Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Size & resolution of "normal" computer screen in 2008?

2 views
Skip to first unread message

karen3b

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 2:29:00 AM11/27/08
to
I want to structure my webpage so that no content is below the fold line.
Which means I need to know what display height the median computer screen is
in 2008. I'd also like to know the median resolution.
Rob Giordano (Crash) posted the question about size of normal computer
screen back on 1/9/07 -- but I could find a reply. [And it may have changed
by now, anyhow.]

Thanks.
--
karen3b

DavidF

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 9:16:59 AM11/27/08
to
Display Resolution
The current trend is that more and more computers are using a screen size of
1024x768 pixels or more:

http://w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_display.asp

I would suggest that having the most important information on the page,
above the "fold" is a good idea, but limiting yourself to just that length
of page might be too limiting. Publisher will automatically truncate the
page below the last design element on the page, and thus will allow you to
customize the length throughout your site, with each page. Besides, to
arbitrarily choose a length of page will still result in some people needing
to scroll down if they are not using that page size in their browser window.
Just because most people are now using 1024x768 or larger, doesn't mean that
they are viewing pages full screen. In fact the opposite is probably more
true. One of the biggest advantages of having a big screen at high
resolution is that I can have multiple windows open that are much smaller
than that and click between them. People are used to scrolling down. Don't
get too hung up on making your pages a certain length vs. making the length
long enough to contain all the relevant content without needing to load
another page. It is much faster for me to scroll down than to load another
page.

While I am at it, I also would suggest that you be even more careful about
making your pages too wide. While scrolling down is not an issue for most,
horizontal scrolling is really irritating and can alienate people. I will
not stay on a page that I have to scroll horizontally, or go full screen, to
read the content. Once again, remember that just because super wide screens
are common these days, doesn't mean that people want the pages they view to
be that wide. While it is debatable as to how wide a page should be,
Publisher has the 760 pixel width and now with Pub 2007 a 984 pixel width as
"standard widths". I would not exceed 984 pixel width, and actually still
prefer 760 which works better with my practice of having multiple smaller
windows open at the same time. Nuff said...

I congratulate you on doing a lot of homework and teaching yourself web
design theory. You will save yourself a lot of time by doing that now and
planning well. In that spirit I offer you a couple more resources to look
at:

http://webdesignfromscratch.com/ Is pretty well written and has been
helpful to me.

http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/ Is another source that is both helpful and
entertaining.

And Publisher specific:

Plan your Web site:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HA100742431033.aspx?pid=CH100793371033

Prepare, publish, and maintain your Publisher Web site:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HA100947601033.aspx

Using Publisher for web sites :
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/articles/80566.aspx


Good luck...

DavidF

"karen3b" <kar...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9AF7A729-7F41-465B...@microsoft.com...

Rob Giordano [MS MVP]

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 11:38:36 AM11/27/08
to
It was a rhetorical question, since there is NO way to accommodate what
viewport size a viewer is using, there is no way to know where the fold
would be either.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression


"karen3b" <kar...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9AF7A729-7F41-465B...@microsoft.com...

karen3b

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 5:04:07 PM11/27/08
to
Thanks, David, for all the specific information, inc annotated sites. I will
use these links to learn more.
I've read that if you have the page set up so people have to scroll, it
shouldn't be for more than 5 pages' length. Of course, the resource didn't
say what the standard length of the page is. w3schools tracks the trend of
page width -- but nothing about length. I hopefully will find that
information on another of these websites. [I have the width of the Master
Page set for 760.]

I'll post back after I've successfully digested all the material you've
suggested. Again, thanks.
--
karen3b

karen3b

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 5:10:00 PM11/27/08
to
Hello, Rob ~

Well, while I know there isn't yet technology to recognize invidivual
viewpoints and then re-format to match, my question wasn't rhetorical.
That's just how much of a beginner I am.

DavidF covered the level of info I think I need, so I'm good to go (well, to
learn at least.)
--
karen3b

Rob Giordano [MS MVP]

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 9:30:20 PM11/27/08
to
No. MY question was rhetorical...the one you quoted from months ago.

You can only approximate your viewer's length...same reasons as width.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression


"karen3b" <kar...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:5B5EB795-249C-4363...@microsoft.com...

karen3b

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 10:08:05 PM11/27/08
to
Oops. Sorry. Crash is how I recognize/think of you -- didn't register the
Rob part!

Just read the "using Publisher for web sites" article. I wish I'd read it a
couple of weeks ago. Would've saved me a lot of wheel-churning as well as
time.

Rob Giordano [MS MVP]

unread,
Nov 27, 2008, 10:35:28 PM11/27/08
to
ah,,,sorry I'd forgotten I removed my old nick from my sig. - yes that was
me Crash

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression


"karen3b" <kar...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:20864361-D2A0-4105...@microsoft.com...

DavidF

unread,
Nov 28, 2008, 6:55:13 PM11/28/08
to
You are welcome.

I THINK this is a place where they are using a print term in describing a
web page...5 printed pages. Of course that would depend upon what is your
standard paper size.

I wouldn't get too hung up about the specifics as much as try to understand
the principle and reasoning behind the specifics. When it gets down to it,
there are few absolutes in web design. Well of course except that background
music tends to alienate almost everyone ;-)

DavidF

"karen3b" <kar...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:72DDD9B9-C14E-44F1...@microsoft.com...

0 new messages