Retina is a lot more than just a screen resolution it's way I can view a 3kx5k image at 1:1 on my iMac but still have regular 2560ish sized icons and menu items. The other scaling issue relates to retina. But my first point still applies: as the PPI increases, that clipping gets less noticeable because the pixel size is so small. Especially if the aspect changes from say 16:9 to 16:10 or whatever. When scaling, if that isn't a doubling in both dimensions then something sorta has to get clipped, and it doesn't look as good. To the eye that pretty much is indistinguishable from one pixel of the same dimensions (yeah, I know 4 bathroom tiles measuring 1cm2 look different than 4 measuring 1cm2 but there's not as much grout on your monitor.). Second, the first point leads into this: resolutions have tended to staircase by multiples, at least since we've sorta settled on 16:9. The 5k is twice as big in each dimension as the 2560x1440 that's one reason why retina works so well because something designed for 2560 like an icon will use four pixels instead of one for a dot, assuming no HiDPI icon is available. Since you can't see pixellation as easily at normal viewing distances, the issues that would occur with say old 1920x1080 monitors doing other resolutions aren't as pronounced.
If the 1440p monitors were a lot cheaper I'd just go that route, but since they aren't it feels like a waste to buy one as everything is moving to 4K/5k and the value is gonna plummet as well.Īnybody with a high-rez monitor know how 1440 would scale?Īre you asking how using a 2560x1440 resolution on a monitor with 4k (4096x2160 or 3840x2160) native resolution? Sorta depends.įirst, bear in mind that with finer PPIs on new monitors the issues with scaling aren't as pronounced. However, I'm concerned how these monitors handle scaling to lower than their native resolutions and if it's a compromise compare to what a normal 2560x1440 monitor would give me. So I'm thinking of getting the 4K monitor I want now, knowing the computer will catch up sooner rather than later.
I'd rather buy a monitor for the long haul and not be wanting to upgrade my monitor in the near future when I upgrade the Mini.with my luck there will be a new quad core Mini announced early 2016. The only problem is it doesn't support 4K at 60hz and the monitor world is moving this way quickly with buying a 1440p monitor not representing much, if any, savings.
I couldn't wait any longer to get some kind of new computer and a used 2012 Mac Mini represented the best value for me.