What dpi?

[frankwakeman]

I've tried a few distros now, and settled on Ubuntu I think. I'm using a Toshiba laptop with a 15.4 inch display and 1280x800 resolution. Most distros have an initial setting (at least with my laptop) of 96 dpi for the fonts, but Fedora had 98 dpi.

Is there an advised or correct dpi for specific resolutions? My desktop pc I think I saw a reference to having a native dpi of 75, if that makes sense.

The laptop I have currently set to 102 dpi, with the fonts changed from 10pt to 9pt, which suits the Vista-derived 'Segoe UI' font I'm using quite well. I have left the pc at 96 dpi, 75 does seem low. I also read that better results are got from dpi's that are multiples of 6, which the standards of 75, 98 and 100 aren't.

Thanks in advance.

[samjh]

The dpi depends on your screen resolution and screen size.

For example, on my 1280x1024 resolution 19-inch screen, the correct dpi setting is 86 dpi. Ubuntu does not detect this, and defaults to 96 dpi.

In your case, the correct dpi is 98 dpi.

[dsavi]

Try 96dpi. If the fonts are huge or tiny, it's wrong. Personally I use an LG Flatron W2042T (20"/1680x1050) and I've got it on 96dpi and it's fine.

If you were, say, using an 18" CRT at 1600x1200 (Usually it would be at 1280x1024), then something like 120dpi would be appropriate.