Fluid vs Fixed Width

[Harmain]

Fluid Width is my first prefrance and i suggest it always.

[clorets01]

I keep my sites fixed because I'm a bit lazy, but I recommend fluid if you can.

[abajan]

Originally Posted by clorets01

I keep my sites fixed because I'm a bit lazy, but I recommend fluid if you can.

My sentiments exactly. More power to those who are able to handle fluid layouts but for weeks I was struggling to get one of my sites (a photo gallery) to display consistently across a wide range of browser/platform setups and seemed to be getting nowhere fast until I decided to just go with a simple centered, fixed-width layout.

Now my site looks the same in all of the browsers I’ve tested it in - even IE6! (Well, to be totally honest, there’s just a slight variation between IE6 and the rest but it doesn’t break the layout at all.)

I know some might be wondering why I didn’t just use one of the several free photo gallery services but I kinda like coding this stuff myself - at least to a certain degree.

[warnesey333]

Always fixed- you know exactly how it will look on other (higher) resolutions.

Yes I may have a large monitor but I don't think it is wasted space.

[vhinz316]

Fluid I guess is the best so that for large lcd display the site will automatically stretch out.

[maxine25]

For me I prefer fixed width.

[ScottD]

Fluid is going the way of the dinosaurs. With larger wide screen monitors coming out...it doesn't make sense anymore. Take a look at the poll...it's easy 2 to 1.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

With a fluid design you can set the maximum width now for you large monitor visitors, assuming that if they are tech savvy enough to have such a large monitor they also are using a browser that supports maximum width.

[w-e-b-master]

I voted "fixed width".

[Commercial Realtor]

I use four different computers, different ages and brands. Fixed width, centered works well on all.

[WebshoppeSolutions]

Back in the day, fluid worked well because everyone had 13 inch monitors .. these days though, fixed width will win the day because of all of the monitor/panel sizes that exist.

Fixed width and centered rules the day around here, and has for a long, long time.

When you write fixed width, you might do well to write keeping the minimum screen resolution in mind (800 x 600) .. Fixed width (i.e., 780px roughly), and centered will usually guarantee that your pages will display properly regardless of screen size or resolution.

[Don Craze]

In my case it depends on the Client requirements and the extent to which I can provide the best.
Fixed or Fluid I cannot generalize just like that.

[fiat]

Originally Posted by kristeejo

wow - i dont design that wide.

Mine average between 750 px and 800 px.

What is the true percentage of those using 800x600 resolution?

Hey, Kristee. I like designing fluid site. But it surprised me to see your site (the second one) with fixed width that by first look is very clean, neat, and impressive (I don't expect being impressed by a fixed-width design). And then, I found a small flaw in some pages, especially the "portfolio" page: the font size at your site is way too small for my eyes (typical for most websites), so I have to zoom in from my browser few times to make comfortable for my eyes. And the letters, words, phrases start to collapse and mess up! I went to check my own site (fluid of course) and tried zoom out and zoom in. Seems no problem. I am not sure the issue at your site is caused by fixed-width design or other feature and this is not a thread for site/design critic; I apologize if it's not appropriate to state my finding here or it offends you.

[Adriankoto]

Fluid web page is more user-friendly as is acts as per the user's setup. It can eleminate horizontal scroll bar. Its more visually appealing.

[ColaDrinker]

I would go for fluid-fixed. Meaning it is fluid till a certain width. It sucks to read a completely fluid website on a 27" monitor.

[swerls]

I really enjoy using fixed width and a fluid length it worked well for any site i've ever created

[Tedel]

Fluid, but fluid with limits. Compare Wikipedia (no limits) with SmashingMagazine (fluid with limits), and you will get my point.

[indybail]

For my business purposes what has been on the horizon is here and that is mobile devices. Their increasing presence is driving my decision making whether it be to offer a mobile site option or configuring single site design for all devices. But either way I believe fluid to be the right choice.

[diondevelopment]

960px fixed width every time.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by diondevelopment

960px fixed width every time.

Why did you pick that particular width? and what about those who don't have the browser window fully open?