I am using this laptop with a Dell 24" HD display (Model S2440L, 1920 x 1080), connected via HDMI. The laptop is set to "mirror" to the second display. With my old computer (Windows XP, NVidia graphics card), everything on the desktop -- icons, text, dialogs, browser windows, program UIs, etc. -- appeared small and crisp. With the HP laptop, however, all of these are much larger and are not as crisp. All display, resolution, graphics, appearance, etc., settings are configured to be optimal. Prior to getting this laptop, I used only the Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems. Subsequently, I'm not sure if the diferences I'm seeing with the the display are related to Windows 8.1, or with something else. Or, maybe it's because I'm used to seeing things a certain way on the display. Note that I also use a Windows 7 laptop for work, attached to a Dell S2240M HD display, and the desktop resolution is excellent.
I went back to Best Buy and asked them about it, but they said I'd have to bring both the laptop and display in for them to see what I was talking about.
Does anyone have any insight into what I might be experiencing?