SP&PPCMag: (Screen) Size matters!

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=25&title=screen_size_matters&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/in...1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"In my years of scooping, reviewing, testing and using mobile devices, there is one thing that has baffled me more often than anything else: screen size. It's easily in the top five of my 'What were they thinking!?' hitlist....The sole purpose of a display is letting people see things, right? That can be data, pictures, websites, whatever. And as with anything visual, color is always better, bigger is better, and more resolution is better. At least that's the way it works with TVs...Unfortunately, that rationale doesn't seem to apply with Pocket PCs, digicams and other electronic gizmos. As a result we have laptops that fit only onto the widest of laps and seem to serve no other purpose than to watch widescreen movies. And we have handhelds and such with ever tinier screens that are supposed to display ever more information. Let me elaborate..."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/21063_step9_small1.jpg" /><br /><br />Pen Computing magazine founder and editor Conrad Blickenstorfer pens an interesting article on the subject of decreasing screen sizes. I know a number of you agree with his assertion, but I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a minute, being <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,47663">Chief Defender of the Treo 700w</a> on Pocket PC Thoughts :lol::<br /><br />The key consideration here is that people's needs differ. While I liked my two VGA devices -- the Toshiba e805, with its 4" screen and the JasJar with its 3.7" -- I've retired <i>both</i> of them for a 2", 240x240 Palm 700w, and believe it or not, the 700w is more functional than the other two for me.<!> With the smaller screen comes the possibility of a more usable form factor. The 700w is compact enough to not only fit in my pocket, but alongside other items. The JasJar and e805 were simply too huge for most applications (and I carried each of them for months, so we're not talking about an overnight attempt here). The 700w's small screen also allows for the integration of a keyboard right on the front -- as I use my device as a phone and email solution first, this solution is obviously a lot more convenient than the VGA devices I used to use.<br /><br />What <i>isn't</i> obvious is that the 700w isn't just more functional for me in the phone and email solution, but also for Internet Explorer Mobile and Excel Mobile. 8O I know some of you think I've gone mad, but it turns out that I use both of them primarily to look up information while "on the go". The 700w is small enough that I can do this easily while walking down the street: if I need to look up a cell in Excel Mobile, I can do it by pulling the device out of my pocket, navigating using the d-pad, and finding the tidbit of information I need -- with one hand. Similarly, if I'm in a store and need to look something up in PIE, a quick Google search, scroll to find the information, and I'm done. The VGA devices, on the other hand, frequently required me to use both hands to do anything meaningful -- the e805 because of its WM2003SE interface and the JasJar because I had to flip (or flip-and-twist) the screen. Moreover, the larger real estate means more hand movement while tapping, necessitating stylus use. The 2" screen is small enough that in the few cases where I need to touch the screen, I can trivially do it with the stylus <i>or</i> the thumb. As a result, I find myself using my 700w in more situations, and faster than with my previous Pocket PCs.<br /><br />Now, I don't pretend to say this is true for everyone; if you're using your Pocket PC as a laptop replacement, the large VGA screen might be important. (I carry a 15" laptop around with me except when I'm out for the evening -- and in the latter case, I'm not exactly interested in working on large spreadsheets). In fact, there are still several vendors that still sell VGA devices, although interestingly no 4" device is actively manufactured anymore. Could it be that the market dictated that 2"-3.8" are the usable screen sizes and that people demand that variety? That's what I think, and I'm curious to hear how many of you are like me and actually find the smaller screen <i>more</i> useful.<br /><br />(The other interesting trend, of course, will be the shrinking size of the VGA display. I think a 2.2" VGA Pocket PC could be very compelling, and I think it could happen in the next few years. :D However, it will primarily affect sharpness; of course it'll enable smaller font sizes, but there's only so far most human eyes can go.)<br /><br /><i>(Image courtesy of a <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=62234">Digital Media Thoughts post</a> about a wall full of 30" high-res LCD screens)</i>

[Raphael Salgado]

Hey, you're not the only one with a Treo 700w. ;)

I've always snickered at the idea of a smaller resolution than QVGA on a Pocket PC, and even made a joke about it at one point:

http://www.beyondthetech.com/downloads/images/fun/240x240_joke.jpg
Figure 1. A 240x240 image.

But, I actually got quite accustomed to it, and if one wants to call it a compromise for a well-designed PDA/phone, then so be it. But, I'm surfing, using LogMeIn, watching videos, and using GPS navigation on the square screen, and I'm just as happy as I was when I was at 320x240.

[whydidnt]

Well, I agree with you Janak on this one. 8O

Bigger is better, only if you want to carry bigger around all the time. It does you no good to have a nice big 4" screen sitting on your desk, when you need your device on the go.

It's impossible to make a blanket statement that big is better or small is better. It all depends on what you are planning on using your device for, and how important portability is to you.

My one gripe that sways me to smaller screens today is MS shoddy VGA implementation. I'd love to have usable VGA in all of my apps with the option to increase font size if "I" want to. There really isn't a huge benefit to having a 4" VGA screen over a 3.5" one since most screen elements, fonts, pictures, etc. are pixel doubled. If they ever truly support real VGA on the devices, I may change my mind and cling to my iPaq 4700 (of course, no upgrade will be made available by HP, so dream on, right?) :roll:

[Janak Parekh]

Well, I agree with you Janak on this one. 8O
:lol: Two agrees and no nays? Wow, today's bizarro-day. :P

My one gripe that sways me to smaller screens today is MS shoddy VGA implementation.
Yes, agreed. MS's VGA implementation is marginally okay for a 2.2" VGA screen (e.g., sharp print, but not too small), but is rather ridiculous for 3.7" or larger screens; I understand some people want the same size, but not everyone. I await the day when UIs are properly scalable. Still, even small steps like removing the stupid PIE pixel doubling would make it more usable too.

If they ever truly support real VGA on the devices, I may change my mind and cling to my iPaq 4700 (of course, no upgrade will be made available by HP, so dream on, right?) :roll:
I can guarantee you 100%, based on previous experience, that you won't see another upgrade for the 4700. WM5 is it. Maybe an AKU update, but certainly nothing more than that.

--janak

[jngold_me]

Well, for me it's not necessarily size but shape. I am part of the SSS club (Square Screens S**k). I much rather have the 2.8 - or so - screen with 320 x 240 resolution than a square screen (regardless of the resolution).

[SHC]

I currently use a 4700 with it's wonderful display but I'm going to buy a Loox T830 in July, that has a 2.4" square screen. I am prepared to forgo the VGA of the iPaq for the convenience of an all in one device. I just wonder how well the GPS will display on the small screen.

[Amidsin]

I'm wondering where are FLAT devices with bigger screens. People are saying that small screens are dictated by the size of the device. Well, could I have a device with the same volume as JAMin, but very flat and with bigger screen?
Asus and Toshiba has produced some very promising devices from my perspective.

BTW, I do own a JAMin because I don't believe any good flat converged device will come out market in a long, long, long time

[fireflyrsmr]

I don't like keeping any information on paper any more. When in a meeting I use phatpad which I find has very smooth ink which results in a satisfying experience (even with my ancient 3670). Trying to keep up with a meeting and take notes with recognition is difficult even after almost 10 years of practice starting with a Newton 120. That screen on any pocketable pda is a small piece of "paper" that needs to be scrolled. Given that need, a bigger screen is a preferred setup. I've given up on using the pda for PowerPoint. It's just a pain that is avoidable. The post causes me to wonder if the pda is settling in to be an information access device. I know that I was going for it being a device for creating documents but the reality is for me is that those tasks can usually wait for a bigger screen and full access to my companies intranet.

[Gerard]

My Toshiba e800's 4" screen is big enough for many tasks, too small for some. I'd still like a bigger screen, and look forward with interest to the UMPC/Origami devices of the next couple of years. A 6" screened device could well be something I'd take with me everywhere (as I do with the e800), so long as the body volume is not too much. A 6" screen with a 7" body diagonal and about 1/2" think would be very handy. I'd probably still like something at 3/4" thick... but it'd be a little heavy, most likely.

I don't want to do anything on a phone-scaled screen but see call display or numbers in my phone list. Nothing else. Period. I don't play games on my phone, because it's a silly little thing and the input method is dumb. I don't want to be writing with a stylus on a 2.2" nor a 2.8" screen for the same reason; it's silly. for those eager thumb typists out there, a teensy little screen may well be fine. Not for a stylus user. Not for an external keyboard user. And i am both of those, loathing the notion of thumb input.

[Janak Parekh]

I don't like keeping any information on paper any more. When in a meeting I use phatpad which I find has very smooth ink which results in a satisfying experience (even with my ancient 3670). Trying to keep up with a meeting and take notes with recognition is difficult even after almost 10 years of practice starting with a Newton 120. That screen on any pocketable pda is a small piece of "paper" that needs to be scrolled. Given that need, a bigger screen is a preferred setup. I've given up on using the pda for PowerPoint. It's just a pain that is avoidable. The post causes me to wonder if the pda is settling in to be an information access device.
Well, information and light entry. Microsoft certainly feels the kind of applications you mention are better fulfilled by UMPCs and tablet PCs. Having used a tablet PC, and having taken extensive notes on both, I do believe that its inking features are much stronger than Pocket PCs'.

--janak

[juni]

My smartphone's screen is 240x320 and the actual device is pretty small and definately easy to carry around - I don't really see why the Treo had to have 240x240 (except maybe to fit in the keyboard).

I still do all main surfing on my hx4700. VGA screens are just so much sharper and more pleasing to look at. :)

[heliod]

Janakh, I believe that when you compare the Treo with the others you are talking more about shape than about size.

If you look at the dimensions of the Treo 700 screen, if I am not wrong, you will come to the conclusion that if the screen was not square it would be a 3.5'' screen. Am I wrong?

I would say that the article that you talk about refers more on the actual size of the screen which is decreasing from 3.5'' to 2.8'' and to 2.2''.

I have two devices nowadays, an iMate Jasjar and an iMate KJAM. With my eyes, at age 45, I can hardly see something that is written at the KJAM screen. And if I have to put my reading glasses every time that I take my PDA, this will be too much of a burden. So I use the Jasjar, which has a stunning VGA screen in which my eyes can see everything.

I believe that when we see the first 2.8'' VGA screen, this will be good for mostly everybody.

[Janak Parekh]

My smartphone's screen is 240x320 and the actual device is pretty small and definately easy to carry around - I don't really see why the Treo had to have 240x240 (except maybe to fit in the keyboard).
That's the main reason.

I still do all main surfing on my hx4700. VGA screens are just so much sharper and more pleasing to look at. :)
Do you use Bluetooth to your cell phone? I had a number of WiFi devices, but I found that if I'm in WiFi range, I'm often closer to a computer, and I'd much rather use that. When I'm on the go, I find integrated EVDO far more useful than a Bluetooth connection.

--janak

[Janak Parekh]

Janakh, I believe that when you compare the Treo with the others you are talking more about shape than about size.
Not quite. It's both, but I was focusing more on screen size for the argument in my THOUGHT.

If you look at the dimensions of the Treo 700 screen, if I am not wrong, you will come to the conclusion that if the screen was not square it would be a 3.5'' screen. Am I wrong?
Yes. It'd be 2.8" at the most, possibly smaller. I also prefer the Treo's screen compared to the iPAQ hw67xx/69xx displays, which are square and larger (2.4"? More?).

I have two devices nowadays, an iMate Jasjar and an iMate KJAM. With my eyes, at age 45, I can hardly see something that is written at the KJAM screen. And if I have to put my reading glasses every time that I take my PDA, this will be too much of a burden.
:( I'm sorry to hear that, and indeed, that is a consideration to keep in mind. However, I believe the article was focusing on the amount of information presented.

So I use the Jasjar, which has a stunning VGA screen in which my eyes can see everything.
I used the JasJar for some time, and sure the screen was killer... but to answer the phone on the go it's really clumsy, especially if you want to see who the caller is first. :(

I believe that when we see the first 2.8'' VGA screen, this will be good for mostly everybody.
Agreed! However, I'm afraid I don't think you'll find it much more readable than the Wizard's screen.

--janak