| LED Digest 2685: Designing with Real User Data |
|
|
|
==================================================
The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher The Internet Marketing Boutique: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. July 24, 2008 Issue no. 2685 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ==== CONTINUING ================= --== Design Resolution & Sizing ==-- ~ Lori Smart "Always, always, ALWAYS center!" ~ Kathryn Martyn Smith "In the computer arena, most people do not want change." ~ Brad Waller "I'm not sure I would want to annoy 10% or more of my users for this." ~ Mark Bishop "I have discussions about proper resolution all the time in my office." ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Lori Smart Subject: Resolution > We've always designed for the 800 x 600 > resolution but are seriously considering > opting for 1024 x 768 instead for all > future client sites and having the annoying > scrollbar for those with the 800 x 600. > > The trend sure seems to be more and more > people these days are using a higher > resolution, with 45% using 1024 x 768 and a > low 7% using 800 x 600. - Robert Joy, LED 2683 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2098/190/ Hi Robert, Thanks for reminding me about this issue. We've recently upgraded to HUGE monitors (for larger workspace) with screen res set to 1920 x 1200. It's great but does make it harder when designing layout to remember just what is the most common settings out there. We've been in the business since '97, so we've changed our standards a few times as technology evolves. I found this chart a while back so I don't know how current it is, but the numbers do seem close to yours. Resolution: % Of Internet Users Higher than 1024x768: 38% 1024x768: 48% 800x600: 8% Lower than 800x600: < 1% Unknown: 6% We actually still see sites out there that were optimized for 600x800, and they look so bad, especially when they're left & top aligned. We've been designing for 1024x768 for at least two years now. And there are two basic standards we follow. #1) Assume browser workspace of 955x600 making a center 'table' (css) about 850 - 900 wide minimum, preferably liquid to fill 90% on the larger resolutions while still giving a nice border on the edges at 1024. 2) Always, always, ALWAYS center!! It looks so bad on larger screens to have a bunch of space to the right. Top to bottom is optional, but always center left to right. I like to play around with margins, using "0" as much as possible. It's great to have a definite header & footer set right smack across the top and bottom of the page, but sometimes that makes the middle look bad if you have too much empty space. So that's what we do. I look forward to seeing other views on this! All the best, Lori Smart InternetDesign.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Kathryn Martyn Subject: Resolution Have you asked non-web people what resolution they use? They likely won't know and most are probably using old fashioned resolutions to make everything on the screen BIGGER. Many applications need a change in their settings to display text large enough to read, and the average Joe has no idea how to change his monitor's resolution. Most people I know are using 800 X 600 and like it just fine. Go ask at least 20 separate people in 20 separate places before you go to 1024 X 768. Does anyone have advice contrary to this? Maybe it's just me, or only in Portland, Oregon where office monitor's are stuck at 800 X 600. Every time I suggest "fixing the monitor's resolution so it will look better," people look horrified saying, "thanks, no thanks." In the computer arena, most people do not want change. Kathryn Martyn Smith, M.NLP http://www.OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Brad Waller Subject: Resolution This seems to come up every few months and I look at my stats and give pretty much the same answer. My stats have changed since the last time I looked, but I don't think I'm ready to change my answer yet. A year ago we saw about 15% of our visitors using 800x600 resolution screens and that slowly dropped to about 10% by January. Funny thing is that the numbers have not really changed significantly since then. I'm still seeing about 10% at 800x600 this month as well. I'm not sure I would want to annoy 10% or more of my users for this. Of course, each site is different and you really should make this determination based on real user data from your own site. If you happen to have an audience where 5% of your users are on 800x600 or smaller screens, then it might make sense to move up to a larger size. Before you go ahead and redesign for a larger screen, ask yourself some questions. Why do you want to go to a larger size? What drivers require the larger screen? Will this enhance the user experience? Also, screen size does not correspond to browser window size. I never have my browser set to full width, particularly now that I have a 1920x1200 monitor. Also, don't forget that browsers have scroll bars and side bars that take up space. If your goal is to design for 1024x768 users, you might want to reserve 100 pixels or more for partial widths and side bars. Unless you really need to go for the extra wide site design, don't do it just because you want to or because you can place extra ads on the screen. Do it because you can make the user experience better and offer them something more than you can now. Brad Waller Manage and Sell your own site advertising http://adjungle.com -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Mark Bishop Subject: Resolution I have discussions about proper resolution all the time in my office. My mind is starting to change about this but I generally create for 800 pixel wide screens. My rationale (from my sample size of about three), is that when people have high resolution screens, they tend to use the real estate by opening multiple windows, not by having one huge browser. Of course, I know many including Jakob Nielsen ( http://www.useit.com/alertbox/screen_resolution.html) disagree with me. I think it's a personal preference and a well designed site could be optimized for either and work well. But the best solutions are either liquid designs or a design that is optimized for a smaller screen but visually works well at higher resolutions. Mark Bishop www.workforcelang.com Bridging Language & Culture in the Workplace (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become." - Heraclitus |
