It's odd to think about our computer monitors differently from our television screens.  But, the truth is, everyone sees a different picture, based on their computer's monitor settings.  One of the settings that can determine what you see and how you enjoy your computer experience is your "monitor resolution."  The resolution affects how much you can see on your screen.  It actually makes web sites and many programs look bigger or smaller.  The lower the resolution, the bigger everything is, resulting in less space on your screen. 

800 x 600 Setting:  If your computer is set to a 800 x 600 setting, (Most common default setting) then many sites will look similar to the first image.  If a site uses frames, there might also be some navigation, content, or buttons that you won't see.  Many Web pages and program screens are too large for this 800x600 setting and you may even have to scroll.

Why do I want a higher setting?  In most new software programs and on the web, you want to use a large resolution, allowing you to fit more onto your screen and in your programs you don't want to have to keep scrolling.  If you recently purchased your computer, it may be set at a higher setting.  Otherwise, it is probably automatically set to 800 x 600.  Almost ALL computers are capable of adjusting to a better setting.  My favorite setting is 1024x768 shown below.  Notice how the website fits better on the screen.

800x 600 Setting  - Standard

1024 x 768 Setting - Optimized

1280 x 1024 Setting - Computer Nerd


How can I change my setting? It's easy to set your monitor to display a different screen resolution.

To get the most out of your daily computer experience, follow these quick and easy steps:

1: If you're on a computer with Windows, select your Start button on the bottom left of your screen and scroll up to Settings.

2: Under Settings, there is a Control Panel folder.  Go to this folder and double click on the icon titled Display.

3: The Display box has several tabs across the top.  Click on the one titled Settings.  There is a Screen Area on the bottom right.  This will show you your current settings.

4: To change your settings, simply click on the arrow and move it to the right to the 1024 x 768 monitor setting.  Then select "apply" to view the chosen setting.


Can I change my setting now?  You can change your screen resolution at any time.  You can even do it right now, while you're surfing the Web! On some machines, however, you may need to restart your computer for the monitor change to take effect. Your computer will give you a message letting you know that you need to restart.

By changing your screen resolution, I think it might make life a little easier on the keyboard.