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From: gillies@m.cs.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Useful? (was OS cost component
Message-ID: <3300219@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
Date: 16 Nov 90 19:54:00 GMT
References: <90@<EGDORF>
Lines: 17
Nf-ID: #R:<EGDORF:90:m.cs.uiuc.edu:3300219:000:891
Nf-From: m.cs.uiuc.edu!gillies    Nov 16 13:54:00 1990


(1) In my (limited) experience with a macintosh, I have see only about
1 legible 6-point font FACE at 75dpi.  There are fewer than 8 legible,
distinct, 10pt font faces at 75dpi.  There are only a handful more
legible 12pt fonts faces (perhaps 12-14).  On the other hand, on paper
there are 10-20 legible, distinct, 6-point fonts (i.e. 40-80 faces).
We need more dpi in order to edit and distinguish small characters on
the screen.  I have similar complaints about the display of complex
graphics (figures) drawn on the screen.

That is why I asked about 150dpi displays.  I'd like to hear if there
are good alternative ways to solve this resolution problem.

(2) Why not scan the screen of a color monitor with multiple pulsed
lasers?  What about putting a laser on every pixel?  Why not etch the
phosphors onto the glass panel to get 1 micron dot pitch?  What about
active-matrix displays?