Re: WHY does the apple II have higher resolution horizontally?

[YourName@YourISP.com (Your Name)]

In article <4a487eb6-47ba-4478-922a-6cd1d8e15e97@googlegroups.com>,
gids.rs@sasktel.net wrote:
> 
> I agree.  A lot more detail can be taken in from a sideways glance 
> than an up-and-down glance.
> 
> But, then that begs the question.  Why are books written for 
> horizontal reading but almost all books themselves are vertical?

I don't know how true it is, but apparently people can read easier /
quicker when the lines of text are shorter because they don't lose their
place vertcally on the page as easily when going back to the start of the
next line, which is why magazines and newspapers use multiple columns that
are fairly thin. When the lines of text are longer, it's easier to lose
that vertical positioning.

Of course, it could simply be a by-product of when books were handwritten
- a vertical page means your hand doesn't have to travel as far
horizontally.

A wide page would also have caused problems in the days of the typewriter
since the typist would have to reach further and wait longer for the drum
to return for the next line.