[redmenace]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061015-7992.html

They have completely out manuevered adobe! Amazing.

[aldo_14]

Shame the bastards keep trying to cripple OpenDocument.

[Herra Tohtori]

In response, Adobe went to EU regulators earlier this year to ask that they bar Microsoft from including XPS support in Windows Vista, fearing that the ability to create XPS documents "for free" could cut into their ability to sell PDF creation software to Windows users.

Aside from the fact that OpenDocument is available for free like aldo mentioned, what is stopping people from making PDF files for free?

OpenOffice can export files to PDF format, and it's free...   Also, for example my printer/scanner software can make PDF documents from any scan, but it's not actually free, it came with the printer-scanner, which came along with the computer when I bought it, so in a way I did pay for it.


Anyway, it's good to have some options to PDF files. I don't like them very much, and since they are quite common nevertheless, they are a bit of a PITA. We'll just see how they pull the file type off and how many security breaches they enable with it. I know it sounds impossible to do that, but hey, we're talking about Microsoft here. The firm that can make image files be a security risk - WMF, anyone?


I'll wait and see how this file type turns out to be until I start cheering. What are the odds that it'll work without problems on other platforms than Windows Vista? Can it be used by Linux or Mac users? Remains to be seen, I suppose.

[Bob-san]

Cool... microsoft is being forced to be more consumer and market friendly... took em long enough!

[Colonol Dekker]

Just because the pressures there i dont think Micr$oft will cave that quickly.

[Deepblue]

Just because the pressures there i dont think Micr$oft will cave that quickly.

I see what you did there! You switched the s with a doller sign! How clever of you!

[Unknown Target]

Oh hush.

And anyway, good for them. I hate the PDF format - the default Adobe reader is so amazingly bloated that I'm afraid to open web pages with a PDF file embedded, for fear of crashing my browser because of the slowness. It honestly is one of the worst programs I have used, especially considering how little it can do (view and save as, basically?).

Anyway, hopefully Microsoft's will be a lot cleaner and easier to manipulate.

[BlackDove]

Just because the pressures there i dont think Micr$oft will cave that quickly.

I see what you did there! You switched the s with a doller sign! How clever of you!

It would have been clever if he didn't omit an "o".

Oh wait, it'd still be stupid.

Damn.

[redmenace]

Still PDF has been a very effective format. I took a 100mb Published document and created a PDF that was only 200kb. It is a life saver.

[Colonol Dekker]

Just because the pressures there i dont think Micr$oft will cave that quickly.

I see what you did there! You switched the s with a doller sign! How clever of you!

It would have been clever if he didn't omit an "o".

Oh wait, it'd still be stupid.

Damn.

Dont judge me

[BlackDove]

Still PDF has been a very effective format. I took a 100mb Published document and created a PDF that was only 200kb. It is a life saver.

No doubt, but if the Microsoft's ass format can do the same thing and comes free, then there really is no comparison. Free **** always wins over something that costs money.

Just because the pressures there i dont think Micr$oft will cave that quickly.

I see what you did there! You switched the s with a doller sign! How clever of you!

It would have been clever if he didn't omit an "o".

Oh wait, it'd still be stupid.

Damn.

Dont judge me

I must, for you lack apostrophes.

[redmenace]

Well Adobe Acrobat Pro still does of extra stuff including electronic certificates and viewing restrictions. The new format would have to adopt these to be a comparison.

[Colonol Dekker]

O'k'a'y, h;o;w;s; t'h'i's/..........

[BlackDove]

Well Adobe Acrobat Pro still does of extra stuff including electronic certificates and viewing restrictions. The new format would have to adopt these to be a comparison.

Not PDF related, doesn't factor into the equation. We're talking just formats. Acrobat Pro and all its additional stuff can go to hell.

[Prophet]

Free **** always wins over something that costs money.

Normally, that's true. But when MS is offering something better for free, I rather prepare myself by loading .357 with silver bullets and having some flasks of holy water handy. Just in case.

[BlackDove]

A sound decision.

[redmenace]

Well Adobe Acrobat Pro still does of extra stuff including electronic certificates and viewing restrictions. The new format would have to adopt these to be a comparison.

Not PDF related, doesn't factor into the equation. We're talking just formats. Acrobat Pro and all its additional stuff can go to hell.

But Adobe shouldn't act like it is in dire straights exactly.

[perihelion]

News flash, I'm sure, but there have been free PDF writers out there for years.  Legal ones.  CutePDF comes to mind.

[redmenace]

PDF Creator is what I use. It is great.

[Flipside]

I find PDF quite useful, but Acrobat Reader doesn't really do it any favours, since it's actually a complete sod to arrange matters so you're not having to drag the page all over the screen to read it.