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Pocket-Sized Design: Taking Your Website to the Small Screen
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/pocket/

Posted earlier this week on ALA.

Scott Reston
Director, Web Development
Capstrat
919/882.1966 v
919/834.7959 f
1201 Edwards Mill Road, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27607
www.capstrat.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Justin French
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 10:39 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [WSG] Divs or Cells


Chris,

I think the answer to this question depends entirely on the content 
that's being displayed, and what's most important to your client:

1. accessible content
2. reliable layout in all browsers

The thing is, if you design for tables, then you're forcing the browser 
(UA) to render tables.  On hand-helds and small screens, this will more 
than likely result in lots of horizontal scrolling.

Alternately, if you design with a CSS layout, then the content is 
separate from the presentation, and some UA's can choose not to use the 
style sheet (thus just rendering the content in an accessible manner).  
You can even design stylesheets specifically for those devices and 
(with some luck) those devices will do what you want.


However, for some designers, clients and mindsets (marketing depts 
especially), the layout is *everything*, and they'll want 
pixel-perfect, locked-down design that works for every desktop browser. 
  In this case, tables still have the upper hand if you ask me.... but 
since you're asking, I probably wouldn't work for a client like that 
these days, because I'm busy enough to pick-and-choose.


If you're genuinely looking at support for alternate devices (PDA's, 
etc) then I think CSS (with a lot of research into alternate 
stylesheets, media-specific stylesheets, etc would be well worth it -- 
far more than tables.


Justin


On 03/09/2004, at 12:20 AM, Wasabi wrote:

>   a client with an international market needs a site redesign. The 
> currently use tables, but would like a transition to CSS. My concern 
> is their market, an international base of travelers on various 
> platforms with varying skill levels.
>
>    I'm reluctant to do a full CSS redesign, fearing someone will try 
> to access the site from a PDA while on foto safari in the outback. 
> Would a well crafted, minimal table solution, i.e Designing With Web 
> Standards, fit the bill; or is CSS 2 penetration enough to ensure 
> seamless integration, as much as can be expected, for the diverse 
> client base?

---
Justin French
http://indent.com.au

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