Windows Vista™ Inside Out

Configuring Screen Resolution

Changing screen resolution changes the number of pixels that Windows displays on your screen. Increasing the resolution—say from 1024 × 768 to 1600 × 1200 lets you see more action on your display—more windows, more text, larger graphics, and so on—with various tradeoffs. Text at a given point size will appear smaller at higher resolutions. A mouse at a given pointer speed will require more arm and wrist motion to traverse a high-resolution screen than a low-resolution one. And higher resolutions use more video memory. In short, the right resolution for you depends on your hardware, your preferences, and visual acuity.

To change screen resolution, right-click the desktop, choose Personalize, and then choose Display ...