Q: What’s the deal with screen resolutions? I have a hard time seeing some of the text and icons within Windows, and someone told me that I could modify my screen resolution in Windows XP to be something more suitable.

A: Most casual computer users don’t really understand what a resolution change will mean for them. You may have encountered a resolution change when you play certain games or whatnot, but you probably didn’t know what was actually happening. Simply put, your resolution decides how much screen space is available to you, and this also impacts the size of objects. The higher the resolution, the more space you will have. A lower screen resolution will make everything appear really large, and will rob you of desktop space. Some computer users must use a lower screen resolution in order to see things clearly.

If your resolution is set way too high, you can easily lower it. When you’re at your normal Windows desktop (where your wallpaper and icons are), right click on a blank space of the desktop and select Properties in the menu that pops up. Click on the Settings tab in the new window, and you’ll see a slider control which lets you alter your screen resolution. Drag it down to something like 800×600 or 640×480 and apply the changes to see what everything looks like. If you’re able to see things much more clearly, you’ll understand why a resolution change can be a great help to someone with accessibility issues.

Have a question or subject that you would like to see covered? Drop Brandon a line and maybe he can include it in a future edition of the Gnewbie Gnook! Also, don’t forget our forums (or, if you’re a Latin freak, fora) where Gnomies from all around the world congregate to help, be helped, and discuss issues that may or may not have anything to do with technology!