Fluid vs Fixed Width - Page 2

ewomack · 02-15-2007, 08:29 PM

Fixed width. Fewer surprises. Fewer smooshed designs. More Happy CRT-tanned surfers. Yay for them!

bbutton · 02-16-2007, 08:19 AM

Its easier to design and code a fixed width, but a well designed fluid design as long as it is well done can be much better. The problem is their are too many very badly designed fluid sites about.

lizza · 02-16-2007, 03:44 PM

My vote goes to fixed width

**3ncryptabl3_lick** · 02-17-2007, 03:10 PM

Ya, fixed for me aswell.

DaveyBoy · 02-17-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbutton

Its easier to design and code a fixed width, but a well designed fluid design as long as it is well done can be much better. The problem is their are too many very badly designed fluid sites about.

I don't even agree here mate. I really don't like the content shifting around as i moved and contract the window. One size for all is just the best way to go about it, in my opinion of course

John Scott · 02-18-2007, 02:38 AM

http://news.google.com/ - Fluid

http://www.amazon.com/ - Fluid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page - Fluid

DaveyBoy · 02-18-2007, 05:06 AM

Don't like any of 'em!

graywolf · 02-25-2007, 06:12 AM

Is your dislike for fluid from a designer perspective or an end user perspective? I get the designer angle but not the end user. Could some of use please elaborate I'm extremely interested in hearing your responses.

John Scott · 02-25-2007, 06:19 AM

Welcome to v7n, GrayWolf! Happy to have you here.

graywolf · 02-25-2007, 06:25 AM

Here's how I do fluid 3 column and get the body first easy-peesy

HTML Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">

<head>
<title>Page Title</title>
<style type="text/css">
/*** The Layout Styles ***/
html {background:#fff;}
body {background: #fff;padding:0; margin:0;}
#header{position:absolute;top:0;clear:both;height:150px;margin:5px 25px;width:93%; }
#content {position:absolute;float:left;text-align:left;left:250px;right:250px !important; right:190px;}
#menu{position:relative;margin-left:0px;width:200px;float:left;text-align:left;}
#feat{position:relative;right:0px;width:200px;float:right;text-align:left;}
#footer {position:static;font-size:xx-small;text-align:center;clear:both;}
#container{margin-top:155px;float:left;width:100%;}
#wrap{margin:0 25px;width:95%;}
			
/*** Main Decoration and Color ***/
body {font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif,serif;font-size:small;}
#header{background:#fff;}
#content {clear:both;}
#container{}
#feat{}
#menu{margin-bottom:100px;}
#footer{color:#000;border-top:1px solid #ccc;}
			
</style>	
</head>
<body>
<div id='wrap'>
	<div id='container'>
		<div id="content" >
			This is the main body content
		</div>
		<div id='menu'>
			This is the left column
		</div>
		<div id='feat'>
			This is the right column
		</div>
		<div id="header">
			This is the header section
		</div>	
	</div>	
	<div class='clr'></div>
	<div id="footer">
		This is the footer information
	</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>

Nicole · 02-25-2007, 06:44 AM

Depends on the site. For blog/news sites, a fluid design (done right) can be a good idea. Users with more screen area can read more w/o scrolling.

There would need to be a max-width, though because a completely fluid design can look absolutely horrible on larger resolutions.

chicgeek · 02-25-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Scott

http://news.google.com/ - Fluid
http://www.amazon.com/ - Fluid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page - Fluid

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyBoy

Don't like any of 'em!

I'm with DB on this one.

It's personal preference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by graywolf

Is your dislike for fluid from a designer perspective or an end user perspective? I get the designer angle but not the end user. Could some of use please elaborate I'm extremely interested in hearing your responses.

Both.
I don't like things shifting around form page to page. I either use a 19" wit 1280 width or a laptop with 1024 width - that's a lot of horizontal reading. Another thing is that I like to see the page as the designer had intended it to be seen - no surprises.

farooqaaa · 02-25-2007, 09:04 AM

Voted FIXED... Because fixed templates look good on all resolutions

graywolf · 02-25-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Another thing is that I like to see the page as the designer had intended it to be seen - no surprises.

Well if I paid for a 19" monitor I want 19" of content not 17" with some blank space. :-)

Not saying I don't use fixed width, but it's only when I want to "guide" and "focus" the users eyes to adsense/product/buy button.

Wonders if there is some preference correlation between liquid/fixed and the black bars on widescreen movies shown regular sized TV's?

John Scott · 02-25-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Well if I paid for a 19" monitor I want 19" of content not 17" with some blank space. :-)

Exactly my feelings.

dojo · 02-26-2007, 08:27 AM

Fixed. Most of the time my layouts are graphical and intricate and a fluid design just restricts me. I go with fixed whenever I can

chicgeek · 02-26-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graywolf

Well if I paid for a 19" monitor I want 19" of content not 17" with some blank space. :-)

I used my larger monitor as a large workspace, not as a larger browser space. Who on earth with their right mind would maximize browser windows on a 19"?

It's like printed books; they are usually made narrower than they are tall for a reason. You shouldn't have to move your head each time you read a line of content.

graywolf · 02-26-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Who on earth with their right mind would maximize browser windows on a 19"

Well if you gave me 19" of content in a liquid layout I'd get more info on the screen and have less scrolling than your fixed width design :-P

Applications like GMail and Google reader which are full width allow me to scan/view more headlines without having to scroll.

chicgeek · 02-26-2007, 09:12 AM

So you'd rather use two hands to read a newspaper than a couple of fingers to read a book?

DaveyBoy · 02-26-2007, 09:24 AM

But it's a screen not a newspaper, you can read a full width page on 19" without moving your head pretty easily

FLUID STILL SUCKS!