Wullie (Programmer) Sep 24, 2003
Can you explain to me the difference between showing the link to a page or including HTML in an e-mail? Either way code can be executed, but in an e-mail a lot more is likely to be filtered so you are actually more safe than visiting a url so your argument is useless.
A link is just a normal
type of thing.
I format my newsletters in Plain text and if someone wants to see all the Pics, they can click on the link to get the graphical version.
My plain text email sent out to users is 2 kb. And html email is 24 kb. When I have users that pay per minute to be online on a dial-up connectin in Europe, they rather download a 2 kb message telling them to the point < hey this is new > than see 20 graphics trying to download to see the same thing.
Now take 2 kb and times that by 5,000 subscribers. How much data has now been processed by your server?
Now, take the 24kb email and times that by 5,000 subscribers. Which sounds better to you when you are being charged for bandwidth?
Now imagine a newsletter list with 10,000 subscribers; 15,000; 100,000 .
You know none of the background issues here, you don't know if the user is asked what format to receive the e-mail or not.
Dont need to know. HE should know that there are many users who do not have mail readers that process HTML. PINE for instance. Many users are still using PINE to read email. My university still uses pine because of all the troubles that students were causing with HTML enabled mail readers.
Always design for the lowest commond denominator. EVEN if 1% of your subscribers use a text based email program, then YOU should scrap all plans for HTML email
In fact, on my server, all HTML email are rednered into Plain text when received. With web bugs, image tracking, cookies and crap embeded into html emails, you are never "safe" from prying eyes. I dont want someone to know when I opened or read my email.
If this was a potential risk situation then I would see your point but HTML e-mail? Do you actually understand why clients allow HTML e-mail?
Blame Microsoft. In fact there are many people who are suggesting to MS to get rid of HTML rendering in their outlook programs because it opens the application up to potential security risk. You have heard of Melissa, SWEN, SOBIG and other viruses right? What do they do? Hijack your address book in Outlook applications.
My university has disallowed the use of Outlook/Outlook Express and Eudora as well as Netscape Mail on their lab computers because of the potential for virus and other risks.
Email is a PLAIN text medium.
HTML is for the web.