Screen Resolutions

[computerz]

In the past there was no debate as to what was the ideal screen resolution webmasters should use, namely 800x600. The reason being was that this resolution would accomodate visitors to your site who had the smaller resolution. Then as larger monitors and ultimately advanced video drivers became more available, larger screen resolutions such as 1024x768 began to gain ground as the resolution of choice for most webmasters. And even still during this emergence of large screen displays most if not all commercial sites stuck with the smaller resolution of 800x600 (and still do).

But yet, once again, now that iPhones and other web-enabled handhelds are becoming more prevalent, webmasters who utilize the larger resolutions are going to quick fall out of favor with those visitors viewing from the smaller resolution.

What do you say about screen resolutions?

I think certain aspects of a legitimate website are etched into visitors' minds, such that the visitor identifies the site as worthwhile and legitimate based on these factors, such as advertisements and screen resolution. For example a site whose resolution is 1024x768 and has no advertisements may be interpreted as illigitimate - an around the way site for friends, etc. Whereas a site centered on the screen at 800x600 with quality advertisements may be seen as a legitimate commercial site and worth of attention.

What do you think?

I reopening my site, I'm debating whether or not to stick with 1024x768 or go with 800x600 to accomodate more visitors with smaller screens.

[Helter]

I think most commercial sites stuck with 800x600 due to the advent of "internet appliances" and TV web surfing. A non HD TV cannot display 1024x768. Im not sure how cell phone surfing will affect these decisions as they still browse far too slowly for any site with much content and graphics.

[Dioncecht]

of 1,776 visits...

1. 1024x768 - 696
2. 1280x1024 - 403
3. 1152x864 - 196
4. 1280x800 - 145
5. 1600x1200 - 102
6. 1400x1050 - 71
7. 2560x1024 - 40
8. 1680x1050 - 36
9. 800x600 - 24
10. 1440x900 - 21

I pretty much designed my site for 1024 x 768 and better because thats what was hitting my site most often. You may want to sign up for Google analytics and see what your users are using when they hit your site and adjust accordingly. It's too hard to base your decision off of current trends because the group of people I draw to my site may be different than the group of people you draw to your site and they are probably different than the group of people Helter draws to his other sites. The group of people I draw are gamers, so they are going to have the better graphics card and the higher resolution. If your running a forum for soccer moms, I'm sure you'll find the resolution trend on your site will be a little different.

I dont think resolution and legitimacy of a site have anything to do with each other nor do I believe the general online population has that 'etched' into their minds. I think it's more a matter of what the resolution was when they turned on their store bought computer.

[MWE_001]

Well, I have bumped into a few nags and arguments myself along the website way. I used to develope only for 800x600 then as time went by, I went with 1024x768 due to users of the gaming community as mentioned previously. The issue Im having now is, I have a 17' LCD flat panel and I looked at my site with my lady friends pc after she started nagging at me about how it looked and sure enough, she has a wide screen and it looks very bad....

I guess its give and take. For now, all I do is 1024x768..