Digital Trends

When Bigger is Actually Smaller

While CRT displays can be adjusted to the user's preference in resolution settings, LCDs only look good and operate properly in their native resolution. This is the "sweet spot" of the LCD — the resolution it was meant to be used at.

And this is where most LCD owners, especially those that purchase new laptops, have the most issues with their displays. The problem is that the higher the native resolution of an LCD more information can fit on the screen, making text and graphics appear smaller. This is the converse of what many laptop buyers want — most think that buying a larger screen with a higher resolution will allow them to see their desktop as larger. This, however, is not the case. A higher resolution means that there are more pixels per inch, making everything smaller, but giving the desktop more room.
 
If you've ever seen the acronyms that describe LCD screen resolution and had no idea what that means, you're not alone. The following list explains the current LCD resolutions: