Listen,

This really isn't an issue. Once you decide to switch from CRT to LCD your are at the mercy of the "resolution" of your new flat panel.

Find out what the Native Resolution is of your new monitor, it will be in pixels, e.g. 1680 x 1050.

Whether in Windows or Mac, set your display adaptor to match the resolution of your new monitor. This allows your OS and any subsequent program (such as Photoshop) to work in the same pixel dimensions as your monitor and allows for a WYSISWG environment.

It's likely that if you are over 35, your monitor will display text and images that are too small for your to read/ascertain. This is where your video adaptor comes into play.

You can, if you choose, adjust the signal sent from your display adapter to your video monitor. And unlike everything I have just described, they don't HAVE to match, but they should. So if you insist on defying the native resolution of your video display, at the very least maintain the same aspect ratio.

So lets say your new monitor has a resolution of 1680 x 1050. And for the sake of this argument, you wish to change it. The Aspect Ratio is the relation between the width or your monitor vs. it's height. A quick way to determine that is to divide your monitors pixel height by its pixel width - 1050/1680. The result is .625

So when choosing a new resolution - which is often dictated by your video adapter (video card) - choose a new setting that has the same multiplier as your NEW monitor.

So if you wish to enlarge your desktop/display, you would decrease your overall resolution. (essentially magnifying it; Taking a fixed number of native pixels and spreading or "scaling" them over a larger number of pixels - hopefully in a incremental scale)

Is what all that means is that whether you decide to increase your resolution (in effect making everything smaller) or decrease your resolution (making everything geriatric safe) you should stick the least common denominators (or multipliers) of your monitors native height vs. it's width. Subsequentluy, your OS and it's respective software will display/resolve correctly.

I hope this helps. If you are still not sure about these settings, email me the exact make and model of your monitor, display adaptor and OS and I can provide specific details..