HN Explorer

Ask HN: How do I normalize text width as a client across devices?

1 points by smrtinsert ↗ HN
I realized recently I find text flow in variable browser sizes very disorienting.

For example: the text on URL X on my phone is a lot easier for me to remember then the same URL on my laptop or desktop browser. This is because I'm always resizing my browser on a desktop or laptop while on my phone, the text is always on the same place when I read it. This is really helpful for remember for some reason.

Is there an extension or some pattern of browsing I can use to make sure my desktop experience is consistent across browsers? Something like "right click, set browser width to 120 ems"?

1 comment

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 4.2 ms ] thread
sargstuff
Other than the obvious, "don't use desktop/laptop while on phone", depends.

"don't use desktop/latptop while on phone" doesn't solve the dynamic advertisements constantly shifting the text on screen.

Really depends on how much want to "do it your self (diy)" or "throw $$ for a solution(s)".

========

A) Attach phone/laptop/desktop to same type display device:

   1) Switch to text console & use lynx as browser (key sequence: <ctrl><alt><f1>)
   (remotely log into phone if want to use phone web browser and/or physically connect phone & forward phone display to laptop/pc)

   2) a mini-portable projector for phone/laptop/desktop.
   set to same resolution/display size for phone/laptop/desktop
   when using browser, then don't resize screen.

   3) external usb led screen would provide for same fixed font experience
   for phone/desktop/laptop

   4) switch to a handheld pc & remotely log into phone/laptop/desktop would
   provide a consistent font/display size experience.
   diy ~$165: beaglebone gaming cape: https://bear24rw.blogspot.com/2013/07/beaglebone-gamingcape.html

   5) Use a chromcast to send phone,laptop,pc to same display.
========

B) $$ solution:

   a) Upgrade to something like aya neo next (https://next.ayaneo.com/ )
      switch to on-line phone service/cloud computing

   b) ditch current phone/laptop/desktop

   c) Use browser to run os : https://ostechnix.com/run-linux-operating-systems-browser/
  
      https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-classic-operating-systems-can-access-browser/

      https://www.os-js.org
=======

C) not totally practical ideas:

   1) servo plotter: https://hackaday.com/2022/01/05/servo-plotter-needs-nothing-exotic/

   2) external ping-pong display : https://hackaday.com/2022/01/04/modular-design-enables-huge-ping-pong-ball-led-displays/

   3) Add voice command request (alexa?) & have software light up keyboard with numbers to push to type in the url to goto: https://hackaday.com/2021/10/30/a-hackable-keyboard-that-even-has-scr
=====