developing for 17"monitors

[dgittoes]

I am trying to find some figures on what is the recommended pixel width for the browser canvas with 17" monitors. I need to cater for both Netscape & IE on both PC & Mac. I remember reading an artice somehwere that 717px is the best for both browsers on both platforms, but I cannot find the article.

Can anyone please help?

[KeshavaR]

Hi dgittoes,

The design typically should be on 800 x 600 resolution mode , however a good site must be compatible with 640 x 480 resolution.

Hence, the browser canvas can slightly vary below 800 pixels width, but try not to go beyond that width, as you will get the unwanted horizontal bar.

:)

[Vladdy]

Originally posted by KeshavaR
...good site must be compatible with 640 x 480 resolution...

Good site does not care what resolution the device it is viewed on has, or if it has a "resolution" at all (like screen readers, audio browsers, etc.).

Do not think of a web site as you would of a print media that has to fit on a certain paper format and look the same everywhere. Think of it as a depository of information that can be delivered to a user in a veriety of ways.

[JackTheTripper]

Try this article...


http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/99/41/index3a.html?tw=design

[KeshavaR]

if it has a "resolution" at all

Well Vladdy, now this doesn't make any sense at all. Web pages that has been uploaded is for "any user" using net, and the developer HAS to keep this in mind and deliver proper USER INTERFACE.

The idea is NOT to deliver the goods as done in print media, "just print to required size" but to use the flexibility and power of Web Technologies and cater to all mediums!

RESOLUTION is IMPORTANT !

[Vladdy]

It does not make sense to design with some resolution in mind. So you made your site "compatible" with 640x480 resolution, but what about webTV and PDA users???
Since you mentioned the power of web technologies, they do allow you to design so that web page adjusts to whatever resolution the user has.
Also resolution has little to do with the canvas size the page is being viewed on. Not everyone browses with their browser maximized and there are window chrome elements and such.

[dgittoes]

Hi all

Thanks for your comments. I am designing an intranet for a client, and one of their requirements is a fixed width page size. Hence why I am trying to find a pixel width that is compatible with both browsers on both platforms.

[KeshavaR]

yes dgittoes

Since the requirement is for a fixed width, its apt to start the design and UI with atleast 700 by 650 mode.

With this, your Interface will meet almost 97% usage amongst the users as many of us use 800 * 600 as our monitor resolution.

Its better to satisfy most of them , rather than not implementing at all! :)

Have a great day!

[Vladdy]

If this is for intranet, just ask your client what is the resolution setting range on the computers he has (and if he still has some with 640x480 how soon he is going to upgrade them and if you should sacrifice the looks for majority to accomodate a few).
Anyway since that is his requirement that the page is done with a fixed size make him specify this size as well.