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Martha · 03-27-2006, 05:35 PM

I just got a new work computer today, an IBM thinkpad. I won't be back at work for a while. Any idea on how to change the contrast? The screen is too bright; it hurts my eyes.

Also, it has a pretty small screen as I was going for portability. How can I change the size of the print on the screen? I can hardly see these teeney letters.

Thanks for any help.

03-27-2006, 05:41 PM

Martha,

As for changing the Brightness, my computer has function keys to do it. MIne are F5 for reducing and F6 for increasing brightness. Look at your function keys and see if they have an Icon of a "SUN" on them.

Increasing the size of the Font is for Old people that have not discovered "cheater Glasses' yet. But if you really want to do it - Go to your Desktop Properties under Settings tab and change the resolution of your screen.

Martha · 03-27-2006, 05:43 PM

I have the bifocals as I joined the presbyoterian church sometime ago. Thanks for the tip on the function keys. Never noticed that before!

KB · 03-27-2006, 06:09 PM

Which Thinkpad did you get? I'm thinking about getting a T43.

I had a T30 when I worked for IBM, I kind of miss it...

Martha · 03-27-2006, 06:16 PM

To show how computer illiterate I am, I don't know what model it is.

I see the little brightness thingy on the F5 function key. How do I make it work?

03-27-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha

To show how computer illiterate I am, I don't know what model it is.

I see the little brightness thingy on the F5 function key. How do I make it work?

Martha,

On my small laptop - There is an Fn Key toward the lower left on the keyboard. Hold it down while pushing the F5 key.

sgeeeee · 03-27-2006, 06:26 PM

I have an older thinkpad. *On mine, the function key is in the lower left hand corner and has Fn on it. *On my keypad, to reduce brightness you hold down the function key and hit the End key near the upper righthand corner of the keypad. *To increase the brightness, use Function and the Home key simultaneously (also near the upper righthand corner).

On my machine, Function F5 is to enabler a bluetooth connection.

Martha · 03-27-2006, 06:31 PM

I am such a dope.

Yes, squeegee, Function F5 did a bluetooth thing. But the function key plus Home or End turns the brightness up or down. Now I can read again. Tho the print is sure small. Thanks guys.

REWahoo · 03-27-2006, 06:39 PM

Martha, I'm using Firefox browser and you can increase the text size by going up to "View" and clicking on "text size" "Increase". I assume that stinky Microsoft browser has some thing similar...

grumpy · 03-27-2006, 07:20 PM

In Firefox control + or control - changes the text size.

Grumpy

cute fuzzy bunny · 03-27-2006, 07:27 PM

Right click on the plain empty desktop, click 'properties', settings, advanced, then change the DPI size to 'large size'.

You might also fool with the 'screen resolution' back on the 'settings' tab. Reducing the resolution will lower how much stuff you can fit on the screen, but increases how large stuff becomes.

JB · 03-27-2006, 10:56 PM

I have a similiar issue w/ my laptop which has a 14" SVGA+ display and runs at 1400x1080 resolution. I played around w/ higher DPI and with reduced resolution and ended up using the native resolution (changing the defaults caused some funky issues). Increasing the font size in FireFox can definitely help.

LCD screens look their best when run at native resolution. If I change the display settings to 1024x768 everything looks blurry.

If you have a small screen w/ very high res you might reconsider the machine and get one w/ a lower res screen.

Martha · 03-28-2006, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB

I have a similiar issue w/ my laptop which has a 14" SVGA+ display and runs at 1400x1080 resolution. I played around w/ higher DPI and with reduced resolution and ended up using the native resolution (changing the defaults caused some funky issues). Increasing the font size in FireFox can definitely help.

LCD screens look their best when run at native resolution. If I change the display settings to 1024x768 everything looks blurry.

If you have a small screen w/ very high res you might reconsider the machine and get one w/ a lower res screen.

I figured out the font size in FireFox. Thanks all for that tip. At least it makes web pages easier to read.

I have the same resolution as you do JB. I did change the DPI as SCFB suggests and that helps some.

I am having gadget overload. I got this new computer from work yesterday and walked out the door 5 minutes later. I actually had trouble finding the on switch when I got home.

Also got a new digital camera. And Greg got a replacement cell phone. All in one day. Kept fed ex busy. Camera and phone are charging. I hope we can make them work.

cute fuzzy bunny · 03-28-2006, 07:29 AM

Smack the laptop a couple of times where the camera and cell phone can see it. They wont give you much trouble after that.

Thats SENIOR SCFB lady! And by the end of the day, it might be DOCTOR SENIOR SCFB!

Alright, i'm backing away from the coffee now...

yelnad · 03-28-2006, 07:49 AM

Does the foxfire trick work on macs, too? I can't wait to try it on my 12" iBook.

grumpy · 03-28-2006, 08:15 AM

I'm booting up my new 14" iBook now. Hold on a sec ...

Yep, it works. Use the apple key and + or - to change text size in Firefox.

Grumpy

03-28-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

bifocals

A set of glasses for the computer may improve the quality of your life. Sit the way your normally do, and measure the distance to the screen. Next time you visit your optometrist, tell them that distance, and have them make up some glasses for the computer. That way you can often have the wrong glasses on.

Martha · 03-28-2006, 09:02 AM

I read so much that I had full size reading glasses made for me, that end up sitting on top of my head alot.

I like the idea of computer glasses, but two sets of glasses on top of my head? I'll have to get a set of those old lady chains to hold my glasses like a necklace.

REWahoo · 03-28-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha

I read so much that I had full size reading glasses made for me, that end up sitting on top of my head alot.

I like the idea of computer glasses, but two sets of glasses on top of my head? I'll have to get a set of those old lady chains to hold my glasses like a necklace.

Psssst. "Tri-focals" heh, heh, heh...

cute fuzzy bunny · 03-28-2006, 09:25 AM

Bring some pancakes to the optometrist. Have him grind those to spec. Then when they're on your head, they wont feel so silly.

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