA can range over a number of pixel sizes from 1280 x 720 to 1280 x 800 to 1366 x 768 ! Interestingly, Motion does not mention the exact pixel count on their J3400 (at least I couldn't find it...), but it would obviously be in the range mentioned.

<<...I THINK everything is wide screen...>>

...If you mean that most everything of current interest is WXGA, that's pretty much right.

[LonBe Me]

more info...more questions (I love this place!)

So I looked up A4 paper size and it says it's 8.27 X 11.69 inches. - wouldn't that have to be for a 14" screen? The units I'm looking at all have a 12.1" screen and I understand that (like TV's) is a diagonal measurement.

The old Motion I have is 12.1" diagonally and measures in portrait (approx) 7.25" x 9.75"
If the the Dell XT2 (for example ) has a 12.1" WXGA, then what would be the rectangle sizes?

I assume it would have to get narrower but taller (in portrait) and this is back to my concern of the writing area

BTW the Motion M1400 res is 768 x 1024 and the XT2 is 1280 x 800

thanks as always for the help

[Steve S]

<<...So I looked up A4 paper size...>>

...I should have been clearer; I meant "...approximately the writing area of an A4 paper size..." (typically you allow 3/4 of an inch or so of margin all the way around). Bottom line is that it is a bit narrow, but it's still sufficient most of the time...

<<...If the the Dell XT2...has a 12.1" WXGA...what would be the rectangle sizes?..>>

...Just do the math for a 16:9 triangle whose hypotenuse is 12.1 inches. I want to say that it is 186mm x 286mm, but it's been a while since I've looked at this...

<<...BTW...XT2 is 1280 x 800...>>

...Again, the WXGA size is not standardized (per the Wikipedia), but clearly 1280 x 800 is a logical resolution size and the other sizes aren't likely to look different visually...