I’ve just found this interesting discussion about designing website for larger size monitors. While I can see both good and bad points about both 800 and 1024 pixel-wide websites, I’m sticking with 800 pixels as my base. And for this reason, which Adam Thody said very well:
I don?t think the should be a discussion on ?how wide can we get away with due to monitor limitations?? as much as it should be ?what?s the optimum usuable width for a web page layout??
As mentioned in my earlier entry, an elastic (rather than fixed or fluid) layout may be the best way to go. But whatever width you go for – both in website design or trousers – CSS is a little life-saver. Go web standards, you know it makes sense.