Yes, I see your point that this is the case for most people with standard OSs 
and browsers and resolutions, but wouldn't we like to move beyond 72dpi 
eventually?  My own point of view (and this is where my 'logic' comes in) is 
that higher-res is always better if the software supports it.  For example I 
have a little 14" laptop screen set to 1400x1050 (or higher depending on the 
project); I personally set Win to show "large" fonts so everything's readable, 
but it seems OSs of the future would better detect the res/screen and adjust 
the base font size automatically--even if it's just to set a baseline for the 
default or 'normal' setting.

Oh, and the javascript for this took all of 20 minutes to write and test, so 
it's really not a big investment of time, and I don't see it as a hole.  
Currently the js has font-size dynamically increase/decrease as the window is 
resized, but it could calculate the window size on load and set the font-size 
once, with no font-size +/- as the window resizes--really this is no different 
than designers setting a base font-size for any element off the bat, except 
that in this case the base font-size is not some arbitrary 12pt/16px/0.9em or 
whatever, it's calculated based on the user's initial window size.

Anyway, a few have commented that this is a bit off-topic, so I'll invite any 
further points/counterpoints offlist!


Jared Stein

   Director of Learning Media Development
   Distance Education, Utah Valley State College, MS 149
   http://www.uvsc.edu/disted/

   phone:  (801) 863 8929
   office:   Learning Center 221d

>>> "Mark Howells" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 3/7/06 10:38 AM >>>
> Hmm, maybe it's just me getting old and wanting my text bigger!
>
> Still one lingering thought: as user displays increasingly become  
> higher resolution, there certainly will be a point--and I imagine  
> not too far down the road--where what is currently readable by most  
> people with the standard layout and font size will not be easily  
> legible to a broad base with 'default' high-res displays. I think  
> your 16x12 example is a good one, but really what would be wrong  
> with setting it thus on a 17" monitor if the page display was more  
> suitable to high-res?

I'd question the logic of that. You have to have really good eyesight  
to be able to use any standard OS at 1600 x 1200 on a 17" display.  
The point is that as a user, you should be able to increase the text  
size if YOU want to, not as the designer forces you to.

My point wasn't about cramming a big resolution into a small window  
space, more that most people I know who use 16x12 are working with  
big monitors and "normal" (c. 1024 - 1200) browser window widths. If  
you're using a small monitor, cranking it up to 1600x1200 and then  
having to use a full-width browser window whilst zooming everything  
to be able to read it, why not just use 1280 or 1024?

If displays do increase in resolution, and remain at 17" or 20", then  
that'll mean that the text will be pretty illegible and 72 dpi web  
images pretty tiny if the resolution goes above 1920! Getting back  
onto the CSS tracks (here on the CSS list!), you'll avoid all kinds  
of pointless, expensive and time-consuming development by defining  
text sizes in such a way as to allow for client-side resizing, rather  
than a nifty technical solution which I, for one, would find annoying  
as a user. I may be Superman and be able to read 10px Geneva on a 15"  
monitor at 1600x1200, but if not, then I'll increase the text size if  
I need to. I'd respectfully say that you're digging yourself into a  
hole which you really don't need!

Regards
Mark Howells
www.permanenttourist.ch

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