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From what I have studied with the similar sites.. about 50% people coming to the site are using 1024x768 resolution and about 40% are using 800x600 (& rest 10% is by other types).. Now under such situation I have following options::
1) I know it would be stupid to make a site with the width 980 pixels.. as by doing so.. I will be making rest 40% people mad..
2) I can make a site with 760 pixel width and center align it and please 40% audience and also serve other 50% audience a good enough page but with lot of white space on left and right.
3) I can make a percentage layout and make it 100% width. But by doing so.. I will be sacrificing the pixel accuracy for layout and images on the site. But by having this layout, I can please both the audiences but will have to compromise with site design.
What do you people generally do? I mean the site is for:
1) Main US audience.
2) Other regional sites.. but on sub domain (or new domain)
So what do you guys think.. what option sounds the best.. or do you have something else in your mind that you would recommend me?
Thanks for the help.
Vishal
If I bought a new big telly and went to watch my favorite channel and found that the picture was just a 'little window in the middle of the screen' I'd be furious....!
Just design it so that you don't need pixel perfection. You'll be happier and so will your users ;)
Nick
Mabye something like this (in the <head>):
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.open();
if ((screen.height == 600) && (screen.width == 800))
{
document.write ('<link rel="stylesheet" href="800_600.css">');
}
else if ((screen.height == 768) && (screen.width == 1024))
{
document.write ('<link rel="stylesheet" href="1024_768.css">');
}
else {
document.write ('<!-- You're not cool enough to get a specific stylesheet! -->');
}
document.close();
//-->
</script>
Jordan
1) Audience for this site will be "business class"
2) This audience is *looking* to spend continuous money for long term
3) One can expect office hours to be the rush time for traffic. (maybe a bigger layout would be plus here - so they can quickly find what they are looking for)
Hi MonkeeSage, thanks for the wonderful tip.... but I am not sure if I want to manage two different css files and layout for this site.. cuz believe me.. the site is not yet made public and has about 12000 + pages I would be pulling my hair out if I were to manage multiple layouts for it.
Just design it so that you don't need pixel perfection
========================
Currently this is how I have it:
1) I am using tables with 100% width and have invisable image of 760x2 so.. in any event the page won't be smaller then 760 but if end user has a bigger monitor then it will work on that too..
2) However I had few users that have mentioned that they would like to see pixel layout for 800x600 .. *I* think.. doing so would make tons of other mad who will have to see lot of white space.
So what do you think after keeping the site audience in mind?
Vishal
we are in travel, and i love the way i can get that foto to blend perfectly with that graphic to give that wow! effect anytime someone comes in the page. for this reason i lock size at 760 px width
yes, people with larger screens have some white space. but
a) they are used to this. cnn, bbc, yahoo, etc
b) text columns are easily readable. each of our paras are a neat 430 px wide which is so easy to scan down
c) it is easier to get a smooth consistently viewable design when using fotos and graphics as part of the layout.
with c) in mind, i feel it it also reflects professionally on the site (from a surfer's point of view), that whatever resolution you view it at, it looks correct. i know surfers appreciate that sort of professionality.
i have argued these sort of things before on this board, but tend to get flamed ;-), as there is a very strong fluid layout mindset here.
i find fluid works very well for minimalist design and lots of straight lines. but that is just imo.
good luck, just wanted to give you the other side of the fence :-)
Most of us recognize that some users set at 1024x768 do NOT surf the web with their browser screen "wide open." And this is thankfully a relief to many of us whose sites are optimized for 800x600.
MY QUESTION IS... in your opinion, if you had to guess, of THOSE PEOPLE using 1024x768, what PERCENTAGE are actually browsing "wide open" on a regular basis?
ONLY consider the 1024x768 group, what percent of THEM are surfing wide open?
I know the target audience plays a factor in this question, but in general, what do you think...?
The most popular screen resolutions on the web in the world are:1. 1024 x 768 48.3%
2. 800 x 600 31.7%
3. 1280 x 1024 13.6%
4. 1152 x 864 4%
5. 640 x 480 1%
6. 1600 x 1200 1%
7. 1152 x 870 0.2%All numbers are an average of the last 2 months (reported in June). Research is based on a sample of 2 million visitors divided into 20,000 visitors of 100 countries each day.
Thanks for the stats! Good stuff!
But back to my earlier question...
Of those people who are surfing at 1024x768, How many would you guess are browsing with their window fully maximized?
My speculation is somewhere in the neighborhood of 80%
Almost all of them I reckon. It's just not that big really..
regarding those stats: Are they taken from that websites users? If so, the demographic could be a bit unreliable as it's probably mostly folks like us that visit it....
Nick
I would contend that as liquid as possible is absolute best policy, that way you fit the needs and uses of most users.
Another idea to consider:
If you have a left hand (or right hand) navigation table cell, you could make that fixed to whatever number of pixels you want, but have the rest of the page liquid.
