Yesterday, I was reviewing Microsoft’s website, looking to see how they address specific audiences (Developers, IT Pros, etc.) on their homepage. Microsoft has been doing this for a long time - and I have a project ramping up which will require the same audience-specific-targeted content scheme.
What it took me some time to realize is that the homepage is designed for 1024×768.
To my knowledge, this is the first, high-traffic, widely-known website to do this. Websites I read, as a part of the Web Standards community, are starting to design for 1024×768 as well. But they’re always ahead of the curve and can rely on a tech-saavy, large resolution/display equip’ed audience.
The fact that Microsoft has done this is huge. Not just because their audience is very, very big and diverse - but because Microsoft, as a result of their psuedo-monopoly, sets standards. Not that I’m praising their accomplishments in this feat. But I am praising their choice to move towards a 1024×768 layout. Hats off to Microsoft.com.
If anything, this should be a green light for technology businesses to move to 1024×768 and a signal that everyone else should be thinking about it. I’m certainly going to start pushing for it…and I feel good that Microsoft.com will be my trump card.
Addendum: Just by happenstance, I noticed that Dell is using 1024×768, not on their homepage, but everywhere else!
I was just listening to Zero 7 - In The Waiting Line