What’s Really Going On?
How Does the Screen Display Information?
264
and off subpixels is like blending the primary colors to create other
colors.
A pel formed by several pixels
The smallest element that your programs can control is called a
pel. Pels are arranged on the screen in a grid-like fashion. Depend-
ing on the video mode a program selects, a pel may be a single
pixel or several pixels.
The pel size determines the clarity of the image—called screen
resolution. Larger individual pels reduce the total number of avail-
able pels, resulting in lower resolution. Smaller pels increase the
number of pels that can fit on the screen, resulting in higher resolu-
tion and a clearer image.
Displaying Colors
The pel size also determines how many colors the display can pro-
duce. By combining pixels of different colors within a pel, the dis-
play can produce many more colors than are available within a
single pixel. Therefore, larger individual pels increase the number
of colors available to the display.
Video Modes
Video modes are sets of industry-standard rules about resolution
and the maximum number of distinct colors that can be displayed
simultaneously on the screen. Programs that adhere to the rules of
a video mode will run on any system that supports that mode.
Most display adapters provide several video modes. The
computer's SVGA-compatible display adapter supports all VGA
modes and some SVGA modes.
Summary of Contents for Satellite 200 Series
Page 48: ...Let s Start at the Very Beginning UsingTheElectronicGuide 49 ...
Page 117: ...Before You Go to a Computer Store BuyingHardware 121 ...
Page 174: ...Little Cards That Do Big Things RemovingaPCCard 181 ...
Page 201: ...Connecting to the World DiscoveringToshiba sOn lineResources 209 ...
Page 248: ...Making Life Easier ChangingtheDisplayMode 259 ...
Page 255: ...What s Really Going On WhatReallyHappensWhenYouTurntheComputerOn 267 ...
Page 290: ...If Something Goes Wrong IfYouNeedFurtherAssistance 303 ...
Page 321: ...Hardware Setup TheHardwareConfigurationOptionsDialogBox 339 ...
Page 336: ...TSETUP OTHERS 355 ...
Page 356: ...Specifications 379 ...
Page 364: ...Input OutputPortAddressAssignments Part III Appendixes 389 ...