Going Wide… Designing for 1024 Resolution
Not long ago the widely accepted practice for web design was to build sites that would neatly fit into the once commonplace 800 x 600 screen resolution. This meant building sites that were roughly 750 pixels wide to prevent the dreaded side scroll that web surfers like to avoid. But with the ever constant improvements in technology, is building for 800×600 still a good practice?
This very issue has been the source of discussion among web designers over the past few years with opinions on both sides of the issue. Lately, it appears the tide is changing. From the current crop of high profile sites that have adopted the larger format it is evident that the majority of new sites and re-designs are built for the 1024 x 768 screen resolution, not 800 x 600. Want proof? Look at the offerings by the major players such as the TV networks sites, cable network sites, automobile manufacturer sites, and search engines (with the notable exception of Google). While all these sites will likely see a broad cross section in the types of visitors they attract, it is rare to see a site constrained to the 800×600 resolution.
Why the Change? The biggest reason for the change is that typically over 90% of website visitors e are using monitors set at a resolution of greater than 800×600. A report released in April of 2007 by One Stat showed that only 8.23% were surfing at a resolution of 800×600 with 1024×768 being the most popular at 55.34%. Since this report is nearly a year old the numbers are almost certainly more in favor of the higher resolutions.
The 800×600 resolution was popular when monitors were tiny compared to the typical 19-20 inch desktop monitor and the wide screen laptops sold today. Technology has since progressed. The resolution of the old CRT monitors could easily be changed to the users liking while still maintaining sharpness. Current flat panel monitors, while brighter and sharper than the old CRT’s, require a specific factory set native resolution. Selecting any other resolution, while possible, will result in sub-par sharpness. The native resolution for a desktop 15” flat panel monitor is 1024×768.
It is also important to note that while a site may be designed for a 1024 pixel wide screen, 800×600 users should not be ignored. For example, body text should not be set so wide as to force the reader to scroll sideways when reading on an 800×600 monitor. The same goes for forms. A form should not require a person to scroll sideways to fill it out. Keeping these limitations in mind it is still possible to design a site for the larger screen while still alowing the visitor viewing the site at a lower resolution to enjoy an acceptable experience with a minimum of sideways scrolling.
When to Design for 800 x 600.
While the case for building websites for for the 800×600 resolution is not as strong as it once was there are times when it is appropriate. The best way to make the decision is to look at your current site statistics. By using an site analytics program such as Google Analytics you won’t be forced to guess how visitors view your site. You may find a sizable number of visitors using 800×600. In which case, building a site that fits the 800×600 really makes sense. You may also find visitors rarely using such a resolution. The good news is that armed with valid information a site can be built that truly meets the needs and wants of the visitor.
Which One to Choose?
In the end it really comes down to how to best serve the visitor. In a competitive market a 750 pixel wide site may look a bit thin when compared to a 960 pixel wide site which has been optimized for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or larger. While visors may not be able to put their finger on it the smaller site can really end up looking like all filler and little content. Kind of like the old Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef” campaign. A site built for the 860 resolution yet displayed at a higher resolution can like it’s all bun and no meat! This especially true on the bigger monitors that are getting more and more common. If the vast majority of visitors have newer monitors the current trend in new sites and re-designs is clearly to go with the larger size.
