[OSM-talk] Front page design and SEO

[David Earl]

On 03/03/2009 09:42, D Tucny wrote:
> 2009/3/3 Tom Hughes <tom at compton.nu <mailto:tom at compton.nu>>
> 
>     D Tucny wrote:
> 
> 
>         I must say, I like that one too... but... So many sites and
>         applications these days seem to be going with all the options at
>         the top/bottom and a full width content section, while at the
>         same time most 4:3 screens are being replaced with 16:10 screens...
> 
> 
>     Screen size is of course irrelevant to browser window size, unless
>     you're one of those weird web designers that seems to think
>     everybody runs their browser full screen all the time...
> 
> 
> I guess that makes me a weird web user for always having browsers full 
> screen... Or at least, someone without enough screen space to 
> comfortably do otherwise :(...

I've been working on a website recently where the key component is a 
large picture which they need to see as much of as possible (not 
dissimilar in what most people would want from a map I guess). I've 
found my users fall into two distinct camps

1. "I've got a big screen, why can't I see more of the picture to make 
use of it". These people have 1400 pixels or more, some over 2000.

2. "It goes off the edge, I have to keep scrolling". A lot of people are 
still working on screens 1024 pixels wide, which means you're down to 
the mid 900s once you take all the borders, scroll bars and things into 
account.

Of course, I've changed things to scale within reason so I can keep both 
happy, but I was surprised quite how many people are still working on 
tiny screens (and not just because they're on net books - these are 
ordinary desktop computers; in once case the screen is huge but run at 
extremely low res because of the user's poor eyesight).

David