adam wrote:

and what would that consist of?
the article seems to take a radical position
that there is a clear dichotomy between style and content
but style modifies the meaning of content
in the same way that punctuation modifies meaning in text

The CSS for the SPI Labs blog shows what I think are bad decisions. Use of width to force and maintain certain sizes. Clipping element overflow, etc.

However you do bring up a very good point that I was overlooking, that style affects content quite a bit. Yes, HTML now has <strong> instead of <b> to allow the content creator to denote a certain feeling. But how do you denote sarcasm without a style?

You also get major props for using the Penelope chapter in your argument! :-)

I wonder whether chasing the Blue Bird of design that fits every platform is realistic but the efforts to produce flexible UI are very important.

I don't want perfection on every platform. I don't even want support for every platform. What I want is the removal of unnecessary restrictions. "Why do you choice that font size?" "So it will fit in my presized box." "Why does your box have to be that size?" "... well ... because... it just is." "Would it hurt your site to made that padding relative, or to allow the boxes to expand?" "... I'm not sure. I guess not."

You want a great example of unintrusive UI. Take a look at the calendar/clock widget on Google's personal page. It resizes itself and changes what info it the displays based on screen real estate. Sure, in a smaller mode maybe you aren't getting the exact artistic or stylistic effect you wanted.

People need to ask themselves : If what you are creating is required to be viewed a very exacting or particular way to get benefit from it, is HTML really the proper medium?

RE: Publishing on the Web Is Different!