Since bug 399664 landed, I noticed that the quality of the text in the drop-down is different on different people's computer. For example, it looks better on shaver's than mine (screenshots coming). We should try to be: a) consistent within an OS b) not look as bad as it does right now on my system

Windows Vista, Aero Glass default theme

Windows Vista, Aero w/o glass

Font is too large, which causes really big dropdowns, I see too much moving in my screen which draws my attention away from typing.

I don't see why bug 406215 is a duplicate now. The problem here seems to be that beltzner's system isn't using sub-pixel rendering, which would mean that this bug is invalid. Anyway, we should go with attachment 290906 [details]. As I was saying in bug 399664, green is bad for accessibility reasons. Underlining and the borders are distracting.

(In reply to comment #4) > *** Bug 406215 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. *** > Ria, am not sure if Bug #406215 is a duplicate of this bug. Bug #406215 intends to address the overall styling issues with the Autocomplete, while this one, as I can see from the definition, intends to address only the Text rendering issue.

(In reply to comment #5) > I don't see why bug 406215 is a duplicate now. The problem here seems to be > that beltzner's system isn't using sub-pixel rendering, which would mean that > this bug is invalid. Well, except for the part where I have smooth fonts turned on, and otherwise this is an entirely fresh and default installation of Windows Vista, I'd totally agree with the INVALID. The purpose of this bug is to ensure that we know what this is going to look like on people's machines, whether or not they have the latest hardware and/or are using the right Windows theme.

(In reply to comment #7) > (In reply to comment #5) > > I don't see why bug 406215 is a duplicate now. The problem here seems to be > > that beltzner's system isn't using sub-pixel rendering, which would mean that > > this bug is invalid. > > Well, except for the part where I have smooth fonts turned on Yeah, smooth, but not sub-pixel. Try to zoom the screenshots and I think you'll see the difference. > The purpose of this bug is to ensure that we know what this is going to look > like on people's machines, whether or not they have the latest hardware and/or > are using the right Windows theme. I have no Vista, but I'm pretty sure sub-pixel rendering (ClearType) is turned on by default.

(In reply to comment #8) > Yeah, smooth, but not sub-pixel. Try to zoom the screenshots and I think you'll > see the difference. Confirmed. When I found the incredibly convoluted preference chain (Personalize > Window Color and Appearance > Open classic appearance properties for more color options > Effects... > select "ClearType" from the dropdown, don't forget to hit "Apply" in the previous window when you're done!) required to turn on ClearType, I ended up with a drop-down that looked like Shaver's. > > The purpose of this bug is to ensure that we know what this is going to look > > like on people's machines, whether or not they have the latest hardware and/or > > are using the right Windows theme. > > I have no Vista, but I'm pretty sure sub-pixel rendering (ClearType) is turned > on by default. Observably false, as my Vista machine did not have it turned on by default. I would guess that it's entirely determined by one's Windows Performance Index rating; my Lenovo laptop, a not-unpopular X61s, doesn't have the world's best graphics card. There's a couple of things wrapped up in the cause for the crappy-looking non subpixel rendering: - when font smoothing but not ClearType is turned on, we get a strange rounding error that causes "a" characters to be offset (this doesn't happen when no font smoothing at all is enabled, screenshot coming) - using font-size: larger for the top line of the drop down seems to be exacerbating things when we don't have sub-pixel rendering turned on I'd love to get Stuart to weigh in here about what of this is caused by Thebes/Cairo ...

Notice how the spacing between "a" and any adjacent character seems better than the "drop down on beltzner's system" screenshot (which is font smoothing on, cleartype off).

Not blocking on this bug for final ship. Would take a safe enough patch if one comes through.

I think this doesn't apply anymore, the font system changed quite a bit, the style changed as well and is changing again. thus even if something would still be reproducible we'd need a new bug to relate to the new behavior.