Re: How commonly used are PDFs? (Was: Should we skip HTML?)

["Walker, Arlen P" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>]

      Unfortunately all of the claims seem based on *subjective*
      experience and personal opinion. Does anyone have any
      objective evidence (studies, etc.)? I'm genuinely curious.

I have the reader because nearly every website I visit regularly does some
things in PDF.  Most of them also do HTML versions (though some don't) but
the PDF versions are far more convenient for me, as I download them and
take them home with me to read/study rather than tying up my phone line at
home reading them (as sure a way to antagonize a teenage daughter as I've
found).
Ever tried downloading a set of web pages without paying for special
software to do it for you?

      PS: My own particular bias is to use the PDF format if it
      makes sense for you and your users. <shrug> It's
      just another tool.

Tell it, sister! Everyone who'll tell you that one format or the other is
the *only* way to do it is wrong (not to put too fine a point on it).

Personally, I see HTML's future growing dimmer and dimmer. It's too
limiting
and fragmented to be more than the rough-and-ready file transport tool it
was designed to be. XML may have a brighter future, we'll see.

One thing is certain. No matter what medium you choose to work with today,
in a few years you'll be moving on to something else. Pick the one that
works for your application and don't mind the religious zealots.


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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Opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
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