Retire the 800 Table Rule

[DJilla]

I've thought 'bout this and IMHO I've have come to the decision that its probably not a good idea. Mainly I think if you give WM's the extra real estate they'll just overstuff it full of crap tending to make their already marginal sites horrible. Its good discipline to design sites that can resize themselves well. Also, even though your stats may suggest a 1024 preference it doesn't speak to a surfers appreciation for the 800px standard when they want to run multiple windows on their screen. Finally, I can see sites actually getting smaller in the future rather than bigger as content is designed for the smaller screen size of wireless devices.

[Linkster]

I thought that we already started changing that rule back in the middle of August - I know Greenguy has already changed his rule 17 and Im sure the rest will probably follow suit - I know I dont have a problem with it (even if my rules havent been changed LOL)

[Carrie]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Mainly I think if you give WM's the extra real estate they'll just overstuff it full of crap tending to make their already marginal sites horrible.

Maybe their sites look like crap because they're on standard-size resolutions trying to design for outdated resolutions.

Also, even though your stats may suggest a 1024 preference it doesn't speak to a surfers appreciation for the 800px standard when they want to run multiple windows on their screen.

Since we're talking about numbers and majorities here, I think I'm pretty safe in saying that the majority of surfers don't tile windows side by side so they can see two sites at once when surfing for entertainment reasons.

Finally, I can see sites actually getting smaller in the future rather than bigger as content is designed for the smaller screen size of wireless devices.

Okay, so at some unknown time in the future, when the numbers show that the majority of surfing is done on little 3" screens, we can demand that everyone's site be 170 pixels wide. *Until* then, designing for the majority of surfers is best.

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by DJilla

I've thought 'bout this and IMHO I've have come to the decision that its probably not a good idea. Mainly I think if you give WM's the extra real estate they'll just overstuff it full of crap tending to make their already marginal sites horrible. Its good discipline to design sites that can resize themselves well. Also, even though your stats may suggest a 1024 preference it doesn't speak to a surfers appreciation for the 800px standard when they want to run multiple windows on their screen. Finally, I can see sites actually getting smaller in the future rather than bigger as content is designed for the smaller screen size of wireless devices.

Well generally I would like to make my graphics proportionally bigger more detail is much nicer to view.
I think the 800 rule is limiting the quality of our designs. For example digital cameras work on the same principles as web pages and higher res gives better quality.

You make a good point with your wireless remark.
I know a few people making some real money with wireless. I am a dinasaur and still not up to speed in that area yet.

Maybe there will be new domains .cell and we can all design tiny 100 pixel sites