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The main problem that I'm getting to, is just general usage of pixels.
On high resolution monitors (some are up to an insane 9 megapixels), text sized using pixels will be extremely small, and will not grow. For reading most text, the user of the large monitor will increase their DPI so that text becomes larger and more legible for their resolution. This makes all text sized with points on their system grow, which is handy.
DPI does NOTHING to pixel-sized fonts.
So what's wrong with setting the base size as a relative setting? Using ems or % as a base font size can cause the same problem in many browsers, since their default font size is in PIXELS (Firefox is the main one that I know of, since I use it), this means that the text will be scaled with the % or em, yes. But only to a certain size. lets say 17px. At 2056x1600 resolution, you can not easily read such text, even if it may be somewhat larger.
The whole purpose of points is to get things sized properly for everyone based on the size of their monitor, DPI setting of printer/monitor, and resolution.
People should have their DPIs set properly for their monitors so that 1in. on the computer, is 1 in. on the screen. That way developpers can ENSURE the fonts are NOT too small. (if the user still finds it too small there are then numerous ways to increase it)
Points and ems. Use themmmmmmmmmmm
Setting by %age won't achieve what you want to do - the base font size doesn't grow with the screen size.
inches and centimeters and pica are indeed just like points. They are all just multiples of eachother. Pt is the most suitable though just beacuse you don't have to deal with decimals or larger than 2 digit numbers usually. The only thing that irks me about it is that it uses the imperial measurement system, not metric.
Won't achieve what who wants to do
Weren't you asking a question?
It was my understanding that if you specified cm's, the browser should interpret this into the correct DPI for your screen res. Never used them though.
the browser should interpret this into the correct DPI for your screen resI don't really know what you mean. DPI is a setting the computer never knows. It has to rely on the user to specify a proper DPI depending on the resolution and size of the monitor. Many people who are running the default 96 DPI who see something that's supposed to be 1cm will really not be 1cm on the screen if you measure it.
Not sure, like I said never used it. Give it a try and report back. See if 1cm really is 1cm (or almost) in different resolutions.
