High Resolution Displays
Today I got my laptop at work changed to something that supports 1400x1050 on a 287 mm wide screen (normal aspect ratio of 4:3). To my laptop I also have connected a 400x300 mm CRT monitor which supports up to 2048x1536 at 85 Hz.
A bit of math tells me that
1400dots * 25.4mm/inch / 287mm = 123.90 dpi
400mm * 123.90dpi / 25.4mm/inch = 1951.18 dots
My monitor actually supports a resolution of 1920x1440, giving me the best dpi match I've had since I started doing Xinerama.
What my monitor does is:
1920dots * 25.4mm/inch / 400mm = 121.92 dpi
Given that I can't use all the reported visible area on a CRT it actually is an even better match than the numbers speak of.
The big deal about the dpi matching is that fonts don't become bigger/smaller as I move windows from 1 screen to another. Also, also my font sizes and settings look equally good on both screens.
OTOH, a typical 17" LCD monitor which does 1280x1024 is usually 345 mm wide.
That gives:
1280dots * 25.4mm/inch / 345mm = 94.23 dpi
I am working at a 30% higher resolution than what is most common. When I say resolution I mean dpi and not just monitor screen pixel area.
One of the things that vi users say is lacking in emacs is support for anti-aliased fonts. I can't help concede that point.
However once you move your life to 123 dpi things change.
If you ever get a chance to use a 123 dpi screen, try this:
emacs -r --font "-*-bitstream vera sans mono-medium-r-*--*-*-100-100-*-*-*-*"
Now do you still really need AA? :D
Also, Serif fonts begin to start looking usable at these resolutions as well. At low dot resolutions Serif fonts like Times New Roman look a bit blurred.
A bit of math tells me that
1400dots * 25.4mm/inch / 287mm = 123.90 dpi
400mm * 123.90dpi / 25.4mm/inch = 1951.18 dots
My monitor actually supports a resolution of 1920x1440, giving me the best dpi match I've had since I started doing Xinerama.
What my monitor does is:
1920dots * 25.4mm/inch / 400mm = 121.92 dpi
Given that I can't use all the reported visible area on a CRT it actually is an even better match than the numbers speak of.
The big deal about the dpi matching is that fonts don't become bigger/smaller as I move windows from 1 screen to another. Also, also my font sizes and settings look equally good on both screens.
OTOH, a typical 17" LCD monitor which does 1280x1024 is usually 345 mm wide.
That gives:
1280dots * 25.4mm/inch / 345mm = 94.23 dpi
I am working at a 30% higher resolution than what is most common. When I say resolution I mean dpi and not just monitor screen pixel area.
One of the things that vi users say is lacking in emacs is support for anti-aliased fonts. I can't help concede that point.
However once you move your life to 123 dpi things change.
If you ever get a chance to use a 123 dpi screen, try this:
emacs -r --font "-*-bitstream vera sans mono-medium-r-*--*-*-100-100-*-*-*-*"
Now do you still really need AA? :D
Also, Serif fonts begin to start looking usable at these resolutions as well. At low dot resolutions Serif fonts like Times New Roman look a bit blurred.