General opinion for those that search for information

[edemiere]

Is anyone else besides me irritated at this big move to use .pdf files for the simplest of documents?

Don't get me wrong, a .pdf file is handy for a 50 page document like my motherboard manual or something, but now you got every Tom, Dick and Harry putting the simplest of text in .pdf format.

Someone help me understand this fascination. Like when I need to read 2k worth of text about something I am researching and end up have to download a 2mb .pdf file in order to read it. I mean, if it was just a text webpage it would take me about .5 seconds through HTTP, but instead I have to wait for acrobat to load into my browser and for the file to download.

I just don't get it and I don't think I ever will. Anyone else out there feel my pain?

Cheers!

 

[mjinks61]

Personally, I have a 3 meg connection to my isp, so the additional download time doesn't bother me as much as the time spent for my computer to have to open up Acrobat Reader each time a pdf is used.

I do agree with you however, that the use of pdf's in the place of small and simple text is over doing it.

Maybe someone is having to rationalize the cost of buying Acrobat.

Good luck, and Happy Computing

 

[linney]

I do notice many of those PDF file links have a "View as Html" option for you to select in the link.

 

[JohnVogel]

That's one of my biggest pet peeves, I don't know why so many people are using PDF files, but I agree, it's annoying, and (in most cases) totally unneccesary. I think, from now on, when I go to a site and have to load a pdf file in order to see something simple (like a 2 page document that can easily be done in Word or html) I am going to write to the web administrator, and ask them why they felt it neccesary. Perhaps if enough people write, complaining about this, this trend will stop... who knows? Personally, I don't see any need to use PDF files, anytime, even for a 100 page document, rtf or doc works just fine, and the download size isn't really THAT much different, IMHO.

The Computer Wizard

http://www.thecompuwizard.com

Brookneal, VA 24528

 

[bcastner]

The blame should lie solely on Adobe's part for making such bloatware. The original reader was 20% of the size of the newest. It does help to tell it not to check for updates every time it launches, but what the world could use is a small, fast .pdf freeware viewer.

 

[Bowhunter]

I agree with you that the pdf. file thing is very irrating. I got a document that was pdf format. And of course i didn't have acrobat and had to download that. Which took forever cause i only have and only can afford dial-up. And the thing is i have never used acrobat since then. I don't know what the fasination is with it either. Just my 2 cents Also, why isn't there a forum for Home Edition also? Or does it go hand in hand. Thanks in advance for the info

 

[linney]

Bowhunter,

I have often seen it stated on this forum that it is for Technical Users and IT Professionals and that XP Home is mainly for private home use, and therefore not included as a forum topic. You can get some idea from this page.

http://www.tek-tips.com/supportus.cfm

You are correct in your opinion that Home and Pro are very similar. I guess you have just run into a site policy by the owner and creator of this site.