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08/19/2001 Archived Entry: "19-August-2001 -- The Joy of Plaintext"

The Joy of Plaintext -- "In the meantime, don't let Microsoft turn email into just another of their proprietary standards. Stick to plaintext." (Comments: An interesting perspective on plaintext versus HTML email. I know that you have an opinion on this matter. What do you think?)

Replies: 5 comments

The only HTML e-mail I receive is unsolicited commercial bulk e-mail. So, uh, why would you want to damage your reputation by associating yourself spam?

Posted by JS @ 08/20/2001 12:14 PM EST

If the question is interoperability vs. proprietary, then plaintext and HTML are not on opposite sides.

HTML is plaintext. It is an open standard and not proprietary (for the most part). It can be written and read with vi.

I still prefer plaintext for emails. It is easily readable for everyone and won't leave some people seeing unsightly HTML tags.

But HTML isn't proprietary the way that the .doc format is.

Posted by David Tallan @ 08/20/2001 11:21 AM EST

While plain text is alright for Joe Shmoe, it's definitely too boring in terms of marketing. HTML has the proper layout tools to make products and services more marketing, IMHO.

Posted by Francis @ 08/20/2001 09:00 AM EST

Plaintext 4 life!

It's simple, viewable by everyone on all platforms, and it gets the job done.

A case could be made that plaintext doesn't offer enough to convey emotion, but that case is shut by those who can write well.

Posted by Mike @ 08/20/2001 08:48 AM EST

Hi,

I dont mind html email at all, however, I've recently started getting these 'rich media' emails with sound et all. They are extremely obstructive especially if you're enjoying some MP3's or some other streaming content.

And they only way to stop the sound is to move to another message or better still- hit the delete button...doesnt serve the purpose of the communication..does it?

Varun

Posted by Varun @ 08/20/2001 07:36 AM EST

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