Best Size/Resolution for Creating Page Layouts...What do you use?

[tburger]

I've recently started my first web project and was wondering what people thought about resolution/screen size when laying out a site? Is there a best way to ensure a high quality, universal look across browsers, screen sizes, and operating systems?

I drew up my images for this project in Fireworks using Mac's standard 72dpi...But I've noticed that on larger windows monitors the quality is not as sharp...

Suggestions, comments, opinions welcome

Tom

[drhowarddrfine]

There is a tendency to lean toward 1024x768 nowadays and more are getting away from 800x600. My feeling is that many people don't run their browser full screen so keeping it at 800x600 is good but making it flex is better. You can read about some of that "flexing" here.

[morley]

I like to design 950px wide since I like the extra space, and I know my target audience is people with broadband connections and widescreen monitors. But that's just me.

If you need 95-100% compatibility with screens, I would aim for a design that works well on 800x600. If you have an web statistics package (like Google Analytics) that reports on your target users' screen sizes, it makes the decision easier.

[jamesicus]

I am committed to fluid layout -- dimensions & sizes via em and % rather than pixels.

Here is the current cumulative screen size tabulation reported by my user tracking program:

44.90% - 1024x768
34.29% - 1280x1024
07.35% - 800x600
06.12% - Unknown
05.51% - 1152x864
01.83% - 1600x1200

There is some skewing here as I happen to know that several friends with 1280x1024 resolution screens have been using my web site quite heavily for the past couple of weeks. I think the split between that size and 1024x768 is more like:

55.00% - 1024x768
25.00% - 1280x1024

In any event, there is no doubt that use of larger size screens is increasing dramatically.

James
Pickering Pages

[GluteHam]

I agree with drhowardrfine ... Most clients I know do not have their windows maximized. Plus, wider doesn't always mean better. When reading, the eye can only go so far left to right before getting fatigued or lost, so content shouldn't be in any columns that are excessively wide. Design should be functional and reflect the content/purpose of the site.