Tiny Websites

why?

[2_much]

So I have a new laptop with a 14" screen, and the default resolution is 1440.

This has augmented the fact that many of the large, multinational corporations have tiny websites that barely fill out 1/2 of the page. For ex, google.com, wellsfargo.com, ibm.com

I'm wondering why they do this? There's so much empty space! I know this isn't so in 800x600 - is that why? but even in that resolution they are tiny.

Any thoughts?

[Sinner_G]

For Google I guess you are talking about the home page. I think they don't use more space just because they don't need it. Like the good old 'keep it simple'.

The other two look like 800x600 to me, with a bit of space to allow for people who surf with different toolbars, favorites and so on.

[ukgimp]

You may have a new laptop that has a high res, similar to one I have used (1900X1200 default) which make for a space odyssey, but there are a mammoth amount of people who don’t have such devices. People who are stuck with 14inch and an 800 by 600 res. Present them with a “full” page and you can start to see problems.

The Google thing is down to fact that the thing works well and they are maximising their potential users.

The old KISS idea is what works, don’t get me wrong I am not talking Jakob style. This bloke here would "beat Neilson up if he saw him" [news.bbc.co.uk] , a bit harsh if you ask me.

For me there is much to be learned from the successes you mentioned.

[Sinner_G]

Keep it simple

OMG I cited Nielsen (without knowing it, but still). Well, I guess even Nielsen can say something intelligent from time to time...

[claus]

stooop... i've had it with JN now... please don't credit him for common ways of speaking... the KISS acronym goes way back and i'm sure it was coined before the term "websites".

That said, the 800x600 rule-of-thumb still holds, eg. "pages must be viewable at a screen resolution of 800x600", there's roughly about 40% percent of them still around, and even people with larger resolutions and screen sizes do not always maximize windows.

The 40% figure is higher some places and lower other places, of course, but i do see that percentage quoted a lot.

/claus

<added>
i believe ukgimp referred to this guy: [joshuadavis.com...] (flash site)
</added>

[korkus2000]

I know many who still use 800x600. I find a lot of people with bigger monitors and resolutions usually don't maximize their windows. I like to have designs not scroll. Text blocks are also easier to read at a width of 400 - 500 pixels. It depends on the needs of the site really.