[computerfriend]

Luckily there is a solution to this compatibility mess.

https://useplaintext.email/

[helmholtz]

No.

What if I need to share tabular data? An annotated image with discussion straight after it? Equations? People will have you make everything an attachment but that is much worse in terms of context switching. Absorbing new information is easier when the image is inline with text. Especially after it's been forwarded three times. We NEED formatted email, whether in the guise of a word document or HTML.

[denton-scratch]

> We NEED formatted email

Don't agree. Some people WANT formatted email (marketers). If you want tight control of layout, send me a PDF - that's what it's for.

[Jiocus]

Tabular data isn't hard,

    | Type  | Host/Name     | Value/Points to                 |
    | ----- | ------------- | ------------------------------- |
    | CNAME | s1._domainkey | s1._domainkey.example.com       |
    | CNAME | s2._domainkey | s2._domainkey.example.com       |
    | TXT   | _dmarc        | v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s |

Even .csv formatted stuff fares OK in plaintext.

But I agree with you on context and having data visible right there in the email. It's often the case that people forgo using email as the functional communication technology it is and settles with attachments only and the canned byline.

I want to see full markdown, mermaid and the like in email.

[notRobot]

1. Tabular data in ASCII like that is really bad for accessibility

2. It looks terrible on mobile: https://i.imgur.io/ovzaJDG_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&f...

[Jiocus]

You both have a point, but this formatting issue is because HN doesn't use `overflow: scroll` for pre/code snippets.

Edit: Realized arguing for CSS properties defeats my point on plaintext. You are right, plaintext is problematic.

[Dudeman112]

I'm on mobile. The tabular data did not work, obviously

Ironic

[eviks]

Except it is hard, even your simplistic example fails - I can't read it on one of the most popular devices - mobile phones

Also, it's awful for any serious editing

Also, add a bit of *formatting* in the cells, and all your plain readability stemming from tabular alignment is gone

[zx8080]

> NEED formatted email

Probably, NO.

For business things to share some table data use ascii preformatted tables. They look nice and clean!

Reference an image attached like [1] or [image-name.jpg] (see attached).

Or just attach pdf if needs to pass slides.

What we don't need is a formatted marketing crap!

[notRobot]

ASCII tables are really bad for accessibility, screen readers aren't able to read them well at all.

[eviks]

There is a solution, but plain ugly text is not it, this is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[silverwind]

No image support is a show stopper.

[slondr]

I’d say it’s a killer app actually.

Of course plaintext email does support images, it’s called MIME.