How important is viewing size?

Barupa · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 05:26 AM

I read somewhere that its best to have a website set at actual viewing size at 800 x 600 but when I checked that out on my own monitor, (which is admittedly a large landscape monitor) it looked much too small.

What sizes are most peoples screens?

Which is most important, the 800 or 600, ie the width or length?

I am thinking that some people keep a side bar open whilst viewing so that would possibly account for width being small. What about scrolling though, would people rather scroll or click next to view the next article?

What do people here think?

Donk · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 06:27 AM

The majority of users have a screen width of 1024 of greater, only 4% are using 800*600.

If I design a site with a fixed width I use 1008 or 1000 pixels (1008 is divisible by all single digit numbers except 5) to allow for 1024 less a bit for scroll bars however I prefer to use a fluid layout. Another thing you may wish to consider is how many of your potential user will try to view your site with an ipod or blackberry.

I try to keep the main part of an article above the 600px height but if it is a long article I would right a synopsis in the visible part of the page and allow the user to scroll down to get the details.

I have created a site that is completely resizable (see my signature) and with a bit of work could look good in any size.

Regards

Bob

Barupa · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 06:48 AM

Thanks so much for the link to that pie chart - exactly what I tried to find earlier

I have a site where I have a static background/window body picture and the body content is the bit that moves, so because I have a large monitor, I have set up the picture for larger screens but the body content for small screens. The effect is that everyone gets to see nearly all of the content, few would have to scroll to read a full article, but not everyone will see the background picture.

I will study your site and see how that works

Thanks, great post Donk.

TechieGuy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 09:46 AM

Many sites are fixed width, but unfortunately, many people are now using widescreen monitors.

I chose to recreate the template for my blog using a fluid width, which will expand and contract with the size of the browser window. Using fixed width is much easier since you know the size of all the elements that make up the page. I wanted to create something that would adjust to the visitor.

While Bob's resizeable page looks good, the font because small when I shrunk down the browser window. I'm sure there is a way to specify a minimum font size.

Donk · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 10:33 AM

I developed the site for a non profit project for a guy who was hoping to get local government funding. He didn't get the funding so the project was dropped after my rough draft of the website and I didn't complete the project.

All the sizes in the style sheet are in ems and %. The function to resize the whole template is:

Quote:

function sizer(){
var $fs= document.body.clientWidth*.1;
if($fs<80){
$fs=80;
};
var $fss=$fs+'%';
document.body.style.fontSize=$fss;
}

So the font size is 10% of the screen width with a minimum of 80%. I'm sure with a more sophisticated function it would display better. For instance try var $fs= document.body.clientWidth*.12; or 12%

One problem I had was that I could get background images to resize.

Regards

Bob

conceptskateboarding · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 10:41 AM

I like using a width of 1000px, only 1% of my users view my website on a 800 by 600 resolution.

I guess it's different for every website.

Jack

lisa · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 11:09 AM

I don't design for the 800x600 people anymore either. I like 1000 pixels or somewhere near there.

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