Monitor resolution question

[Kenneth Marcy]

On 5/25/2014 7:22 PM, Phil wrote:
> Thank you for reading this.
>
> I have Real Flight, a model aeroplane simulator, running on a laptop 
> with a screen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and it's a real struggle 
> to fly almost any plane because they are very small and pixelated 
> except when viewed close up on the runway. HDMI input to the TV 
> results in a larger picture with, of course, larger pixels so there 
> isn't much improvement there.
>
> I'm considering a Shuttle XPC computer. Its integrated Intel graphics 
> has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. I'm also considering an 21.5" 
> LG led monitor which has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. I calculate that 
> both monitors have a DPI of 96.
>
> So my question is, would I see a remarkable difference in flying ease 
> between the two systems? I'm very reluctant to take a punt without 
> knowing if the cost is likely to be worthwhile.

About a decade ago I bought a Dell Latitude D800 with a 1920 x 1200 
resolution that was called WUXGA.  I mention this only to indicate that 
this resolution level is technologically mature.

In that same time frame there was also a quad resolution at four times 
that pixel density -- 3840 x 2400.  WQUXGA screens manufactured at this 
resolution were very expensive, and are now out of production.

In recent years the 1920 x 1200 resolution standard (16:10) has been 
replaced with a 1920 x 1080 resolution standard (16:9) for computer 
monitors.  More recently there has been a revival of interest in the 
quad density idea -- this time in the television manufacturing 
industry.  They are referring to this as 4K television, and are 
implementing it with large flat-screen monitors capable of 3840 x 2160 
pixel screen resolution.  While it is true that some of these screens 
will be driven by specialized boxes connected to television delivery 
services, some others of them will be connected to computers receiving 
their programming content via the Internet.

My suggestion concerning your potential replacement system for flight 
simulation is that whatever you choose should be compatible with, or at 
least upgradable to, these newly available 4K quad density performance 
standards, and the software that you use to operate on this hardware 
should be fully capable of utilizing the hardware's capacities.  
Software will need to be capable at both operating system and 
application levels in order to best succeed with these newer graphics 
standards.  These suggestions may not be completely implementable at 
this moment, but over the next few months they may be brought to 
fruition and user enjoyment.  In the meantime you have a new set of 
subjects about which to research and to inform yourself to determine 
your preferred choices.


Ken