11-15-2004, 05:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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A Question of Resolution...
The current Pocket PC Thoughts layout has been around for a couple of years, and it's time for a change! We're working through how we want to make the changes, but one question we have is the resolution we want to support. One of the goals in the new layout is to allow us to display more content on the home page, and part of that means looking at the total "square footage" of our home page.
For the question below, I'm asking specifically about the size of your browser window - some people browse full screen, so in that case, it's the size of your display resolution. If you don't browse full screen (I don't), select the option that comes closest to the size of your browser window.
We're also open to suggestions that you might have about how to improve the layout of the home page - share your concepts with us!
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11-15-2004, 05:58 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 450
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I'm using 1024�768, and i like the current layout.
Only if IPB 2.0 possible... :roll:
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11-15-2004, 06:03 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by KTamas
Only if IPB 2.0 possible... :roll:
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If I may ask, why IPB over phpBB?
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11-15-2004, 06:06 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by KTamas
Only if IPB 2.0 possible... :roll:
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I'm having trouble decoding what you're saying here - I didn't mention a forum change, although that happens to be something that we're looking at - but what does that have to do with resolution?
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11-15-2004, 06:34 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 190
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I voted for 1024x768, but use 1152x864 (fullscreen) - that choice should have been there definitely - I think that lots of people use it.
__________________
Omikron using SonyEricsson K700i & iPaq h2210
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11-15-2004, 06:37 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49
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Re: A Question of Resolution...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
One of the goals in the new layout is to allow us to display more content on the home page, and part of that means looking at the total "square footage" of our home page.
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Personally, I would like to see less on-screen information on the main page, not more. While still substantially better than many sites, IMO it's still cluttered to the point that much of it just gets lost as visual noise. I can't speak for others, but I basically ignore everything but the central article column in most cases. More is not always better on a webpage.
I think that the best designs keep the focus of each page simple. Since PPT is still primarily a news ticker site (at least, that's how it seems to me), the front page should show headlines. That's it. For each of the other domains of interest, create another central page (e.g., pocketpcthoughts.com/prices, .../articles, etc.). Linkage between the domains should be kept simple (links to the central pages only), and should be well marked and easy to find (perhaps using the "tabbed dialog" metaphor along the top of the page?).
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
If you don't browse full screen (I don't), select the option that comes closest to the size of your browser window.
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Neither do I, and I get very annoyed when a site forces me to go full-screen. The whole point behind HTML was that the browser/user know how to lay out the information better than the server, and yet most websites now assume exactly the opposite.
Frustrating.
BTW, my browser windows are 800x1024 (they used to be 700x1024, but too many websites force 800 pixels wide now for that to be practical). This layout gives it more of the "printed page" aspect ratio than the standard 4/3 layout. Tracking text all the way across a mighty 1280 pixel span is not fun.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
We're also open to suggestions that you might have about how to improve the layout of the home page - share your concepts with us!
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As I mentioned above, PPT is doing pretty well for a three-column, headered layout. With the current layout, the only suggestion I would have is to rethink what controls you've put where. You've got controls on the left, top, and right. The user has to scan all three of those places to find what they are looking for, and even then can easily overlook it because the styling is so "smooth" that the controls don't always stand out. Case in point: how many people never see the "Submit News" control on the top right? I would suggest choosing one location for all the controls. Leave the rest of the page free for formatting.
Just my $0.02.
-- Mark
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11-15-2004, 06:39 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,264
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While you are at it, you could make all three sites the same. PPCT and SPT are one size while DMT is smaller.
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11-15-2004, 06:44 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by omikron.sk
I voted for 1024x768, but use 1152x864 (fullscreen) - that choice should have been there definitely - I think that lots of people use it.
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The intention of this thread is to gauge people's typical browsing habits with respect to resolution. The current target is 800x600 which accommodates for the vast majority of our readers; however, this only allows a limited amount of content to be displayed. Ideally, if the typical browsing resolution is greater than 800x600, we can push the target to 1024x768, thus allowing us to safely display more content. That is why there are only three options in the poll: 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x1024 or higher. If your resolution is in between that, vote for the lower one. 
I'd love to have my browser resolution in that poll too (1920x1200), but that's not one of the target resolutions we are looking at. :P
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11-15-2004, 06:48 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Goldkey
While you are at it, you could make all three sites the same. PPCT and SPT are one size while DMT is smaller.
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Actually, to my recollection, the targeted resolution of all three sites is the same. PPCT and SPT function on variable width, while DMT functions on fixed width. DMT uses fixed width as a result of a poll that was conducted there - where there was a greater support by the readers for a fixed width layout as opposed to a variable width layout. So while it has the impression of being "smaller", they are about the same.
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11-15-2004, 06:55 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,911
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As long as you keep the same color scheme you can make what ever changes you want.
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Linear Mode
