Tool: See your site at different resolutions

[Commerce Brian]

Here's a free and handy tool for seeing how your site looks at different screen resolutions:
 
http://www.echoecho.com/toolresizer.htm
 

[becki]

I've heard that screen resolution is important because not everyone uses the same.
How reliable is the tool and are there any statistics on screen reolustion use throughout the internet?

[Commerce Brian]

Actually, I've just tried it and the tool isn't very good for myself - it basically tries to resize the actual browser window - so it can never create an actual window size larger than the current window you're using (or even imitate it). However, I guess if you have a very high screen resolution - ie, 1600x1200 - then it would be an easy way to show how smaller screen resolutions look.

[paulhiles]

I've heard that screen resolution is important because not everyone uses the same.
How reliable is the tool and are there any statistics on screen reolustion use throughout the internet?

Here's one source I came across fairly recently
http://www.upsdell.com/BrowserNews/stat_trends.htm#res - the bottom line is that it seems the average user is now viewing at 1024 x 768 or higher. This average resolution always used to be quoted as being 800 x 600, which designers should still try to accommodate, but realistically, the larger resolution makes for more comfortable viewing.
 
Of course, if all designers stuck to using percentage widths, and ems instead of pixels then maybe resolution wouldn't be so much of an issue! Ah well, that ain't going to happen now is it?

[Commerce Brian]

I've looked at some sites with percentile widths - and the trouble is, once you start hitting really large resolutions, the site can be badly stretched and content loses something of its aesthetic appeal. Nowdays I'm a specified pixel-width man only.

[4silverstrea]

Of course, if all designers stuck to using percentage widths, and ems instead of pixels then maybe resolution wouldn't be so much of an issue! Ah well, that ain't going to happen now is it?

I was told by a programmer that using ems is far better and there is less change across browsers. I wish they would come up with a standard. At least designing for the net is better than before with this cross platform issue.