Windows High DPI (Retina)

[Jeezy4]

Samsung presented a model 13.3 "with Windows 8 (the prototype) with a resolution of 2560x1440.

And Acer has released in 2013 a notebook with resolution 2880 * 1620

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2024391/acer-takes-on-apple-with-retina-class-laptop-displays.html

But I wonder if they do not expect the Windows Blue (hoping they will find a way to take better care of these types of screens) in order to get their products.

With the current state of Windows, it is difficult to bear such screens. (Between blurry fonts or DPI not upscaled).

Apple has anticipated the thing and allowed developers to update their applications. But if Windows is interested in something then it goes to the democratization of the Retina in the PC.

[Aergan]

Had a response back from LogMeIn on DPI scaling issues:

Hello ,

Thank you for contacting LogMeIn.

I would be happy to address your question. This is a known issue with Server 2012 and Windows 8. I am adding your example to a parent ticket and you will be notified via email when we have a permanent solution to this problem.

[Jeezy4]

New capture :)

Adobe Reader XI (font blur) : http://d.pr/i/XiRR - Adobe Reader XI Install (very small) : http://d.pr/i/fL58

Skype 6.1 (font blur) : http://d.pr/i/ak81- http://d.pr/i/REpH

Mumble (optimized half)

: http://d.pr/i/w5Ew - http://d.pr/i/eFjY

Viscosity 1.4 (font & image blur) : http://d.pr/i/VKZU - http://d.pr/i/C1Gq

Java (panel Control WT*) : http://d.pr/i/Rp5g

Word (good) : http://d.pr/i/YXv9

Visual Studio 2012 : http://d.pr/i/s4I1 (well designed but the window for the developer license is not optimized against)

Nvidia Control Panel (Not optimize) : http://d.pr/i/t5dR and Update Nvidia (font blur) : http://d.pr/i/K4FE

CCleaner (font blur) : http://d.pr/i/cy2l - http://d.pr/i/zhht - http://d.pr/i/6qtY

IE 10 : http://d.pr/i/oeus - http://d.pr/i/lIPt (don't know x2 reproduce images with a resolution and DPI to 200%. Apple images are blurred as Youtube logo)

Origin update (font blur) : http://d.pr/i/5rHF

Intel Rapid (Good) : http://d.pr/i/2Tw7

Windows UI (Good) : http://d.pr/i/yVCn - http://d.pr/i/jzNb - http://d.pr/i/v3zx - http://d.pr/i/mK4C - http://d.pr/i/2L6j - http://d.pr/i/8nF5 - http://d.pr/i/skBP - http://d.pr/i/SZMD - http://d.pr/i/fRxj - http://d.pr/i/koId - http://d.pr/i/ZrVK

Here I made a few catches to show the shortcomings of the resolution to 200%. The workstation and the control panel is well optimized but for those who is software that is not the case.

Some say that we must reduce the DPI 200 DPI but have a rMBP it's nice and no need to paste the screen.

[Aergan]

Sadly both Nvidia and AMD haven't given a thought to DPI scaling on their control panels which is ironic because Intel have (whether accidental or intended).

[Jeezy4]

Sadly both Nvidia and AMD haven't given a thought to DPI scaling on their control panels which is ironic because Intel have (whether accidental or intended).

When I recovered this problem to Nvidia I was referred to this page and I had to be my DPI 140 and 180. And returned the blame on Windows.

Support Nvidia not doing their job.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/03/21/scaling-to-different-screens.aspx

[HawkMan]

I wish people would stop referring to high DPI as reitna as if Apple invented high DPI though.

[Subhadip]

When I recovered this problem to Nvidia I was referred to this page and I had to be my DPI 140 and 180. And returned the blame on Windows.

Support Nvidia not doing their job.

http://blogs.msdn.co...nt-screens.aspx

Yes, they are not. That link talks about scaling in Metro. I have to say, scaling in Metro works fabulously but the catch is there are only two levels - 140 and 180. There are some cases where 120 would have been useful, like say 1920x1080 on 13.3 inches. There 100% is too small but 140% (forced through Ease of Access) is too big!

Desktop is a completely different thing altogether, and that is mostly what we are discussing here. It works well for apps that support it, but for some like Nvidia CP it's a right mess. The advantage over Metro is you can of course choose your exact scaling rather than just relying on 140 or 180 as in Metro. IMO they should allow more control over the Metro if possible and coax developers into updating their desktop apps.

[George P Global Moderator]

Yes, they are not. That link talks about scaling in Metro. I have to say, scaling in Metro works fabulously but the catch is there are only two levels - 140 and 180. There are some cases where 120 would have been useful, like say 1920x1080 on 13.3 inches. There 100% is too small but 140% (forced through Ease of Access) is too big!

Desktop is a completely different thing altogether, and that is mostly what we are discussing here. It works well for apps that support it, but for some like Nvidia CP it's a right mess. The advantage over Metro is you can of course choose your exact scaling rather than just relying on 140 or 180 as in Metro. IMO they should allow more control over the Metro if possible and coax developers into updating their desktop apps.

I think that will happen as they mature the metro side itself. As for the desktop, it's clear that the app developers have to update their stuff for higher dpi and not just lay blame on windows for what really is in the end their own laziness.

[Jeezy4]

Yes, they are not. That link talks about scaling in Metro. I have to say, scaling in Metro works fabulously but the catch is there are only two levels - 140 and 180. There are some cases where 120 would have been useful, like say 1920x1080 on 13.3 inches. There 100% is too small but 140% (forced through Ease of Access) is too big!

Desktop is a completely different thing altogether, and that is mostly what we are discussing here. It works well for apps that support it, but for some like Nvidia CP it's a right mess. The advantage over Metro is you can of course choose your exact scaling rather than just relying on 140 or 180 as in Metro. IMO they should allow more control over the Metro if possible and coax developers into updating their desktop apps.

If I use the 140 (it is very small) and 180 (small). A 200 is about right (You do not need a hand lens on 15"). Use 180 on 24" or 27" no problem but a 15" the difference is quickly noticed.

I wish people would stop referring to high DPI as reitna as if Apple invented high DPI though.

Nobody said otherwise. Windows uses the DPI when Apple uses Retina.

[HawkMan]

Retina is just a marketing name for high DPI, they use high DPI not retina.

[Jeezy4]

Thanks for the comment, I knew it.

[togermano]

Fonts look amazing whatever font I use cause I use a CRT monitor.... Its unfort LCD is step back in technology yet people embrace it because of the size :\

[HawkMan]

an LCD with a smaller dot pitch than the CRT would have better looking fonts. especially since they can also use sub pixel smoothing,

[B3L13V3R]

Microsoft really needs to move over to vector art and allow users to freely scale the interface to their choosing (within reason) - by default it should scale according to physical size. Icons that currently change appearance dependent upon their size could be handled with transition points. Not only is such a change important for high-DPI displays but it's even an issue at the moment:

30" - 101 DPI - 2560x1600

27" - 109 DPI - 2560x1440

24" - 94 DPI - 1920x1200

22" - 90 DPI - 1680x1050

That means the Windows UI changes physical size depending on the display that you have, which is terribly inconsistent. By default Windows 8 uses 125% scale for my 30" display, which makes everything appear too large. Therefore I prefer to use 100% scale, which is a bit smaller than I would like. Using a custom scale looks terrible, as icons appear aliased and UI elements don't scale smoothly.

Apple has a huge advantage over Microsoft in that it controls the hardware as well as the software. Microsoft's only option is to implement a more flexible approach and vector art is the obvious way to achieve that. There was talk that Microsoft was working on this years ago - back when Vista was still in development - but unfortunately it was dropped. Now Microsoft has fallen behind. Metro is designed with alternative DPIs in mind but unfortunately it's not a replacement for desktop applications.

+1

For the record... and maybe someone already posted this, but Parallels uses a DPI of 199 and that works fair in Win 8.

[Aergan]

LogMeIn fixed their DPI issues in the latest release.