If the laptop sits on a standard table where it will be comfortable to type on, then the top of the screen is 12 inches from the top of the table, which is much lower than the typical laptop. You're then faced with laying the screen flat and looking down at it, or hunching to lower the height of your head.

The comment is nothing to do with scaling and all to do with viewing angle. Ideally the monitor should be placed with its center at the same height as your head. This is impossible on laptops and worst on the smallest.