The basic question is what screen size do we need to design the site for? The smaller the screen, the more of a challenge it is to fit in all the content without making everything look squeezed in. 800x600 has been the accepted minimum for a long time, but this is changing as screen size increases.
As screens become larger (19inch now seems to be standard) with correspondingly bigger screen resolution (1228x1024 is standard), sites designed for 800x600 screens don't sit well within the window. Not to mention, there is loads more space that you could use. So, what screen size do you go for.
A few pointers :
Current(ish) stats are :
(http://www.w3schools.com/)
January 2007
Higher = 26%
1024x768 = 54%
800x600 = 14%
640x480 = 0%
Unknown = 6%
This will have moved a bit further away from 800x600 in the last 4 months.
What others are doing?
These sites have all now moved to 1024x768, although the FT is playing it carefully by using the RHS column (ie. The bit that’s bigger than 800) for “extra” content.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
http://www.ft.com/home/uk
These sites are likely to reflect your user base.
The likes of the BBC are sticking to 800x600. This reflects the “public service” requirement to work to the lowest common denominator
Sensible options
- Go for 1024 as the minimum required size to use the site properly
- Design the site for 800, but allow it to expand when the window is larger (current option)
- Optimise the site for 1024, but ensure that it works at 800
- Build versions and serve the user the appropriate version using a sniffer (allow users to override the automatic selection.
Monday, May 21, 2007
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