Sony :: Z: 1080P Or Not Comparing Resolution/DPI

Many folks considering the Sony Z have been asking the question of whether or not the "Full-HD" screen offered in some configurations/countries has "too high" a resolution, given the relatively low 13.1" screen size. While I can't answer that question for you, I thought I'd post a little table that can help to understand on a comparison basis where this sits, given current products:

As you can see, this walks through the spectrum from 24" monitors through the Sony Vaio P, which currently offers the highest DPI setting that I'm aware of on any currently shipping portable PC.

A few interesting observations:
For those who are accustomed to using E-Ink panels, the Z's full-HD screen offers essentially identical DPI.If you've ever seen a Sony Vaio P in-person, its admittedly very high DPI is indeed challenging for folks who don't have great short-distance vision.Even the low-resolution version of the Sony Z has a DPI that's higher than 18.4" 1080P notebooks.One source of debate relates to whether or not the Vaio Z's resolution is too high. Critics state that "magazines are 600 DPI+, how could you not read a much lower DPI"? The answer is that we're undergoing a critical transition.

The "problem" is that those who've used computers for years are actually accustomed to seeing pixels. Traditionally, operating systems and user interfaces have "assumed" a pixel density of around 100 DPI. What's changed is that we're beginning to undergo a transition from traditional displays to much higher density displays. Part of this challenge, led by E Ink, is how to effectively replace paper. In that context, viewing individual pixels is actually undesirable, while rendering fonts with authenticity is the top priority - precisely the top concern of most publishers.............