Spin 13 display resolution very disappointing? Am I doing something wrong, or unrealistic?

newtochromebook

Hello, in about 2015 and 2016, I bought a used Lenovo laptop, probably 1920 x 1080 (no longer have it, essentially stolen from me by a dishonest technician), and a Samsung Note Pro 12.2 (2560 x 1600). 

These devices served me very, very well for several years, and in a rough, strange twist of fate, both essentially died on exactly the same day. 

This led to a desperate scramble to replace both, urgently needed.  Because I’m on very tight budget, I figured that since these are models from about 2012-2014, I could probably count on a single higher end 2018-2020 convertible, 2-in-1 device replacing the two in one shot, with no loss in display quality so long as I sought out a device on the relatively upper end, with excellent reviews fir display quality.

I landed on a used Spin 13, which seller indicated was a 2019 model. It just came in ABSOLUTELY pristine shape, looked like it just came from the factory, down to the pristine packaging. That “new car” look, smell, everything sparkling new. I’m sure it’s really like that, not a doctored-up appearance. Not a scratch or anything. 

But as I powered it on, a sinking feeling as I read the initial prompts on the screen. The letters seemed jagged, pixelly on the edges, like on those 1280 x 720 screens I thought I’d never have to see again. I’d thought, with my Samsung and modestly priced 1080 Lenovo, I WAS DONE LOOKING AT LETTERS LOOKING LIKE THEY WERE BUILT OUT OF LEGOS.

My sinking feeling deepening, I went on the internet and pulled up YouTube, starting with random cable news videos, then some concert footage, then cinematography award movies. 

I’m sure I’ve taken several steps back: the videos are jerky and fake looking, none of the naturalness I’d taken for granted with the Lenovo or Samsung tablet. Those images changed faster than the eye could detect, and this is like looking at a flip book. The worst (or most blatant) part on the videos is people’s clothing as their limbs move: the edges would seem to have these waves of tiny squares moving about as the computer decided which pixel color to use; and, vacillating between choices, would fluctuate in pattens that screamed “DIGITAL video”.

Then I went to the newspaper and other text media, and again it feels like I’ve take steps backward to 1920-1080 displays. Just plain UGLY, whereas images in the Samsung and Lenovo seemed like beautiful paintings. In fact, when I got my Samsung several years ago, I downloaded hundreds of free paintings, Rembrandt, Vermeer, impressionists (Renoir & Monet) to bask in the beauty and revel in the glory of the display.

This is, frankly, garbage by comparison. I’d sooner download a picture of a festering ulcer on this display than a painting, for the enjoyment it would give. When I googled a Renoir to get an idea of how vast the difference from my old devices, I cringed. The eyes look like you would expect on a 40 year old magnavox TV: a couple little black squares to tell you were the (eye) pupils are, a bunch of little yellow dots on a Monet signaling (but looking nothing like) a flower petal.

So am I missing something? Is this just how Chromebooks are (unless I get a Pixel book)? Is it because the pixels are spread over a slightly bigger area, decreasing their density due to 3:2 having higher surface area compared to 16:9, for the same 13.5” diagonal? (I suspect that’s it: the same number of pixels, even a high number, spread out over a more square with the same diagonal is a bigger area to cover, and gets diluted). So to get the same sharpness over a square-er (3:2) screen, even with the same 13.5 diagonal, you need a lot more pixels. So 2256x1504 (3,393,024 pixels) on a 13.5” 3:2 is going to be much less sharp/dense ppi) than the same 3,393,024 pixels on a 13.5” 16:9 display, and possibly worse than 1920x1080.

Did I get fooled by the 2256x1504 into thinking it would be an upgrade over 1920x1080?

As to the videos, it is only an i3-813ou processor; is that the issue, or part of it? (Hard to imagine, because the still images and text I read have such poor resolution). 

Well so much for my “rant”; should I have had lower expectations either because my 3.4 million pixels are spread over a larger area (incidentally: probably a stupid question, but can I do something to tighten the images over smaller area to overcome this density deficiency? I’d assume not, but I’d much rather have smaller images with higher def; I’m sure a pixel is a pixel, they can’t just be squeezed tighter together or distilled down...) 

Please, ANY feedback on this super-appreciated. How can the display, supposedly higher end, be so disappointing compared to older, cheaper devices from 2012-2014?

newtochromebook

Thanks again for your replies! Yes, situation is totally “resolved” in that I’m now totally happy with the display (literally didn’t intend or want the unavoidable accidental pun- resolution, image sharpness etc); but I don’t know if I would say fixed: I’m still confused whether I was imagining things or the picture quality was actually deficient at first. Like I said in an earlier post: I tested the display by looking at paintings and scenes in action films, and I was shocked by the poor quality. But after a day or two all of a sudden everything looked great. It was as if the computer needed to be warmed up/broken in, or else my eyes or my mind were adjusting. But I’m sure the text on the initial login screen was very lego-y, not properly rounded and fine-detailed. 

There are too many explanations to speculate on— all with the bottom line that I’m ultimately super happy about the display and everything else about this device. Both my first Acer and my first Chromebook and I couldn’t be happier! 

Thanks so much again for your thoughtful responses, encouragement and interest! All deeply appreciated!

newtochromebook

Oops: READING NEWSPAPER AND OTHER TEXT MEDIA, looks like a STEP BACK TO 1280 x 720!!!!

billsey

Are you sure the display isn't being magnified? You don't mention what model of Spin 13 you have...

newtochromebook

Thank you so much for the response! And I apologize for my delay following up. I must say there has been a very positive  development; somehow all those images and video and text I initially saw gave me a very distorted impression of the resolution, and I now realize that it is a very excellent display. I think when I initially logged on, the fonts appearing in the prompt were rough-blocky (that “lego” look), and the videos I found to sample the graphics may have been lower def. And the impressionist painting reproductions (Monet, Renoir) a similar issue. 

I simply can’t account for it, but all these video samples I initially saw seemed very weak, and I’m pretty certain I did not imagine it. Suddenly everything got much much better. I can’t believe that the computer had to somehow “warm itself up”-— but it was strangely like that. All I know is the display seems to be very good now and I’m extremely happy (not to mention relieved) about it. Very, very happy with my Chromebook. 

Thanks so much again for the response!

billsey

Good news then! It's too bad we didn't figure out what specifically was doing it, but at least it's fixed.

newtochromebook

Thanks again for your replies! Yes, situation is totally “resolved” in that I’m now totally happy with the display (literally didn’t intend or want the unavoidable accidental pun- resolution, image sharpness etc); but I don’t know if I would say fixed: I’m still confused whether I was imagining things or the picture quality was actually deficient at first. Like I said in an earlier post: I tested the display by looking at paintings and scenes in action films, and I was shocked by the poor quality. But after a day or two all of a sudden everything looked great. It was as if the computer needed to be warmed up/broken in, or else my eyes or my mind were adjusting. But I’m sure the text on the initial login screen was very lego-y, not properly rounded and fine-detailed. 

There are too many explanations to speculate on— all with the bottom line that I’m ultimately super happy about the display and everything else about this device. Both my first Acer and my first Chromebook and I couldn’t be happier! 

Thanks so much again for your thoughtful responses, encouragement and interest! All deeply appreciated!