I ought to get you guys some short skirts and pompoms

Thanks,

Can't stand PDFs.  I keep some around for the occasional reference, but by and large I can't stand the very format itself.  It was never designed to do what it's being asked to do, and it shows.  

PDF was supposed to be a format for transmitting documents electronically to printers and publishers.  It's not designed for screen reading, and serves poorly as a more universal format as a result.  But Adobe and the tech indistry have insisted on pushing it as one, and the addition of DRM functionality made it even more appealing to business interests.

Worse still, most PDF producers insist on worsening the problem by essentially laying out their PDFs exactly like books, down to multi column formats that become a bitch to read on the screen.

I would very much like to see some new, more screen read friendly format become the vogue.  Some kind of compressed single file HTML archive system perhaps.  There's no reason to stick with a print-type book layout for screen reading, when a more continuous and self adjusting format would be much more practical, and would also allow one to more easily do things like transferring the archives to PDAs for easier reading.  Hell, there are already formats like this existing, Microsoft uses a compressed HTML archive for it's helpfiles now.

Until then, I will continue to buy good old fashioned print books.  And I think that until a more suibtable electronic distribution format becomes more widely accepted, PDF sellers would do well to consider utilizing services like Lulu, and offering print versions of their material.

Quote from: pigames.netI ought to get you guys some short skirts and pompoms

Thanks,

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:

trust me when I say that you wouldn't want to see that.

Quote from: J ArcaneWorse still, most PDF producers insist on worsening the problem by essentially laying out their PDFs exactly like books, down to multi column formats that become a bitch to read on the screen.

I fricken' hate "screen layout" PDFs. Gimme good old fashioned portrait, thanks.

Quote from: Caesar SlaadI fricken' hate "screen layout" PDFs. Gimme good old fashioned portrait, thanks.

me too. Every now and then I print something off and it really sucks when it is in screen layout.

I prefer to have real books, but when that isn't possible, I don't mind printing out a PDF (since I have the equipment to do it quickly and bind it), but I hate it when there is a background, it's oddly formatted, and the graphics are pixelated.

I prefer print, but PDF is okay.  I'm starting to warm up to it.

However, my problem with PDFs is that they attempt to look oike gaming books.  I really like the artless versions of some forge games that are easy to read on my PDA.  It's much more convenient for me to use that at the table than a laptop.

Quote from: Mcrow:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:

trust me when I say that you wouldn't want to see that.

It would be criminal. Sorry Mike.

Now me, I have the legs for it....

Bill

I recently purchased my first laptop, and have really enjoyed PDFs now that I have a suitable way to read them. Now, when I just had a desktop, that was a problem.

I love them.  They're cheaper, take up less space and are much more distributable

Quote from: HinterWeltIt would be criminal. Sorry Mike.

Now me, I have the legs for it....

Bill

Not me. Gnarled, old tree stumps. I'd be teh scary!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceNot me. Gnarled, old tree stumps. I'd be teh scary!

-clash

yeah, and I'm built like a chubby Popeye.

I love PDFs. I've bought loads over the years (just checked my account on one of the PDF distributors and noticed that it's over $250! Not much by some people's standards perhaps, but a lot for me). I've also found that that PDFs are an excellent way for a company to get me to buy the print version of their product. I can honestly say that I've bought, where possible, the print version of every PDF I've liked (or plan to in the case of my latest PDF purchase - but I've printed that out myself in the meantime).

And, yes, I own a laptop - although, I've not been able to use it at the gaming table for a while now (only just got back into the GM's chair with a new group and I'm not too sure how they'd take to me using a laptop).

Quote from: dpmcalisterI love PDFs. I've bought loads over the years (just checked my account on one of the PDF distributors and noticed that it's over $250! Not much by some people's standards perhaps, but a lot for me). I've also found that that PDFs are an excellent way for a company to get me to buy the print version of their product. I can honestly say that I've bought, where possible, the print version of every PDF I've liked (or plan to in the case of my latest PDF purchase - but I've printed that out myself in the meantime).

And, yes, I own a laptop - although, I've not been able to use it at the gaming table for a while now (only just got back into the GM's chair with a new group and I'm not too sure how they'd take to me using a laptop).

Welcome to The RPG Site DP!

Yeah, I just checked mine the other day and it was about $300. Thats a whole lot of PDFs.

I like both. I used to not like PDF's but as my dislike of clutter has grown and squashed my former dislike of PDF's.

The utility and ease of a single burned CD with many, many purchased PDF's (or gifted by friends who wrote the things ) is very wonderful.


Though even with a laptop actual /in play/ use varies a lot--some are excellent, I can print relevent and important bits I absolutly need. Others less so well optimized for that ease of use.