Opinons Wanted

I'm working on the next layout that will appear for this blog. I know that there are still about 20% of the readers of the blog that view using 800x600 settings on their monitor. I usually use 1280x1024. I know there are many blogs that simply do not fit on an 800x600 screen -- they are too wide and you have to scroll horizontally to see all the blog.

I hate having to make the blog fit in only 800x600 when there really is so much extra space out there. I'm seriously considering making 2 different designs, one for people with the 800x600 layout and one for people with larger screens. For you who use 800x600, do you care? Does it matter to you that you have to scroll horizontally on some blogs? Would you tend to visit a place less or do you avoid blogs that are too wide to fit on your screen? Do you just accept the fact that you are using a small screen and you expect to scroll horizontally often?

Thank you for your input.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:48 PM

Comments

1 1024x768 is the absolute minimum that I will design a website for. I keep my monitors at maximum resolution; 1600x1200 on one monitor and 1280x1024 on the other at home (I have 2 hooked up to my machine) and 1280x1024 at work.

I understand some people like lower resolutions, but in my opinion you have to accept the consequences of your choices.One consequence is that websites look like crap because of rediculously low monitor resolution, not bad web design.

My blog currently is set up such that (as far as I know) it doesn't look bad at 800x600, but that's because I needed it to look halfway decent at 1024x768 and it just happen to work ok at the lower resolution too.

I understand that my attitude may drive some readers away, but then I don't blog specifically to attract readers.

Soory I don't have any actual recommendations, just my own opinion as a fellow blogger.

Posted by: Echo Zoe at July 13, 2005 04:06 PM (K+h36)

2 Seriously, anyone who is still running 800x600 should be used to disappointment and accept scrolling. IMHO, 1024x768 should be the standard size - even a entry-level laptop less than about 4 years old will support it.


/TJ
PS - besides, I run 1024x768 ... and I rule!

Posted by: TJ at July 13, 2005 04:55 PM (PL7dL)

3 Thank you both for your opinions. I do wonder what computers are being used at 800x600, but clearly they are!

Posted by: Ogre at July 13, 2005 05:22 PM (L0IGK)

4 A small scrollbar like the one Zoe's got doesn't bother me at all. I wasn't really crazy about your horizontal blog, but that is completely different. Main thing I like is good content and quick-loading. Hope this helps, bro...

Posted by: Gun-Toting Liberal at July 13, 2005 06:04 PM (Er9BL)

5 Indeed it helps, thanks for the opinion, GTL!

Posted by: Ogre at July 13, 2005 06:24 PM (L0IGK)

6 Here's a breakdown (courtesy Awstats) of screen resolutions of the 30K+ visitors I've had so far this year:

1024x768 52.5 %
800x600 13.2 %
1152x864 11.5 %
1280x1024 11.2 %
1280x960 1.6 %
Others 9.8 %

I wonder about the 800x600 users as well.

HTH, MarkT.

Posted by: MarkT at July 13, 2005 06:48 PM (V3uF4)

7 Neat to know I'm not the only one. I'm now at 16.1% 800x600 with a very similar 50.05% at 1024x768. I wonder if I should start tracking some more information specifically about just those 800x600 users...

Thanks for the info!

Posted by: Ogre at July 13, 2005 07:17 PM (L0IGK)

8 I used to have to surf 800x600 because the computers at work were still running Win95.

As long as the main column fits on 800x600, a little side-scrolling doesn't matter.

Posted by: Harvey at July 14, 2005 04:47 PM (ubhj8)






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