[RCSE] PDF format, LSF mailings

[d. o. darnell]

PDF's offer several advantages.  Many of us create documents using Microsoft Word which features spell checking, inclusion of graphics, annotation, fonts, colors, etc, and in general,all modern text-editing features and facilities.  However,  not everyone has Word or Windows for that matter (in deference to LUNIX users).  PDF's offer a platform-independent distribution scheme using a free reader that anyone can download.  Windows .doc files readily convert to PDFs using ACROBAT and other freeware packages.  You can get the ADOBE READER free so what's the problem?   I't really great for those of us who write documentation and need to easily distibute it on the net.

BUT, in my humble opinion, the idea of (the LSF) emailing PDF documents TO people is silly.  If the LSF has a document it wishes it's members or others to see, it need only publish the document to a web site and then post the fact that such a document is available for downloading.  Web sites are cheap. Disk space is cheap.

PDFs should be a PULLed item:  NOT PUSHED.  If we want it, we'll download it!  That's the whole idea of the Internet.  We go where we want and read what we want to. I don't really like anyone sending me anything.  Those who copy and email stuff over and over and over (like a lot of stuff on this forum) need to get a clue!
We waste enough time and space already.   Leave it up to the individual to download the document should he wish to read it.  Otherwise, it's just junk mail.

Just my opinion....

D. O. Darnell
** World's  Smallest Airtronics Dealer **
(918) 481-5855 - evenings
http://www.dozone.net/airtronics_equipment.htm