Quote:
Originally Posted by karunaji
You can call it usability but it is also influenced by cultural tradition which makes it somewhat subjective. Even the quotation marks are different in different languages and there are enough differences even between the UK and US typography traditions (in addition to minor linguistic differences). Preferring one over other may show your bias.
By no means, I am saying that good typography is no longer relevant in e-books. But it also doesn't have to copy the same standards that are currently used in print. For example, I question that using a special font for Hagrid's handwritten notes will have the same effect on a reader as in the printed book. Honestly, we don't know it because we don't have enough experience with e-readers yet. In the process of experimenting and assessing the results we may even discover new ways to improve readability.
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I think it may even have more of an effect on the reader to have Hagrid's handwriting in a different font. I think it has the chance to stand out more. It has the chance to show off some of what ePub can do and does well.
All you want is a single font family and you don't seem to care about the reading experience for others. I have read the HP books and I have seen the typography used and I do see that it can translate well on an eink screen. Sure, it won't work well on a Kindle, but you have to blame Amazon for sticking with an obsolete eBook format. Have you ever read the HP books? If you did, did you like the typography or did you say to yourself, "I want Hagrid's handwriting in the same font as in the paragraph above."?
Why do you feel that doing it like it was done in the books (or as close as we can) is a bad thing? It's not a bad thing. In fact, it's a very good thing. It's the sort of thing that can maybe start a trend.