Resolution And More

[TCH-Thomas]

Lets say I have made a page intended for 800x600.

It looks great on my computer and monitor, but when I view it through Jessicas computer and monitor which have same settings etc as me, the page layout is yuck.

How come a page can look so different even if same settings? If her monitor uses 1024x768 or other, I could understand it, but now I dont.

[Madmanmcp]

are the browser windows the same size? maximize both to full screen and see if that helps.

[TCH-Don]

Has she changed the appearance of windows > font size?

under advanced > point size?

[TCH-Thomas]

Yup Bob, all settings, browsers etc are exact same.

No Don, all settings are default.

Edited September 29, 2004 by Jikrantz

[TCH-Bruce]

Are both monitors the same size? 14" 15" 17"?

[TCH-Thomas]

No, that was the only thing I could think of. Mine is bigger than hers. I dont remember what size she has for the moment (sorry), but my monitor is 21". Her monitor is 17" I think.

I thought that was what the resolution was supposed to handle. Like on a TV, you see exact same thing no matter size.

Edited September 29, 2004 by Jikrantz

[TCH-Bruce]

That's the way it's supposed to work. But if you have modified font sizes or point sizes on either of them it would make a difference.

[TCH-Don]

For a larger monitor or screen res

you can change the appearance font size and point size to make the fonts look bigger to fit the bigger monitors and be readable.

[TCH-Thomas]

But if both persons browsers use same default settings and same resolution this effect should not show up?

[TCH-Bruce]

Not true, it all relationship. Have you tried reducing the font or increasing the font in the browser?

[TCH-Thomas]

No, not yet.

But what I mean is that, do I need to tell people not only that a site is best viewed in 800x600 but also ask them to resize their textsize?

If so, I dont understand why resolutions exists then.

Sorry Bruce. I know you are just trying to help, but I do less and less understand this thing now.

[TCH-Bruce]

It's difficult to answer the question Thomas.

 

If someone ups their font size the page is going to display differently. If they lower their font size it will display differently. Nothing you can do about that.

[Madmanmcp]

Thomas, the monitor size makes a big difference and using the same font and fontsize does not mean it will look the same on different size monitors. If you are designing your web pages for the best look with that 21" monitor you are not designing for the majority of viewers out there.

 

Its hard to explain but the best way is just to show you, and we don't have to since you have already seen for yourself . Your pages look great on that big old monitor of yours and look "yucky" on a 17". Make them look good on a 17" and you will probably be better off. I'm not sure of the percentages but I would guess that 17" is more of the standard now.

[TCH-Thomas]

If someone ups their font size the page is going to display differently. If they lower their font size it will display differently.

This is what I dont understand. You mean that even if Jessica never touched any textsettings (either up or down) and me neither, in any broswer at all, then it can still be difference in what ever browser that page is viewed in.

[TCH-Bruce]

That is correct. I have my browser to display in a small text setting. On some sites I have to increase the font size because it's just to small to read. But I prefer to see more on a page than some people.

 

You can get around some of the shifting of font sizes by using CSS and specifying a pixel size to display the text. Then no matter what the user does the font stays the same size. That's what some people do.

Edited September 29, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[TCH-Thomas]

Ok. I got it (I think.)

Thanks everyone.

[Madmanmcp]

Thomas, see if this helps explain it a little better.

 

h_tp://www.thescreamonline.com/technology/monitor/monitor_res.html

[TCH-Bruce]

Good read Bob. Explains it well.