Most seasoned web designers will tell you that text renders better on Mac browsers than on
their PC equivalents, because the text is anti-aliased (meaning jagged edges are softened by
the addition of intermediately colored pixels around the characters) as shown in Figure 4-1. It
is certainly fair to say that those who build mostly with Mac browsers are often disappointed
when they review their work over on the office PC.
Often, however, what’s actually happening is the font they specified in the CSS isn’t available
on the PC, and so the display defaults to the next available specified font, which can carry
less clarity in some cases. However, it could also have something to do with that PC’s basic settings.
The ClearType setting is a valuable asset for PC users, and is a preference local to a particular
machine. In other words, it isn’t something you the designer can dictate through your
design. It is worth considering ClearType though, as although it makes your PC-based browsing
more enjoyable, it can also give a false impression of how your PC audience will view your work.
Basically, ClearType enhances the horizontal resolution available for rendering text
through software such as web browsers, resulting in a much clearer display of text on liquid
crystal display (LCD) screens. The benefits of ClearType rendering are less obvious for users
with CRT displays, but still worth experimenting with. The outcome is less-pixilated characters,
bringing the browser display a little closer to the smooth perfection of printed text.
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