Screen resolution and empty space?

In alt.www.webmaster T.J. said:

 > Until recently, I always had a screen resolution of
 > 800/600 I have just started using 1024/768 and notice

i use multiple monitors with multiple resolutions. from 800x600 up to
1600x1200.

 > a lot of sites where they have a large blank area on the right.
<font color=purple> > A perfect example is, <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.digitalpoint.com</font" target="_blank">www.digitalpoint.com</font</a>>

classic fixed size design. you just hope it fits within the visitors
browser window.

 > I personally prefer sites like this, as I often surf with only 3/4 of
 > the browser open, whilst fiddling with other things in the space.
 > Is this the acceptable way of designing sites though?

no because your 3/4 window is not the same size as everyone elses 3/4
window so its only chance the site fits within your browser. its not
going to fit for many other people. it either wont fit or there'll be
huge areas of wasted real estate.

over and over again user surveys say visitors prefer sites that adjust
to their own settings. while there is a place for the fixed size design
its mainly a holdover from print media where there were no variables.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?AnySizeDesign" target="_blank">http://allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?AnySizeDesign</a>


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v o i c e s<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space? 

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 21:17:16 +0100, "T.J." <no1 DeleteThis @home.invalid>
scribbled:

 >Until recently, I always had a screen resolution of
 >800/600 I have just started using 1024/768 and notice
 >a lot of sites where they have a large blank area on the right.
 >A perfect example is,
 >www.digitalpoint.com
 >
 >I personally prefer sites like this, as I often surf with only 3/4 of
 >the browser open, whilst fiddling with other things in the space.
 >
 >Is this the acceptable way of designing sites though?
 >

I centre everything on my sites with FrontPage which is easy, maybe on
these sites where there's space they can't be bothered doing this or
their web creation program does not enable it? so they just keep
everything to the left of screen and at 800x600 so that anyone with
any size of a monitor will be catered for? Does seem a waste of good
space though.......
Denise<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space? 

"T.J." <no1 RemoveThis @home.invalid> wrote in message news:<ckpb8b$q7s$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
 > Until recently, I always had a screen resolution of
 > 800/600 I have just started using 1024/768 and notice
 > a lot of sites where they have a large blank area on the right.
 > A perfect example is,
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.digitalpoint.com</font" target="_blank">www.digitalpoint.com</font</a>>
 >
 > I personally prefer sites like this, as I often surf with only 3/4 of
 > the browser open, whilst fiddling with other things in the space.
 >
 > Is this the acceptable way of designing sites though?

You can create what is called a fliud web page that scale the entire
screen no matter what resolution the users uses. You can do this with
tables and setting the width to be 100%. See the following site for
an example:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.peostri.army.mil" target="_blank">http://www.peostri.army.mil</a>

I have a wide screen laptop and use 1280x800. Other users may have
even a higher resolution. I personally like site with fluid designs.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space? 

Quoth the raven Jennifer:

 > "T.J." <no1.DeleteThis@home.invalid> wrote in message
 > news:<ckpb8b$q7s$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
 >
  >> Until recently, I always had a screen resolution of 800/600 I
  >> have just started using 1024/768 and notice a lot of sites where
  >> they have a large blank area on the right. A perfect example is,
<font color=green>  >> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.digitalpoint.com</font" target="_blank">www.digitalpoint.com</font</a>>
  >>
  >> I personally prefer sites like this, as I often surf with only
  >> 3/4 of the browser open, whilst fiddling with other things in the
  >> space.
 >
  >> Is this the acceptable way of designing sites though?

Make your site float to fill the available viewport area, instead of
designing to a resolution. Screen resolution is unimportant; browser
window size is, sorta. Your site should not care what the window size is.

 > You can create what is called a fliud web page that scale the
 > entire screen no matter what resolution the users uses. You can do
 > this with tables and setting the width to be 100%.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?Tableless_layouts" target="_blank">http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?Tableless_layouts</a>

 > See the following site for an example:
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.peostri.army.mil</font" target="_blank">http://www.peostri.army.mil</font</a>>

I would not recommend that site as a viable example of good web
design. I'm glad I don't have to maintain it.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F" target="_blank">http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F</a>

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-bts
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 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space? 

"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous.RemoveThis@example.invalid> wrote in message news:<Q_Ved.20754$JS4.16680@twister.nyroc.rr.com>...
 > Quoth the raven Jennifer:
 >
  > > "T.J." <no1.RemoveThis@home.invalid> wrote in message
  > > news:<ckpb8b$q7s$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
  > >
   > >> Until recently, I always had a screen resolution of 800/600 I
   > >> have just started using 1024/768 and notice a lot of sites where
   > >> they have a large blank area on the right. A perfect example is,
<font color=brown>   > >> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.digitalpoint.com</font" target="_blank">www.digitalpoint.com</font</a>>
   > >>
   > >> I personally prefer sites like this, as I often surf with only
   > >> 3/4 of the browser open, whilst fiddling with other things in the
   > >> space.
 >
   > >> Is this the acceptable way of designing sites though?
 >
 > Make your site float to fill the available viewport area, instead of
 > designing to a resolution. Screen resolution is unimportant; browser
 > window size is, sorta. Your site should not care what the window size is.
 >
  > > You can create what is called a fliud web page that scale the
  > > entire screen no matter what resolution the users uses. You can do
  > > this with tables and setting the width to be 100%.
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?Tableless_layouts</font" target="_blank">http://www.allmyfaqs.com/faq.pl?Tableless_layouts</font</a>>
 >
  > > See the following site for an example:
  > >
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.peostri.army.mil</font" target="_blank">http://www.peostri.army.mil</font</a>>
 >
 > I would not recommend that site as a viable example of good web
 > design. I'm glad I don't have to maintain it.
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F</font" target="_blank">http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F</font</a>>

I did not say it was good design, but an example of fluid design.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space? 

Quoth the raven Jennifer:

 > "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous RemoveThis @example.invalid> wrote
 >
  >> Quoth the raven Jennifer:
  >>
   >>> See the following site for an example:
   >>>
<font color=brown>   >>> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.peostri.army.mil</font" target="_blank">http://www.peostri.army.mil</font</a>>
  >>
  >> I would not recommend that site as a viable example of good web
  >> design. I'm glad I don't have to maintain it.
  >>
<font color=green>  >> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F</font" target="_blank">http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peostri.army.mil%2F</font</a>>
 >
 > I did not say it was good design, but an example of fluid design.

Wouldn't you rather cite an example of a good design, so that readers
can practice good coding as well as fluid design? That army site has
tables nested three-deep!

Fluid design, no tables:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.fingerlakesbmw.org/" target="_blank">http://www.fingerlakesbmw.org/</a>

--
-bts
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 >> Stay informed about: Screen resolution and empty space?