A better css div align (3 columns, middle large)

Question

I want the main text of the html (div.main) to be near standard paper size (8.5inch - 1in margin on both = 6.5)

I want my sidebar menu to be outside of this. So i figured out how to lock the page to near 1024 res (i use 996px so i have room for the vertical scroll bar)

This looks fairly good at 1024 and 1280 width resolution but i am not sure about higher. Also maybe you guys have a suggestion how to better align this (keeping the 6.5in in the center)

index.html

<div>
    <div class="menu">
    <ul>
    <li><a href="">Home</a></li>
    <li>Test</li>
    <li>Test 2</li>
    <li>Contact</li>
    </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="row">
<div class="dummy">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="main">
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...
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</div>

<div class="sidebar">
Some links here</br>
<br>Some links here</br>
<br>Some links here</br>
<br>Some links here</br>
<br>Some links here</br>
</div>
</div>


</body>
</html>

my.css:

div.row
{
    width: 996px;
    margin-left: auto;
    margin-right: auto;
}

div.dummy {
    float: left;
    padding-right: 148px;
}

div.sidebar {
    float: left;
    padding-left: 32px;
}

div.main
{
    width: 6.5in;
    float: left;
}

.menu    { padding-bottom: 60px; }
.menu ul { margin:0px auto; }
.menu li {
    width: 22%;
    text-align:center;
    display:block;
    float:left;
    }
.menu a  { display:block; }