According to W3Schools, the number of users with a screen resolution of 800 x 600 has decreased from nearly 50% to 14% in 5 years (from 2002 to 2007). So with 80% of all web browsers using a minimum screen resolution of 1024 by 768, do we still need to worry about designing for smaller screens?

If you ask our designers, the answer is a definite no. Absolutely not. Closely followed by “Tell them to get a proper monitor!” A screen resolution of 800 x 600 is pretty restrictive, especially with an emphasis on good-looking, well designed websites, plus it can look fairly pathetic on larger screens. Either a tiny box in the middle or stretched across the top of the monitor with really hard to read sentences.

Even our developers agree that building for larger screen resolutions is easier as more information can be made available. However, applications and forms that have been designed for a larger resolution can be difficult to use on 800 x 600 displays.

It is definitely a judgement call. Smaller displays are being replaced (according to http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php 800 x 600 screen resolution is down to 7.31% as of 31/01/2008) but you do need to take into account your target audience. If your target audience is a group of technophobes, the chances are they will still be using 800 x 600. There’s no real right or wrong answer…and in a few years time we’ll have exactly the same debate but with larger numbers!

Tags: Screen Resolution

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 at 10:33 am and is filed under Internet Technologies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.