Q2007: Higher Screen Resolution Requirement

With the cost of LCD monitors dropping so dramatically, people are buying larger ones. Typical "native" resolutions for both 17" and 19" monitors is 1280x1024. The 20-inchers are generally 1600x1200. LCDs don't scale as well as CRT monitors, so those of us with aging eyes may find the higher resolutions, though sharper, have awfully small print. That's why I got a 19" one and made sure its native resolution was no higher than 1280x1024. (I was afraid that 1600x1200 on even a 20" monitor would be too hard on my aging eyes.)

On today's Windows, when we lower resolution, increase font size, etc., we often have trouble displaying the entire window area of many applications. Improvements in Vista (which I haven't seen, though I did download the beta) are supposed to remedy this situation. (Don't recall the details, unfortunately.) Still, it won't fix the fact that LCD screens look their best when running at native resolution, which is generally higher than over 40s want to run them. I compensate with special "computer" glasses and moved my monitor farther away. As my eyes get older, managing this will become more difficult.

But yes, 1280x1024 is about the standard resolution these days. And since that's the resolution I run, I like my apps to run at that resolution. The younger set would typically like even a higher resolution. Such is life.

Regards,

Margaret

Thanks for the post. I had the same problem. (See post Q07D problem)

I hate to ask a dumb question, but is there any way to increase resolution and keep larger font size? I hate to have to get another eyeglass prescription (:

Yep. My dad (long retired) insists on running his 19" at 800x600 in all its blurry glory. The correct way to manage this is to use larger font and icon sizes.

I have several anti-MS biases, one being that most of their applications crowd their windows with multiple toolbars and multiple panes, reducing the size of the pane where one does stuff to a small fraction of the available screen.

Believe it when I see it. I think they're doing away with toolbars, which is going to throw a curve to everyone used to them.

For the home system yes. Some low to middle end laptops still only do

-- HASM

"Clark W. Griswold, Jr." wrote in

And that's my question. How to I go to 1280x1024 and use larger fonts? Easy to do with my browser, but how about other programs?

I'm with your dad. I'm 74 and am not about to change from 800x600.

On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:20:33 GMT, "Marc" wrotG:

To use Large Fonts, Right Click on the desktop, right click on Properties, click on Settings, click on Advanced, and select the Large Fonts (120 dpi). You'll need to reboot. And the large fonts may not be compatible with some programs.

There is absolutely no reason other than poor design and misjudging its market for Quicken to change the resolution requirements. Quicken's market is NOT 16 year olds; it's us mature folks. I have a flat screen 15 inch monitor running at 1024 x 768 with large fonts. I can't use a larger monitor because I don't have the real estate on my desk top and I can't read the fonts. 1024 x 768 is the standard resolution which every program geared for the home consumer needs to run at. If Quicken has mucked with this, then let them know you won't be upgrading this year. -- Howard

Assuming you are using Windows XP, right click on your desktop, select the Appearance tab, and change the font size. I think you need TweakUI to change the Icon spacing on teh desktop.

"Howard" wrote

Please provide us with objectively verifiable evidence to support this statement ... or retract it.

Please do not make absolute statements that you can never justify (I am willing to bet that you have zero clue about Intuit's "market" ... and I am 65 yrs old): I almost fell off my chair reading this one. I believe you have zero clue about Intuit's market: Intuit knows their market so much better than you do that your comment falls into the category of outrageously speculative, or downright ignorant ... or disingenuous.

I think you should limit your comments to what you know ... and if you insist on making uninformed opinions, state that is what you are doing.

Don't forget the "widescreen" laptop design that's popular now. My wife's 15.4" laptop screen is 1280 wide, but only 800 tall. It's really hard to call anything a "standard" resolution now.

I guess Intuit is assuming that we all want to run their app only with the window maximized. I hope that my preference for the taskbar being on the side doesn't cause a problem when I upgrade to some version of Quicken greater than 2007, if it's working best with a very specific screen setup.

On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:35:07 GMT, "John Pollard" wrotG:

Yeah, those 16 year olds are running Quicken to track their investments with Fidelity and to keep track of how they are spending their allowances and what they earn at McDonalds. Get Real.

It was clear from your previous post that you were blowing smoke, it was unnecessary to confirm it, but thanks.

As far as I know, you are the first person to ever advance the theory that human's eyesight becomes significantly impaired after age 16.

Better to keep quiet and be thought a fool ....

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:13:29 GMT, "John Pollard" wrotG:

My point is that there are a significant number of Quicken users who are older. You don't have any data either so quit blowing the smoke out your asshole.

I use 800x600 on a 17" monitor and for my situation it really works well. I'll be disappointed if Q2007 is less usable at this resolution.

Not totally unusable but somewhat crippled.

I'll not stir up any more smoke here, but want to go on record saying that I am 41 and I use a dual 20" lcd monitor arrangement, each running at

"Howard" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Quite a few late-model, higher-end ultraportables still use 1024x768.

A well written program is coded for various resolutions.

Notan

Exactly right! Only ignorant or lazy programmers can't accommodate the use of various resolutions.

I don't agree with your comment. Often times, a programmer is only fed specification of design from a non-technical analyst, and the programmer has no input in the creative process. Related, the product of this design may not facilitate well to various resolutions, and may well be out of control of the programmer.