Subj : Re: How much should I charge for fixed-price software contract?
To   : comp.programming
From : Phlip
Date : Tue Aug 16 2005 08:26 am

blmblm wrote:

> In the very olden days (what, about ten years ago?), one was meant
> to use HTML to define the logical structure of one's document, with
> choice of background color and font size and other such things left
> to the user's browser -- i.e., under the user's control.
>
> How things have changed.
>
> (Based on the very small sample of Mr. Maas's Web pages I've looked
> at:  At least it's nice clean simple HTML, which in these times is
> unusual but (IMO) a nice change.)

Here's clean simple HTML:

http://www.zeroplayer.com/

No stylesheets, fonts, excess graphics, etc. But it sets the fucking 
background color.

On my freshly bought WinXP, that evil crappy whatever Microsoft browser, 
Internet Explorer, has a Colors dialog with a background color picker of 
grey. I am aware Windows uses themes, and the browser has an option to use 
those themes, and it was on by default. I am within one click of getting 
middle grey for the background color (which happens to match Window's 
earlier themes for a client window's default color).

The point: HTML must exert just enough control over your browser so some 
yahoo out there with the "wrong" browser settings won't look at your resume 
and see their own defaults, for the first time ever, and blame you.

The opportunity to control your users' experience is priceless. Don't throw 
it away just to reinforce self-pity.

-- 
  Phlip
  http://www.greencheese.org/ZeekLand  <-- NOT a blog!!!

.