Why Is the Laptop Display So Important:
I've found that probably the most important component of a laptop that determines which laptop will be purchased or was the major factor in the purchase of a particular laptop is the display. We want to be able to view a variety of documents, web sites and other media content without straining our eyes or feeling that we are sharing with the entire world.Take some time to view a variety of laptops so that you can see the differences between display sizes. A wide-screen 14" display may be a better solution than a 17" display and that is something that you need to see to understand.
How Is Laptop Display Size Measured:
While you may have looked at different laptops and possibly the one you have right now and thought there's no way that screen is 15.4" or 17", know that that displays are measured on a diagonal rather than edge to edge. Now that you are aware of what display size may best suit your needs, you should know that not only is the size what matters but the resolution the laptop is capable of.Which Display Sizes Are Best for Different Applications:
Multimedia applications 17" - 20"General Purpose Use 14" - 15.4"
Frequent Travelers 12" - 14"
There are also the lines of ultra portable laptops which have displays from 11" and smaller. These are very handy but could be very tiring to view for any extended time.
What Is Screen Resolution:
Resolution is best explained by understanding that images and text you see on your display are made up of millions of tiny dots (pixels). The number of pixels that a display is capable of showing is the resolution.Laptops with high resolutions result in better quality and sharper images. Low resolutions are noticeably blurry, they look jagged around the edges and make viewing tiresome.
Laptops all come with native resolutions; which is the single fixed resolution that a laptop display has been optimized for. If you change the native resolution going higher or lower images will be very distorted.
Benefits of a Wide-Screen Laptop:
Another option to consider when selecting a laptop is whether it has a wide screen display or regular display. Many wide screen laptops are aimed at multi-media users for improved gaming or movie viewing but they also benefit mobile professionals who work with a lot of documents. There is enough viewing space so that you can have two or more documents open at the same time, similar to using dual displays with a desktop.How Do Outdoor Displays Differ From Regular Laptop Displays:
Yet another consideration for mobile professionals is whether they need the ability to have their laptop display viewable indoors and outdoors. Viewing a regular laptop display outdoors without any shielding can be pretty much impossible.Outdoor viewable displays are designed so that there is high contrast rather than brightness and most often have anti-reflective screens. These displays are matte rather than glossy. If you spend the majority of your time outdoors then consider the benefits an outdoor viewable display will provide you. Do expect to pay more for displays that are viewable outdoors.