screen size
 

My screen resolution for Gnome on Slackware is set to 1024x768, which is the only resolution that will comfortably fit the screen. The problem is that it strains your eyes after a few minutes or less. If I set it to 800x600 then the size is normal but most of the desktop is scrolled off the screen. It seems like I have just about resized everything with no luck. Any ideas?

How does it strain your eyes? Why not just make the fonts bigger, and keep it at 1024x768?

run xf86config, change your screen mode for 800x600 and say NO to the question asking if you want to enable "Virtual Desktop Larger than Screen".

If it strains your eyes, make sure your are setting the correct resolution (in dots per inch) and the correct horizontal and vertical refresh rates. Look on the Internet (not for too long though!) for the model of monitor eg. on the manufacturer's website.

That's the most likely cause of eyestrain. Bizarrely, there's no requirement for employers (in the UK at least) to have minimum refresh or resolution capability for purchased monitors and I've suffered under that one.