[drewm]

I use a 17" IBM LCD set at 1280x1024 on my work machine running ProTools. I'd like to get a bit more screen area in both directions but don't what things to get smaller, I just want more screen. Will a 23" Cinema give me this? Or will it do both. make things a bit smaller and be bigger?
thanks
drew

[SupahCoolX]

Higher resolution of the Cinema Display = more space. To determine if things will be bigger or smaller, you have to do some math to find the number of pixels per inch.
On your current screen, 1280x1024=1310720 pixels total. Divide that by the physical screen area (length x height) to find pixels per square inch. Do the same for the Cinema Display.
More pixels per inch = smaller pixels = things looking smaller.
A similar situation can be seen with the 12" and 14" iBooks. Both are 1024x768, but the 12" model has to pack all those pixels into a smaller space. So, they're the same resolution, but things appear smaller (and therefore sharper) on the 12" screen.

I would say, as a guess, that the extra size of the Cinema Display would give you more space, with things looking about the same size (don't quote me on that, though).

[chaldean oracle]

Code:
Dimensions of Powerbook 15.2":
	width 12.64"
	height 8.43"
	dpi: 101

Dimensions of a standard 17":
	width: 13.27"
	height: 10.62"
	dpi: 96

Dimensions of samsung 172W:
	width 14.56"
	height 8.74"
	dpi: 87

Dimensions of standard 19":
	width: 14.84
	height: 11.869"
	dpi: 86.25

Dimensions of Apple 20" 1680x1050:
	width: 16.95"
	height: 10.6"
	dpi: 99

Dimensions of 20" 1600x1200:
	width: 16"
	height: 12"
	dpi: 100

Dimensions of 21" 1600x1200:
	width: 16.8"
	height: 12.6"
	dpi: 95.2

Dimensions of 23" 1920x1200:
	width: 19.50"
	height: 12.2"
	dpi: 98

So your standard 17" is 96 dots per inch.
The 23", then, will be slightly higher dpi, i.e. 'everything be smaller'.
If you're dead set against higher dpi, then buy a 21", 1600x1200 screen, such as the Samsung 213T.

[drewm]

well, it seems that going from 96 to 98 wouldn't be that much of a jump. thanks much for the responses.