Posted by K A Nuttall on 11/14/06 13:13

Dylan Parry wrote:

> Yes and no. 100% is the same as the keyword "medium", but unlike
> that keyword it works properly across different browsers. It also
> /fixes/ an "em" bug that shows in Internet Explorer (<=6 not sure
> about 7) that means font sizes scale badly.

Thanks. That's a new one on me. I'll have to look into that further.

> No. It's what *designers* with 20-20 vision want. "Many" users
> aren't blessed with such perfect vision - I'm certainly not, and
> I'm only 24.

Well, of course there's no point designing a site with writing too
small for the majority to read comfortably. Common sense dictates that
certain page elements have to be big enough on a default set-up.


>> Using a default size of 'medium' works on the assumption that
>> most people are using the default of a medium=16px typeface.
>> Setting the page container to 62.15% reduces that to 10px.
>
> You can't assume this.

I can't assume it? Don't most people use Internet explorer with a
default font of Times 16px? I didn't say everyone has it, just most
people. It's just a starting point. The trick is to then accomodate
everyone else as best you can.

> Again, the *designer's* specification. What do designers know
> about usability? From what you're saying, SFA.

Designers know about design. It's up to the developer to say what does
and does not work, and adjust the design accordingly, IMO.

> Do you think that said user will hang around and try to read the
> page, or are they going to shout "grr" and leave your page?

If the choice of font is too small, then yes. But hopefully common
sense prevails.

--
K A Nuttall
www.yammer.co.uk
Re-type the e-mail address how it sounds, remove .invalid

[Back to original message]