Having just spent the last half an hour at a user's machine, trying to figure out why a website wasn't waorking for them and what was causing the problem, I have just discovered another factor that should be taken into account when thinking about what resolution to design for.
The bookmarks pane.
When I got to this users computer, I automatically closed the bookmark pane and got down to sorting out the problem with the website. When I get up to leave she starts shouting at me that I've broken her computer. (It is highly amusing seeing an office of 50 people turn around all at once). She apparently didn't know that it was optional and you could clickon the favourites button to view it.
This prompted me to look at about 10 other peoples computers and they all were doing the same. So even though they were all on 1024x768 screens, they would still only be viewing websites at the equivalent of 800x600.
So there you go, 800x600 might always be the standard to design for.
Just like you'll always have to design for IE6.
The bookmarks pane.
When I got to this users computer, I automatically closed the bookmark pane and got down to sorting out the problem with the website. When I get up to leave she starts shouting at me that I've broken her computer. (It is highly amusing seeing an office of 50 people turn around all at once). She apparently didn't know that it was optional and you could clickon the favourites button to view it.
This prompted me to look at about 10 other peoples computers and they all were doing the same. So even though they were all on 1024x768 screens, they would still only be viewing websites at the equivalent of 800x600.
So there you go, 800x600 might always be the standard to design for.
Just like you'll always have to design for IE6.