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Inside Mac Games Volume 4 #5 & #6
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IMG 37 MayJune 1996.iso
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MacSense
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MacSense June 1996
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MacSense June 1996.rsrc
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1996-05-14
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Greg Kramer's “Cerebreality” article on flaming was truly
outstanding. He expressed exactly what I've been feeling for
the last several months. Like Greg Kramer, I've learned not to
react to online rants, and have even stopped myself from posting
what, in a more civilized world, would have been a completely
called-for rebuttal. It's just not worth it.
If I may, I'd like to propose an additional theory. I think that most
Internet users are inclined to misunderstand a message because
they scan text instead of reading it carefully in order to save on
connection charges. I have no statistics to prove it, but I suspect
that the majority of AOL members and the like have not been ini-
tiated into the joys of reading and composing messages offline.
Consequently, as Greg Kramer stated, possessing writing skills
does not guarantee that you will be understood; I'd go as far as to
say that a well-crafted message is more likely to be misinter-
preted, because a quick scan of it would not bring out the little
nuances and witticisms (which would probably be beyond some
of these people anyway).
Kramer's article ought to be included in newsgroup FAQs as
required reading. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone reads those
things. Besides, even if they did, they'd most likely take offense
and flame him again!
Raul Regalado, via America Online
Wow. What a great commentary. Greg Kramer hits on this topic
with such rationality and common sense. I couldn't agree more
with what was written, and his story worries me about the
future of society on the ’Net, because for some reason, every-
body likes to flame. It is ridiculous, and yet it continues daily.
Thanks for the informative article. I will pass around a copy for
others to read...
Ken Schwartzreich, via the Internet
 
 
I've just seen your publication for the first time. Wow! You've
really done a wonderful job, not only with the content, but also
with the online aspects.
I have a question: the biggest problem in Web design right now
seems to be how to optimize text in online graphics. The text in
your graphics is very sharp, and I was wondering if you use any
particular techniques to go about optimizing it. I'm sure the entire
Web community would be very interested in this. I've seen a
number of sites that deal with low-memory graphics and cross-
platform designing, but I have yet to find a site that discusses
optimal text graphics.
Well, thanks again, and I'll be sure to include your publication on
my home page hotlist. Keep up the great work!
John Cady, via the Internet
Thanks for your compliments! To make our online text, we use
Adobe Photoshop's text tool, with anti aliasing. Anti-aliasing
smooths the edges of the text, approximating colors and giving
the text a "blurred" look which removes jagged edges. This,
however, is not enough to get "optimized" text. You really have
to search, through trial and error, for a font that reads well at
a small size with anti aliasing. Not all do. Times Roman at a small
size and anti-aliasing will be very hard to read. You're better
off with bolder, san-serif fonts that have a heavy weight—but
whose internal spaces (i.e., the inside of an "o") remain well
defined. — ED.
 
 
Thanks for a great product/service! I have been reading the
online mag for the past year or so, and it keeps getting better.
I am a subscriber to the CD-ROM version, and it is by far the
best mag I have read (paper, electronic, or other!).
Your innovations in bringing current Mac topics to the masses are
creative and fun for the readers, and your shareware library (on
the CD) is indispensable. It saves many hours of hunting and
downloading OS updates, etc.
Thanks again, I look forward to the next issue!
Tom Morrissey, via the Internet
 
We'd like to hear from you. If you'd like to comment on
anything you've read in MacSense, please send us email
at MacSenseED@aol.com. We reserve the right to edit
letters for length and clarity.