Nearly 80% of all Web users worldwide are at 1024 x 768 screen resolutions or higher and more than half are at 1024 x 768 according to OneStat. While it's tempting to start designing pages that occupy the full 1024 width, don't. Keep in mind that most folks typically don't expand their browsers at full width because wider widths are just harder to scan. And they also want visible access to their desktop and any other applications running simultaneously (most people don't tab through applications or use utilities that offer similar functions).
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