Higher Resolution For Poor Eyesight?

[box o rocks]

Currently I am using a 32" 1080p HDTV for my monitor due to lousy eyesight. But even that is getting uncomfortable to read text on. I don't have room for anything bigger than a 32", so I was wondering which direction to go:
1) switching to a true 1080p monitor instead of the HDTV.
or
2) moving to a 1440p monitor of the same 32" size to make the text clearer. Obviously I would have to have Win 10 increase the actual text size.

My main use for the PC is reading web sights along with occasional (single player) gaming.
Thanks.

 

[ARICH5]

press and hold CTRL and scroll up on your mouse. makes text huge.

 

[box o rocks]

press and hold CTRL and scroll up on your mouse. makes text huge.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't know I could do that, but that really doesn't answer my question.

 

[rhysiam]

You've got a custom scaling option to increase the visual elements. It's been around since Windows 7 (called DPI scaling if I remember correctly). Even in Windows 10 it doesn't work perfectly, not everything is scaled properly, but it's been getting better in every version of Windows. I'd say it works really well most of the time in Windows 10.

If you're really struggling to read things comfortably there are a range of accessibility options in Windows too, including a magnifying glass, which might be useful for you. Look for "accessibility" in the control panel (called "ease of access" under Win 10).

I'm sceptical that a higher res display will help you much. From IT Support work I've found lots of people who prefer running a lower than native resolution to make things look bigger. The displays look awful to me, not at all crisp because of the interpolation going on, but people seem to be perfectly happy with that trade off for large, fuzzy text over small clear text.

If you can find a bricks-and-mortar store it would be worth going in and trying different displays. It's hard to give you advice as this is a pretty subjective topic.

 

[clarkjd]

press and hold CTRL and scroll up on your mouse. makes text huge.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't know I could do that, but that really doesn't answer my question.

ARICH5 is correct and it does answer your question. The only thing you have any control over is the size of the text.All moving to a 1440p monitor(or HDTV) will do is make the text smaller (not clearer!) due to the higher resolution.

 

[bailojustin]

Currently I am using a 32" 1080p HDTV for my monitor due to lousy eyesight. But even that is getting uncomfortable to read text on. I don't have room for anything bigger than a 32", so I was wondering which direction to go:
1) switching to a true 1080p monitor instead of the HDTV.
or
2) moving to a 1440p monitor of the same 32" size to make the text clearer. Obviously I would have to have Win 10 increase the actual text size.

My main use for the PC is reading web sights along with occasional (single player) gaming.
Thanks.

Get a 1080p Monitor or the 1440 and drop it to 1080. The resolution is literally nothing more than "More" pixels. The more detail you try and fit into 32 inches the smaller its going to be. 1080P would be best for your eyesight.

I have a 4k monitor, The windows bar compared to my 1080P is tremendously different. like an arrow shaft VS a 1" lead pipe

 

[box o rocks]

So I guess everybody's conclusion is to stay with 1080p then, yes? I really don't want to make the text any bigger, it's already taking up too much real estate. I just thought that with 1440p I could keep the text the same size I have now, but it would be clearer/sharper due to the higher resolution (more pixels).

 

[rhysiam]

So I guess everybody's conclusion is to stay with 1080p then, yes? I really don't want to make the text any bigger, it's already taking up too much real estate. I just thought that with 1440p I could keep the text the same size I have now, but it would be clearer/sharper due to the higher resolution (more pixels).

It will be sharper. If you set the scaling such that assets and text are roughly the same physical size as they are now, a higher resolution will make those same elements sharper. But, from what you describe, your eyes already can't make resolve sufficient detail from your 1080P display with large text. So I can't see how making it sharper is going to help significantly.

Is there nothing an optometrist can do to help?

 

[bailojustin]

So I guess everybody's conclusion is to stay with 1080p then, yes? I really don't want to make the text any bigger, it's already taking up too much real estate. I just thought that with 1440p I could keep the text the same size I have now, but it would be clearer/sharper due to the higher resolution (more pixels).

More likely your 1080 tv j's not designed for that resolution from a pc. Go to your desktop, right click and go to screen resolution.
Check if the resolution right below 1080 is avaliable, 1776 x 1000 apply it. Tell me if it looks crystal clear, I understand your issue now and this is common with using tvs not designed to be used as monitors