For the longest time – and I mean a really long time – 1024×768 was the most used display resolution on monitors, both in business and in the home.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the new most used res is 1366×768.
The first (and pretty much only) thing you’ll notice is that 1024×768 is a 4:3 aspect ratio while 1366×768 is a 16:9, and that both are the same height in pixels.
What happened essentially is that nobody went bigger, but rather just went wider.
How does this affect you?
Whenever statistics are released concerning monitor resolutions, this usually results in web site designs accommodating to suit.
In other words, for those of you still using 1024×768, you’re going to be encountering more horizontal scrollbars.
My advice remains the same – go with the 16:9 ratio no matter what X-x-Y pixels you choose
Late last year I listed off a whole bunch of resolutions and what their aspect ratios are. Purposely going with 16:9 aspect ratio does result in most online video filling the screen properly in fullscreen mode (like on YouTube), and moreover that more sites are being designed specifically for 16:9 and not 8:5 or 4:3.
Whether you choose to go with 1366×768, 1600×900, 1920×1080 or higher, stick to the 16:9. The web is increasingly being "designed wide", and your monitor should be in the ratio that accommodates for it.
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I’m at 1920×1200 currently. That was after the 1600×1200 display died. Unless I’m forced to go with a touch screen as an update, I figure my next one will be 2560×1600.
I’ve used 1620×1050 (16:10) for a long time now and I can’t stand the 16:9 monitors at work anymore. They just look… skinny. I’m sure it’s just me being used to 16:10 now though. With widescreen monitors, I already consider vertical real estate to be far more precious than horizontal, and that’s why 16:9 makes me cringe.
Also, While there are other ratios out there, 16:9 and 16:10 seem to be some of the most common. Honestly I don’t see a problem with going 16:10 (or really, pretty much any res so long as it fits your monitor). I’ve never had an issue with fullscreen content like videos or games, and I’ve never seen a video that didn’t scale well to any particular monitor, nor a modern video game that didn’t support more resolutions than I knew existed.
A black bar on the screen has never bothered me. I rarely even notice it.
Good. I’m tired of seeing skinny websites with whitespace on the sides.
1440×900?