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Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

I know this is an old feature but I can't tell you the number of times I've been looking at the screen of a colleague, customer or friends' LCD/laptop screen and they aren't using font smoothing technology built into Windows XP - ClearType. It happened to me again today. This feature sharpens and enhances your on-screen fonts.

To enable it and see pretty, smooth fonts that really do improve readability, do this:

  1. Right click on the desktop and go to Properties
  2. Click the Appearance tab
  3. Click the Effects button
  4. Select ClearType in the drop down list associated with "Use the following method to smooth ..."
  5. Click Apply or OK and be amazed - well impressed, a bit.

I don't know why it's not on by default or hidden so deep inside the UI. A simple, effective and seemingly overlooked feature of XP. Tell all your friends.

You can send them this link for instructions on how to enable it.

You can tune the rendering using this web based tuner (must have >= Windows XP SP1)

Published Wednesday, October 06, 2004 9:15 PM by JasonMcC

Comments

Wednesday, October 06, 2004 9:47 PM by Christian Liensberger

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

Hmm, I have also switched it off. I hope that it is still possible to switch it off under Longhorn.

I've used the web based turner to check which configuration is the best for me. But each configuration I tried didn't match for me. After an hour or two hours of programming (or even after 30 minutes or less) the display seemed to have some kind of blur on it... My eyes where burning and I couldn't look any longer on the display...

I don't know what i did wrong. But I heard also from a lot other people, that they are turning it off, since they don't like it.

If you want to get in contact with me - got to my website: www.littleguru.net

Cheers
Christian
Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:04 PM by Kenneth Lauridsen

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

Thanks for the tip, I tried it and it makes the font less clear/sharp for me and more blurry because of the smoothing. No good for me :(
Thursday, October 07, 2004 12:03 AM by Sam

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

It even makes fonts look better on a CRT. I have it turned on everywhere I use XP.
Thursday, October 07, 2004 12:27 AM by Paschal

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

I share the same thoughts, but most of the time, when I activate a colleague screen with ClearType(non IT person:-)) the usual answer is: I don't like it, it's too blurred !
It should be by default with all LCDs, especially because web pages text rendering are so different without it.
Thursday, October 07, 2004 1:16 AM by Alex

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

I personally can't stand this feature. Perhaps it all depends ont he resolution of your screen as well. My 15" laptop is running 1400x1050 and I find my "DirtyType" quite well. I like my text pixeleted and sharp and I personally find it much easier to read it that way. I have the same deal with my 17" 1280x1024 LCD at home. I think it's all a matter of preference.
Thursday, October 07, 2004 1:50 AM by css

# re: Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of ClearType?

I also use ClearTweak made by ioIsland (it is free). It is a nifty tool. Using ClearType I can finally increase my screen resolution and increase my font size so I can still see words easily without it looking like hell (like it would on Windows 2000).
Friday, January 04, 2008 8:45 AM by Actors and Actresses » Archive du blog » JasonMcC’s WebLog : Do use a laptop/LCD screen and Windows XP? Heard of …

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