Hacker News Reader

Comment by acgourley | Hacker News Reader

Although I'm sure it's simply because I'm used to it, I like the current design better.

The current design is functional and minimal. It's just what's needed and no more.

But I'd say it lacks conveniences. Like text set to 'reading-size', for instance.

I find that the text size is perfect in Firefox. It's crappy in Opera, Epiphany and Chrome, but it looks great in Firefox.

Just curious: why is font-size such an issue?

I mean, I like my size how I like it - and adjust it all the time ( cntl/cmd -/+ keys) as I move from site to site or use windows of different sizes. [And have even set a hot-key combo to toggle on/off Safari's "Zoom text only" feature.]

I've been told that only the geekiest 1% of population are even aware of the possibility of text zoom, but for us... doesn't anybody else tweak on the fly all the time?

I actually tweak everything around me all of the time. It's a big part of what I am as a person.

I do drive-by tweaking like this as well. Gangsta tweaking.

It's missing that extra "superficial hipster" touch, though, you have to admit.

Why do you feel the need to tar the person who offered this as a "superficial hipster"?

My reading comprehension might be off here, but I think guywithabike was pointing out what he thought I wasn't. As in, making a compliment.

"I like the current design better."

"It's missing that extra "superficial hipster" touch, though, you have to admit."

Seems pretty clear.

I think you're quoting two different HNers.

Yes, I was, for context.

I didn't call godDLL a superficial hipster -- I said (with, I hope, abundant sarcasm) that Hacker News was missing the superficial hipster touch. I said so because the re-skinned version feels A) superficial (the primary difference is simply the change in typeface), and B) hipster (using Helvetica for the sake of Helvetica). Is it ok if I don't like it? I hope I'm not breaching protocol here -- that would be awful.

If godDLL is offended, I'll promise to next time better structure my criticism with kind words and phrases of subtle encouragement rather than snark and sarcasm.

Not offended, and differences of taste aside -- quite the opposite -- happy to know my English is good enough to spot sarcasm when I see it.

His capitals seem too large...

I also like the current design better. The larger headers in the redesign make it harder to scan. Your eyes have to 'scan' more.

And Helvetica (Arial) is used mostly for large signs. And this is not without reason. Verdana on the other hand was design for readability on screens.

Don't underestimate simple designs. They can contain a lot of tweaking.

12px Verdana measures 'squinty' on a high-rez display, like that of a new MacBook Air. I always had trouble reading those tiny drug inlays, because they are printed with what looks like ants. And if you blow the page up, it don't look so great -- it was optimized for screen and small sizes.

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