Ask HN: What's your favourite way to make reading on computer screen better?

3 pointskevindeasis3 comments

Reduce contrast between foreground and background closer to paper; purpose-designed themes like Solarized [1] are very handy at this.

Center text in a pleasant typeface, with limited column width, like Medium does [2], or the Firefox reading mode.

[1] http://ethanschoonover.com/solarized

[2] (Example) https://medium.com/@Svenskunganka/interviewing-my-mother-a-m...

This plus overriding fonts with poor legibility or poor screen legibility is what I do too. The linked color scheme is a little too low-contrast for me personally, but the dark grey-on-cream option in mobile safari's reader mode is just about right. White/cream on off-black is also generally pleasant.

Also, a "retina" display makes more of a difference than you'd guess until you use one or notice until you don't have one. I always get an unpleasant period of adaptation when I break out the netbook after several weeks with only a MacBook Pro. Heck, even my phone is easier to read on.

Safari Reader does a great job for many sites/pages. Using Command + to enlarge the font also helps. It's surprising how many sites use light gray type on white background which is very difficult to read.

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