Comments on: Seriously, let’s make fonts not suck! http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/ Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:30:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Randy Kramer http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-36739 Randy Kramer Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:51:30 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-36739 This may be just a little OT, but I hope that font size in points always reflects the (standard) size when printed on paper. And, as I think somebody else mentioned, many of us have a reasonable feel for the size of a 12 point font on paper. To state it another way, I want to choose my font sizes (in documents/applications I might print) to create "standard" type sizes when printed. Then, if I need to, I might magnify (zoom) in or out to get easily readable sizes on the display. Like I (almost) said, I'm not sure anybody is advocating anything different. (I guess, among other things, this means I support the poster who suggested that point sizes be shown on the font style/size selector. This may be just a little OT, but I hope that font size in points always reflects the (standard) size when printed on paper.

And, as I think somebody else mentioned, many of us have a reasonable feel for the size of a 12 point font on paper.

To state it another way, I want to choose my font sizes (in documents/applications I might print) to create “standard” type sizes when printed. Then, if I need to, I might magnify (zoom) in or out to get easily readable sizes on the display.

Like I (almost) said, I’m not sure anybody is advocating anything different. (I guess, among other things, this means I support the poster who suggested that point sizes be shown on the font style/size selector.

]]> By: Tamara http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35905 Tamara Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:24:19 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35905 Well, I'm in favor of OO for desktop applications, C is harder to maintain than C#. Here are some numbers for my aging system (PII 300, 64Mb ram*): This is my low-tech test of the differences between C and C# as it pertains to this prototype. Differences in the program should be minimal, as they are of relative complexity. Of most concern is how long it takes for Mono to start up and how much memory it takes. I simply used 'time' ("real time") and hit Alt-F4 as soon as I saw the window finish displaying. Aaron: 3.5-5.0s / 14,120kb rss Mathias: 1.5-2.0s / 7,612kb rss on a Intel Celeron D 346 (3GHz) with 512mb, i got these results (running over ssh on a home network): Aaron: 1,1-1.4s / 16,000kb rss Mathias: 1.0-1.2s / 10,244kb rss * - Currently running XFCE4, not Gnome. So, it's fair to say that the C# prototype takes twice as long to load and twice the RAM on the older computer but only slightly longer ( Well, I’m in favor of OO for desktop applications, C is harder to maintain than C#.

Here are some numbers for my aging system (PII 300, 64Mb ram*):

This is my low-tech test of the differences between C and C# as it pertains to this prototype. Differences in the program should be minimal, as they are of relative complexity. Of most concern is how long it takes for Mono to start up and how much memory it takes. I simply used ‘time’ (“real time”) and hit Alt-F4 as soon as I saw the window finish displaying.

Aaron: 3.5-5.0s / 14,120kb rss
Mathias: 1.5-2.0s / 7,612kb rss

on a Intel Celeron D 346 (3GHz) with 512mb, i got these results (running over ssh on a home network):

Aaron: 1,1-1.4s / 16,000kb rss
Mathias: 1.0-1.2s / 10,244kb rss

* – Currently running XFCE4, not Gnome.

So, it’s fair to say that the C# prototype takes twice as long to load and twice the RAM on the older computer but only slightly longer (

]]> By: dré http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35796 dré Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:08:30 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35796 @Ho Chi Minh: The first mock just shows small/large while the second shows the aczual size. Please see Sven Neumann's comment [1] why showing the size could make sense. Furher discussion should better happen on bugzilla instad of hijacking abock's blog. [1] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=378338#c16 @Ho Chi Minh: The first mock just shows small/large while the second shows the aczual size. Please see Sven Neumann’s comment [1] why showing the size could make sense.

Furher discussion should better happen on bugzilla instad of hijacking abock’s blog.

[1] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=378338#c16

]]> By: Vytas http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35578 Vytas Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:55:48 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35578 @ken: if those units are inaccurate, lets make them pixels, milimeters or whatever, but leave them in the dialog somewhere @ken: if those units are inaccurate, lets make them pixels, milimeters or whatever, but leave them in the dialog somewhere

]]> By: Ho Chi Minh http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35340 Ho Chi Minh Sat, 03 Feb 2007 02:41:10 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35340 @dre: I love your mockup, it looks simpler and more supportive for disabled users. I am just wondering if we should users know the size of the font? @dre: I love your mockup, it looks simpler and more supportive for disabled users. I am just wondering if we should users know the size of the font?

]]> By: ken http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35300 ken Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:21:34 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35300 I guess "without a precise correspondence with reality" is the new euphamism for "wrong". :-) I am a bit confused by the claim that numbers don't force you to guess, but showing the actual size does. I guess “without a precise correspondence with reality” is the new euphamism for “wrong”. :-)
I am a bit confused by the claim that numbers don’t force you to guess, but showing the actual size does.

]]> By: yosch http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35202 yosch Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:20:16 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35202 very cool work :-) You might want to take a look at this fontManagement spec for more ideas https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FontManagement. This wiki entry has some more ideas and links: http://live.gnome.org/fonts very cool work :-)
You might want to take a look at this fontManagement spec for more ideas https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FontManagement.

This wiki entry has some more ideas and links:
http://live.gnome.org/fonts

]]> By: P http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35163 P Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:42:06 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35163 Just a usability engineering remark: Plus (positive) is always to the right and to the top, minus (negative) is to the left or to the bottom. At least in most parts of the word, except maybe right-to-left countries. Anyways, nice mockup and a good idea Aaron! P Just a usability engineering remark: Plus (positive) is always to the right and to the top, minus (negative) is to the left or to the bottom. At least in most parts of the word, except maybe right-to-left countries.

Anyways, nice mockup and a good idea Aaron!

P

]]> By: Hongli Lai http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35127 Hongli Lai Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:31:28 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35127 Since the and - buttons are only for increasing and decreasing the font sizes, why not put font sizes, in increasing order, in a list box with *scroll bars*? I think that's a lot more consistent with the rest of the system. The and - buttons look a bit weird imo, but if you use a scrollbar then it should be clear that you're able to choose from many choices. Since the and – buttons are only for increasing and decreasing the font sizes, why not put font sizes, in increasing order, in a list box with *scroll bars*? I think that’s a lot more consistent with the rest of the system.

The and – buttons look a bit weird imo, but if you use a scrollbar then it should be clear that you’re able to choose from many choices.

]]> By: dré http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/comment-page-1/#comment-35121 dré Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:05:16 +0000 http://abock.org/2007/02/01/seriously-lets-make-fonts-not-suck/#comment-35121 Please check the two mockups I have made: first attempt[1] and another one with fonts size displayed[2]. Suggestions welcome! Thanks, dré [1] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=81709 [2] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=81711 Please check the two mockups I have made: first attempt[1] and another one with fonts size displayed[2]. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
dré

[1] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=81709
[2] http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=81711

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