Screen resolution question

[nycguurl]

I hope #1) I'm posting this in the right place and #2) it hasn't been covered already. Ok, I've read statistics but they don't seem to be definitive or conclusive. So... I just wondered, do most people have their screen resolution set at 800 x 600, 1024 x 768 or something else? The reason I ask is because as website builders it's good to know this. Imperative, even. Depending on how many people answer this thread, this can be a survey of sorts.

[djr33]

You can't just design for a single size. I change my resolution often, and rarely have sites full screen anyway.

Widescreen monitors are also common now, etc.

Generally, I think it is quite standard for people to be running 1024x768 in most standard cases (the average user).

Graphics designers, etc., probably have a slightly higher average, so any numbers you get from a site like this (since web design is on the edge of that) might be a bit off, though I wouldn't think too far.

Your site must be able to look good at a lot of resolutions. I have used a monitor frequently that will go up to 1920x1600 or something, though that is quite small, so I usually run that at 1600x1200.

Currently, I'm on a widescreen monitor.

Some older computers do run at 800x600, or even the occasional 640x480 (ouch).

Then you need to account for smaller screens in mobile devices, and these now are able to browse most standard sites, with, for example, the iPhone now having a "full" version of Safari.


*GENERALY* you can probably aim for 1024x768 as the average, but that does not mean you won't have to make it adjustable.

Again, remember, the most important thing here:
People DO NOT always keep their windows maximized. In fact, I never do.

[nycguurl]

Yes, I'm new to designing, so I just had a very rude awakening (lol) when a gorgeous site I was designing in 800 x 600 looked awful on my new laptop which is set by default to 1024 x 768. So I'm now in the process of fixing everything-getting things centered that looked fine before, etc. A laborious undertaking when you've done it all wrong from the beginning...

Thanks for the great feedback!

[djr33]

It is a pain, but absolutely worth it in the end.

Using relative measurements, like em or % is crucial for making a design work.
The other option, of course, is allowing the border to just expand around the content, once the screen reaches a certain point.

[lainlives]

my video card dont do anything below 1152x864

[tech_support]

Wow. What video card is that?

[lainlives]

geforce 6600 with newer firmware i could add new rez's to the driver configuration panal if i wanted to