I like to make the sites in around 1000 x 700 dimensions, so that it will display centered for most browsers. To get an idea for what size to build, start looking at your analytics and the screen size of your readers. If you built it too big, you can always downsize it and vice-versa. A site is never finished, so continue it a work in progress.
Very interesting thread. I have created hundreds of sites, always stuck to 800px width and 1000px height. After all it really depends on the target traffic: the tech crowd vs. the oldies.
I'm a 800x600 guy myself, however I do make the layout more liquid. I vaguely remember there is some kind of rule out there though, where all the resolutions are divisible by a common number, but I can't remember what it was
I use 1024 and let the page height different, knowing that with all google bars and 16:9 screens basically the information has to stay on the upper part of the site, while the lower part should be with something that is interesting to read through.
I tried liquid or percentages but you can't tell where pictures and text would go on different screens.
i always try to go fluid like 95% or 100% width with 0 margins... but i mind the minimum width - this is where people mess up... minimum width is when your blocks misalign your images go all around.. and your text wraps prematurely...
800 x 600 was the standard resolution 4 to 5 years back. But now majority of systems have 1024 x 768 because today display adapters have lot of memory.
I insist. Use 1024 as widht. Anyone who has a higher horizontal definition have changed to 1024 for internet to be able to see web pages and read them. If you have 1600 and websurf, you will change resolution at one point. Important is to make the contents of "first impression" in the highest 576 pixels. Why 576 pixels?. That is what someone who has a 16:9 screen would see. Important. This does not mean that only the first 576 is going to be seen, people are used to scroll down. But you have to catch attention. So the best picture, the catchwords are to be in the first 576 pixels.