Time to start build wider sites?

[Thomas]

Just checked TheCounters global stats för resolution:

Resolution Stats
Fri Jul 1 00:03:01 2005 - Sun Jul 31 23:58:40 2005 31.0 Days

1024x768 36474636 (55%)
800x600 15929505 (24%)
1280x1024 8404617 (12%)
1152x864 2162329 (3%)
Unknown 1744199 (2%)
1600x1200 512872 (0%)
640x480 287417 (0%)

/Thomas

[Surfn]

I think it's the right time for some to join the rest of the world. My server stats pretty much echo those numbers 800x600 (21%)

[SirMoby]

You may also want to rethink those standard banners of 468 pixels. That standard was developed when the average computer screen was 640. They don't take up much real estate these days

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

You may also want to rethink those standard banners of 468 pixels. That standard was developed when the average computer screen was 640. They don't take up much real estate these days

I only use 740x150 headers these days.

[Cleo]

But how many are actually viewing at full screen?

[JohnH]

well, here is what i tend to do...porn stuff we do at 800 wide, business stuff (mainstream, webmaster related) we do at 1024 since they tend ot be more on the leading edge of the latest tech stuff

[Useless]

Here's the crucial piece of information that all of your stats are missing. All of my templates and code snippets are for 740px and below.

[stuveltje]

i still review and surf on 800 i am old fashioned but i stay this way

[Useless]

Originally Posted by stuveltje

i still review and surf on 800 i am old fashioned but i stay this way

Yes, me too. I'm slow at accepting change. But I think that John has a good point. Adult has lead the way in much of the technologie that makes the whole Net a good and profitable place, but are we seriously lagging on this issue? I'd love to see a good debate on this. If we know that the vast majority of surfers are using screen resolutions greater 800x600, what are the reasons for us maintaining the status quo?

If we did start building to the next size up, what changes would need to be made? Font sizes would need to be set larger for legibility. How about thumb sizes? Should we increase those, and how is that going to affect bandwidth?

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

If we did start building to the next size up, what changes would need to be made? Font sizes would need to be set larger for legibility. How about thumb sizes? Should we increase those, and how is that going to affect bandwidth?

While I don't think that (auto-magically?) adjusting thumb sizes was considered, there's some excellent information on the www.evolt.org site regarding Liquid Design that might be worth applying to free site building.

"Liquid Design for the Web"

There's a lot to be said for using layouts that don't care what size resolution someone is using, or whether they've pulled their window smaller for some reason.

[stuveltje]

mmm if i look at the sites submitted at linksites i review i see about 65% build on 800 about 33% has an different width on every page on their site ( maybe time to get back to html school again oh me sucha bitch sometimes) and 2% has the site build bigger then 1024, i have to say if you build on 800 your always save for every site width

[Surfn]

All the places I regularly submit to accept my galleries/sites so there is really nothing for me to debate.

Surfn's Links accepts higher resolution sites and galleries as long as they meet my rules...and mood

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Cleo

But how many are actually viewing at full screen?

You've mentioned this before so I sent an email to 2 stats companies to see if they measure the width of the web browser windows (which I always assumed they did) or the actual screen resolution.

That being said, my experience is that almost everyone surfs with one large window open. The exception are the highly technical, engineers and some developers. I'll post the responce from the stats supprt folks but I think 99% or better surf at full screen or very close to that.

[Cleo]

None of my friends surf at full screen and back when I did computer consulting very few of my clients did.

[Greenguy]

I'll care when my numbers dip to below 10%

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Cleo

None of my friends surf at full screen and back when I did computer consulting very few of my clients did.

Do your morals allow you to befriend non-technical Micro$oft users?

[Cleo]

It is true that most of the people I know seem to be Mac users and all my computer clients were Mac users.

Macs users are everywhere down here… strange isn't it?

[stuveltje]

Originally Posted by Surfn

All the places I regularly submit to accept my galleries/sites so there is really nothing for me to debate.

Surfn's Links accepts higher resolution sites and galleries as long as they meet my rules...and mood

i review linksites who doesnt care about the width either

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Cleo

It is true that most of the people I know seem to be Mac users and all my computer clients were Mac users.

Macs users are everywhere down here… strange isn't it?

I think Mac users all seek each other out. Not actively but some cosmic force draws all Mac users together. I think you guys all get together whenver there's a full moon and perform odd rituals involving vodka, fire, live chickens, dancing midgets and who knows what else.

[RawAlex]

When you open up default microsoft windows XP and open the browser for the first time, it is likely going to be full screen. It's the way most people saw it to start with, and that is the way they will likely use it.

Almost all newer computers out now have a 17 or 19 inch monitor (often LCD) and a resolution of 1280X1024. Most new monitors are optimized and set for that size.

I personally am on 1024x768 - but once my new monitor arrives (next week probably) I will bump up to 1280 X 1024 or maybe even 1600 X 1200.

Larger banners are a good idea. 468 X 60 on a 1280 X 1024 screen is elfin (about 2% of the screen).

800X 600 is dropping pretty rapidly, and there will be a point soon enough where giving up a ton of real estate to satisfy less than 20% of the people will seem like a waste.

Alex

[Useless]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

800X 600 is dropping pretty rapidly, and there will be a point soon enough where giving up a ton of real estate to satisfy less than 20% of the people will seem like a waste.

Alex

|rock|
And Bingo was his namoooooooooh

[stuveltje]

i have an 17inch screen i build on 800 i am now finally on that point i dont have to wear my glasses for the puter anymore, now last time i went on my hubbies screen 19inch, he use 1024+ i was blind i cant see it all is so small ..........i have tried to use the bigger size in width but my eyes dont get used to it

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

I think Mac users all seek each other out. Not actively but some cosmic force draws all Mac users together. I think you guys all get together whenver there's a full moon and perform odd rituals involving vodka, fire, live chickens, dancing midgets and who knows what else.

I'm a Mac user! Have I been missing out on the good tmes?

And yes, I surf with 2-3 windows open usually, none of which are maximized.

[Cleo]

Computers are being used for a lot more at home now then just surfing the web and email. Music, movies, chat, fiancees, etc. Doesn't take long to learn that having multiple windows open arranged on the screen makes the computer easier to use.

Screens are getting bigger but are being used for more things at once.

[Useless]

But don't we have the power to force surfers to go full screen with their browser windows? Use the force Luke!