[epub] Re: HTML vs. Text

["Paul Myers" <arkham@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alan,

You make some excellent points here.

> The argument for text newsletters always seems to imply
> that HTML format takes longer to read.

I've never heard that. Longer to download, yes, especially if 
they're bloated.

> Every other form of media conforms to high design
> standards.  Call it shallow, say it's the quality of the
> content that counts, say whatever you want...the fact is
> that virtually all successful publications are produced to
> high physical standards.

Hmm. This brings up an interesting question. Are we all 
talking about the same thing?

Offline media doesn't always require high production values. 
Consider many of the specialty newsletters that charge for 
subscriptions, and which focus on highly targeted information. 
Many of those are wildly successful with noting more than 
plain text on white paper. The same is true of most books.

Consumer and general interest magazines are an entirely 
different story. Without the higher production values, they 
die. Perhaps that's where some of the basis for the 
disagreement lies. 

I don't read for entertainment or general interest online. If 
I'm reading it on a web page or in an email, I want hard info. 
Facts, figures, techniques. Time counts.

If someone is viewing to relax, the mindset, requirements and 
expectations are different.

> It's a question of professionalism - or at least perception
> of professionalism.

Exactly. And the standards for professionalism are different 
for different types of products.

> Additionally, the cold fact is that advertisers are going
> to demand the options that HTML allows when making serious
> commitments.  Six line text ads are never going to be a
> high-priced standard form of advertising.

As someone who doesn't accept paid ads, that doesn't matter to 
me much. I can say that I'm more likely to respond to solo ads 
from publishers I respect for their content than any other 
single form of advertising.

> The conclusion seems unavoidable to me - it is largely HTML
> format publications that will make it as major, long term,
> viable media.

That may well be true, when fat pipes and competent email 
clients are the norm. It's moving that way now, but it's not 
there yet.

And we don't dare make the mistake of thinking of online media 
in the same way as we do offline media. As yet, people still 
don't think the same way when they read email as when they 
read magazines or watch TV. The mindset is critical to the 
choice of presentation.


Paul
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