Yay math. But we're not changing. Were you around for us trying out the metric system?
If you really want to start, let's begin with QWERTY keyboards
Paper sizes
131–140 of 206 posts
Re: Paper sizes
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
You shouldn't have said "You appear not to understand the actual utility behind the page width/height ratio used in ISO/DIN page sizes." Turing_Machine wasn't talking about utility at that point. Ve had misunderstood something confusing that you had said, and you basically straight up said "you're dumb".
That was only after he came up with the fluid measurement analogy, which made _no_ sense at all. I'd written this: > The 1:sqrt(2) ratio used is extremely convenient as it scales up and down nicely Then he wrote this: > How are factors of 2 and sqrt(2) "based on metric"? At some level you could say that the U.S. measurements are "based on metric" since almost all of them are defined in terms of metric units. You just…
No, you'd written this:
> They're not part of the metric system, simply based on it. The 1:sqrt(2) ratio used is extremely convenient as it scales up and down nicely
TM thought those two sentences were related. Ve thought you were saying that the factor of sqrt(2) was what made it metric. Ve was correcting something that you hadn't actually said, but which would have been wrong if you had said it.
And then your reply to ver made the same mistake, and you do not get to feel superior about this.
("You appear to not understand" isn't literally calling someone dumb, but that's pretty much what it boils down to.)
I'm not going to make another of the same mistakes you did: I'm tapping out here.
Re: Paper sizes
#133I enjoy working with paper. My favorite notebooks are ISO A4 size because they give me a bit more vertical room and still fit well in my backpacks. The issues that come up with regard to US Letter size paper seem to be: 1) It's not metric -- yes that's true, but A4 is 210mm x 297mm. These numbers seem completely arbitrary and don't take advantage of the metric system. I wish the US was on the metric system, but it's…
> 3) [...] the ANSI paper sizes simply have two aspect ratios alternating as one increases paper size.
In relatively big jumps (of the same proportion), though. Not enough in-between sizes (of the same proportion).
Re: Paper sizes
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
Who was blaming anybody?
You are. I can paraphrase your original comment like so: "I have tried in the past to explain how awesome the ratio is, but it didn't go well because of dumb people." You are correct that you're not blaming anyone for being dumb, but you are blaming others for the explanation not going well.
No, I'm not, and you're putting words in my mouth.
This:
> I have tried in the past to explain how awesome the ratio is, but it didn't go well because of dumb people.
Does not mean the same thing as this:
> I've tried in the past to explain how awesome the sqrt(2) ratio used as the basis of DIN/ISO page sizes is, but there are some very dumb people on HN.
Re: Paper sizes
#135I really wish we'd switch to the ISO-216 sizes. A4 to A3 is so much more enjoyable and painless than Letter to Tabloid. This kind of thing came up often while making posters for campus because it was cheaper to NOT print out all of the posters on Tabloid. Rather, using a mix of Tabloid (for the important poster posting spots) and Letter (for unimportant spots and as flyers for handout). Always ended up having to spen…
Is there are reason that B5 sized paper sheets are only available as imports from Japan in Europe? The strict interpretation of the B series as a packaging format for the A series only seems somewhat archaic.
The A size formats are based around A0 being 1m² in area, the B size formats are based around the short edge of B0 being 1m long. The aspect ratio of both A & B sizes are √2.
Re: Paper sizes
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
That was only after he came up with the fluid measurement analogy, which made _no_ sense at all. I'd written this: > The 1:sqrt(2) ratio used is extremely convenient as it scales up and down nicely Then he wrote this: > How are factors of 2 and sqrt(2) "based on metric"? At some level you could say that the U.S. measurements are "based on metric" since almost all of them are defined in terms of metric units. You just…
No, you'd written this: > They're not part of the metric system, simply based on it. The 1:sqrt(2) ratio used is extremely convenient as it scales up and down nicely TM thought those two sentences were related. Ve thought you were saying that the factor of sqrt(2) was what made it metric. Ve was correcting something that you hadn't actually said, but which would have been wrong if you had said it. And then your reply…
I get your point, and I don't feel superior about it.
My emphasis didn't appear to get through. This is what I'd meant to emphasise.
> You just have to apply the proper factor (which is a decimal, but a terminating one --- unlike the sqrt(2) business).
That's where the "You appear to not understand" comment came from, because they didn't understand it.
I literally have no idea how I could've phrased that better.
I'm also tapping out: I'm in work, and didn't expect to spend so much time at this.
Re: Paper sizes
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
Oh, I agree. I was as dumb as him for participating in it. If I'd any sense, I'd never have engaged with him after it became clear that he was fixated on something completely separate from the actual point.
Well if its any consolation I'm as guilty as you are, and you made plenty of sense to me.
Thank! I really have no idea how I could've explained it better in context, which is the most frustrating thing.
Re: Paper sizes
#138His table at the end purporting to show a plethora of strange aspect ratios is just his rounding errors.
When repeatedly folding paper, the aspect ratio alternates between two numbers. (Consider after two foldings, each side is half the original. Same aspect ratio.) Unless of course you have soulless A series paper, then they are all the same.
Re: Paper sizes
#139Practically, the number of people who need to ever use a paper size other than letter/A4 is minimal. So any elegance is pretty much lost.
Hmmm... I'm not sure that's true.
Looking around my desk (in London, UK) I have
- a few flyers (A5) - much more convenient for people to hand me in the street, big enough to get information across on, not to big to big cumbersome for me and (presumably) cheaper than A4 to print in bulk
- a postcard (A6) from a colleague who went on a lengthy vacation
- business cards - some (but admittedly not all) of which are A8
- and lots of A4 - it's what I print out when I need a hardcopy.
I don't currently have any A3 on my desk, but I've used it in the past when I have complicated diagrams to analyze and want to get it all on one sheet.
I often print out documents as 2 (or sometimes even 4) pages to one A4 sheet to make it easier (and more tree-friendly) to read away from my computer - this works OK because the aspect ratio remains the same.
Re: Paper sizes
#140I personally want Japanese B5 notepads -- they are the perfect dimensions. I ran out a long time ago, and they are hard to come by in the US.
As another poster said, Muji has very affordable ones in a variety of styles (gridded, lined, plain, record). They're very thin and cheap, but I love them and have been using them for years. Alternatively if you're near a Kinokuniya (they have a couple US locations) they have a stationery section with other common brands (e.g. Campus).