difference between web-safe and web-smart colors?

[someone]

which one should I use for web developing? thanks.

[netguy]

web smart = 4096 colors
web safe = 256 colors

I don't think most designers worry too much about limiting themselves to web safe/smart colors anymore (I certainly don't).

[mt_biker]

I don't worry about using either. Most peoples monitors can handle 16.7 million colors. I figure people with really old monitors are used to seeing odd colors on lots of web sites. If it really bothered them, they would upgrade.

Personally I'd rather have the freedom to create the design I envision. I'll risk alienating the few surfers with old monitors and operating systems. (This is especially true if you avoid using color gradients in your design. Your site will probably look OK on old monitors even without web-safe/smart colors.)