I don't like it one bit. If I had problems with my eyesight, I'd increase the font size on my browser.

Please change it back...

I received some complaints in the past that the font size was too small. So I figured I'd run an experiment for a couple of days and see what the reaction is. It turns out that both CNET and MSN are actually using this same larger font size for their articles, so there must be some value in it. We'll see. I'm actually interested to see if there is a correlation between font size and the tendancy of a user to spend less / longer periods of time browsing each individual page. Eyestrain tends to be a major problem with forum systems, especially when the goal is to browse a significant number of pages in a single session.

Yeah, I don't like the font size either. I liked it much better the other way.

May I ask for you to explain with specific reasons why you don't like it? ie is it just aesthetically unpleasing, does the larger font size require too much scrolling, do you find it's easier or harder on the eyes? Would a comprimise be to keep the larger size for the blog entries and tutorials but revert to the smaller size for the forums?

Umm.. I would say it does require too much scrolling.. and it's definitely harder on the eyes. I guess I'm just used to the smaller font. I'm not really picky about the blog entries and tutorials but I would like to keep the smaller size on the forums.

Agreed with Christina, it takes too much scrolling, and the font size has a "in your face" feeling. I can understand it more for blogs because it's more news-oriented (although I tend to prefer the small size on blogs too).

Believe it or not, even if this font size looks bad, this is more like it. And btw Joey, 90% of the people don't think of increasing the size of their browser font, and end up reading as it is. Look at Devshed or any other professional site out there, its the same standard followed out there.

Though the font size is good, I think trying out a new font face would be not a problem for you, atleast for a day or even an hour. If you have decided to tweak, why not tweak it to the core.

Oh and btw Dani, if you haven't noticed, even the text area for typing on those sites hosts the same font as the font which is used for display. It feels weird to be typing in verdana 8pt, to see your quick reply rendered in 8pt and after refreshing your posts in 10pt verdana. Not really consistent, is it?

sos ... I'm confused by your reply. Are you pro or con? What do you mean by "even if this font size looks bad, this is more like it"?

I'll follow through should I decide to keep the font change, but for now, one change at a time - I don't want complaints about how I'm now using a larger font size in the smaller quick reply box!

A bigger font, against a white background, tends to make the font look "lighter" in color. Smaller fonts look darker, so are more legible. If you're going to up the point size, which is fine, try making the text a shade or so darker.

Leading (space between lines) is also important to readability.

Note: I've worked in printing, and typography, and font technologies, for many years. For these types of issues, I recommend The Complete Manual of Typography.

Online, I recommend A List Apart for style advice. Notice they use a smaller font, but they use black (not gray).

I use firefox, so I guess I'll just make the font size smaller, manually. =/