Laptop resolution v Monitor resolution

[Stu]

If I have a 15.4" laptop with a native resolution of 1400x900 and hook it up to a 22" monitor with a native resolution of 1680x1050 what resolution will I be looking at on the monitor?
The laptop's or the monitor's?

I'm presuming it's the monitor's but some reassurance would be appreciated.

And just to confuse me even further I have just come across a nicely specified 17" Asus lappie for about the same price as a 15.4" + a 22" monitor. Portability isn't a big issue it would be sitting on my desk most of the time

Thanks anybody

Stu

[Anssi]

Stu,

It depends on how you like to configure it. Modern graphics cards ough to be able to support native resolutions on both displays. On a laptop, you also typically have several configuration choices:
- either display can be the primary one, and the other is blank
- the image on the primary display is duplicated on the second one
- your desktop is expanded to incorporate both the displays

Anssi

[Stu]

Anssi, thanks,

I sort of get what you are saying.

The laptop's video card will be able to cope with the monitors resolution.....so, to put it simply....if I plug the monitor into the laptop, will the monitor automaticlly configure to its native resolution...or would I need to set it up each time?

And out of interest is anybody regularly using this type of setup?...or will I probably find that I would simply work mostly on the lappie [my first one, and probably a 17"]

Thanks,

Stu