I don't have any suggestions, but I have the same problem.  Increasing the browser font size works on the entire page -- except for this reply box I'm typing in right now.  It is *very* difficult to read. 

Maybe you could try Bolding the letters while you type them?  It won't make them bigger, but maybe you could see them a little better.

Double post.

Jan, this should give you immediate relief (if your mouse has a "roller" in between the mouse buttons): 

if you're reading a page where the writing is too small, hold down the CTRL key and scroll the "roller" downwards.  Each time you do this, it increases the font size.  (Rolling upwards decreases the font size.)  I've noticed that this carries over to every web page that I go to, during that session, e.g., until I exit the browser.

Hope this helps, Deb

ETA:  another thing you can do is change the font size permanently through your browser "preferences".  In Firefox, for example, you can click Tools - Options, and click the "Content" button . You can set the "default font size" which will then apply to all web pages every time you launch the browser.  (Different browsers may have the options / preferences pick in different places.)

Debbie, just so you are aware, this does not work in IE6. PBS forums do not respond to IE6 browser type changing at all, whether it be trying the mouse trick, or using the drop down under view to change the type size.

I don't find the font that much different in the Reply box of IE6, so I don't think that is what Jan is using, but I thought I would mention it, just in case it is what she's using.

thanks, good point Sherry.  Sadly, all browsers are different, and some have more "features" than others.

Deb

Oh, the feature works in IE6, just NOT in PBS. I can do that in many other sites, both with the scroll wheel and the drop down, but it has no effect in PBS. The site is now built to accomodate FF & IE7. Other browsers features or differences were left out for economical programming reasons. It just becomes to time cost wasteful at some point to include all browser funtions.

hm, if you're talking about the CTRL+wheel feature, I'm using Firefox and it's working in PBS.  I use it quite a bit, in fact.  Were you talking about the combination of PBS and IE6?

You could try using the magnifyer. Go to start then run type in magnify then click ok. Click ok on the next box that pops up but just minimize the one after that. Then you should have a magnifyer at the top of your screen. It will magnify whatever you run your mouse over. It doesnt do much while your typing but you can use it to check your post before you submit. When your done close down the box you minimized.

What about holding the control key down and hitting the Plus key.  Does that work in your browser?

It works on the rest of the page but not on the reply box on IE. But that is way cool Patty. I am always learning something here.

Debbie, yes, I mean using IE6 on PBS you cannot change the font size using any tool or method. The font can be changed on other sites with the combos & drop down in IE6, but NOT on PBS. The font is the size selected by the site, and is unchangeable. It isn't a problem for me, I could always upgrade to IE7 or switch to FF if it was a problem, but I don't need to, I can see the fonts just fine, I was just saying if Jan is using IE6 she is stuck with the font the size it is.

Patty, the CTRL & + doesn't work in IE6 on any site that I've tried.

Chris, thanks for the suggestion on the magnifier, but for some reason, it shrinks down the size of ALL the windows I may have open at the time. I like to surf & converse on different forums at the same time, and go back & forth. Then when I turn the magnifier off, I have to manually grab each window & stretch them back to full size again. Also, the icons on my desktop get moved out of the way for the magnifier & I end up having to move them back. I guess the magnifier defaults so that nothing is underneath it & can be seen with the magnifier in place. It's a great feature, but it causes a whole level of it's own inconveniences.

I do love using the magnifier to look at images & pictures online. I've been shopping for fun costume jewelry off eBay. The magnifier is great when I want to see details in the pics more closely and I can adjust the magnification.

Really? When I shut down my magnifyer everything goes back to the way it was. I dont have to reset anything manually. Maybe theres something in the settings that I havent seen.