[DL] PDF Material (was: Legion of Rabid Fans)

["Heivilin, Jim" <banzai@missouri.edu>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Danielle [mailto:dactyle@looksmart.com]
> Subject: Re: [DL] Legion of Rabid Fans
<snip>
> pdf files of material? are you nuts?  at my current rate I 
> don't trust the speed of technology to wait for me to get 
>
Personally I *like* pdfs.  Small compact files (compared to the original
documents in whatever publishing program they used to lay them out).  They
(usually) print out as well if not better than said source files.  

> around to reading them -I'll have to print them out and bind 
> them myself (a naturally inhibiting process).  The coolest 
>
Take them to your local Kinko's.  Ask for coil binding.  About $5 (so far
regardless of page count, I've had 350pg done as well as 75pg, same price)
and it lays open on the desk without a problem.  (of course $5 may be tough
for poor student types)  

> thing about printed matter that the computer still hasn't 
> beat is that stability. (yeah fire, & flood! an all that but 
> how well do you think your cd's,zips, computer, & printer 
> would fare?! -exactly!)  The pretty cover, the art, the 
>
Perhaps not well but compare volume.  In Exhibit A we have sixteen 128 page
supplements plus two 300 page core books (2,648 pages), oh about two feet
high.  Weighing how much?  In Exhibit B we have two 640Mb CDs, about and
eighth of an inch high, weighing 12 ounces.  

The only limiting factor (beside having a nice new crisp book in your hands,
and yes, I prefer to read my books in hardcopy rather than onscreen) is
download time over modem connections and access to CD burners.  But then I'm
spoiled in both regards by access at work.  

And to diffuse any angry arguments, I don't mean to attack your position,
just to offer a differing opinion and it's reasoning.  Oh, and it won't look
so cool on the bookcase either. *sigh*

Jim H.