If you are having trouble with the small size of the laptop screen you may be able to plug into your flat screen tv (if you have one available) and use it as a monitor using an RGB or RGB to HDMI cable.

You can choose either showing the same as your laptop screen or extend the laptop screen display to the tv in:
Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Display>Connect to External Display (in Win 7 , not sure where it is in Win 8)

Makes a world of difference.

Carkins