RE: PDF vs. HTML

["Swallow, William" <WSwallow -at- courion -dot- com>]

::  From a web standpoint, [PDF's] major flaw is that it requires a 
::  plug-in -- one
::  the user probably has, but for some of the finer features 
::  it may require an
::  update. That can be a problem for a designer, but it's not an
::  insurmountable one.

>From a Web standpoint, requiring the Reader is a bit of a drawback. But,
HTML has the same drawback... you need a browser to view it. Otherwise it's
just a bunch of text and markup.

I agree with Arlen for the most part. PDF is a widely misunderstood
information medium, and has as many bonuses and drawbacks as HTML. Both
require a viewer application. Both have some degree of
formatting/functionality ceilings. But, I do think that it's up to the
author/designer to make both technologies accessible. We can damn and praise
these formats all we want, but it's not the technology that's to fault, but
rather the designer.

***************** 
BILL SWALLOW 
Technical Writer 
C O U R I O N   C O R P O R A T I O N 
1881 Worcester Road 
Framingham, Mass.  01701 
T E L * 508-879-8400 x316 
F A X * 508-879-8500 
www.courion.com 
***************** 

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