Do you print out PDFs?

[Nate the great]

A RANT
The standard size for PDFs is 8.5 by 11 with 10 frakking point font. I hate it! I'm trying to read the document on a 12" screen. I cannot read the damn thing at less than full magnification, and that cuts off about a third of a page. I've always wanted to meet the sadist that set this standard.

But it occurred to me today that I might be in the minority. Perhaps most people print out PDFs. This brings me to the poll: Do you print out most PDFs, or do you read them on a computer?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

A RANT
The standard size for PDFs is 8.5 by 11 with 10 frakking point font. I hate it! I'm trying to read the document on a 12" screen. I cannot read the damn thing at less than full magnification, and that cuts off about a third of a page. I've always wanted to meet the sadist that set this standard.

But it occurred to me today that I might be in the minority. Perhaps most people print out PDFs. This brings me to the poll: Do you print out most PDFs, or do you read them on a computer?

A mix. I sometimes print them out, when they are documentation for a system I deal with. I normally read on screen.

But there are reasons why I have a 19" monitor in 1600x1200 resolution...
______
Dennis

[Ordinaryuser]

I read them on my computer. 22' monitor bought especially for that purpose since I havn't decided on an ebook yet. But the brightness of the screen still hurts my eyes eventually. Gotta decide!

[vivaldirules]

I never print anything. It just goes against the grain for me.

[nekokami]

I used to print PDFs, but not anymore. Usually I read them on the iLiad. Sometimes on my laptop (12" screen). The only time I get annoyed is when there are multiple columns. :/

[Jeff Duntemann]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

A RANT
The standard size for PDFs is 8.5 by 11 with 10 frakking point font. I hate it! I'm trying to read the document on a 12" screen. I cannot read the damn thing at less than full magnification, and that cuts off about a third of a page. I've always wanted to meet the sadist that set this standard.

But it occurred to me today that I might be in the minority. Perhaps most people print out PDFs. This brings me to the poll: Do you print out most PDFs, or do you read them on a computer?

There's nothing standard about any particular page trim size for a PDF. The size is something that the PDF's creator sets at the outset. Most of the books that I create are laid out for a 6" X 9" trim size, and the PDFs that I generate reflect that. Ditto font sizes: The creator chooses them.

A document like you describe is painful in the extreme, but unless it's a holograph (which these days means that the pages are scans or photostats of physical printed pages) a page size and font size like that are unnecessary and suggest that the creator doesn't understand book layout very well.

If it is a holograph, then the creator may have had no choice. If he/she was dealing with a pile of physical 8 1/2" X 11" sheets originally printed in 10 point type, then that's what goes into the PDF.

Better reader software and higher resolution digital paper will help a lot with this problem. Things are going to get a lot better in the next 3-5 years.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

The standard size for PDFs is 8.5 by 11 with 10 frakking point font.

That's not exact. A PDF page size is just what you configure it to be. I'm generating my own PDFs with pdflatex, and I set the page size to 9x12cm, the size of my Cybook screen

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Jellby

That's not exact. A PDF page size is just what you configure it to be. I'm generating my own PDFs with pdflatex, and I set the page size to 9x12cm, the size of my Cybook screen

Yes, but most people don't bother with the settings.

[recycledelectron]

I bought a used HP networked LaserJet (34PPM, 3100 page capacity, duplexing, up to 11"x17" paper, etc.) for printing PDFs. That was before e-ink.

If you surf www.CraigsList.com and www.eBay.com you can find HP LaserJet 5si, 8000, 8100, and similar printers for a few dollars. Toners are affordable.

I also picked up a very large 3-hole punch, a massive stack of 3-ring binders, and several large (220 sheet capacity) staplers.

Then I got my PRS-505, and have mostly read from it. There are some PDFs that are too small to read, so far. (I have not messed with PDF2LRF, but the weekend is near.) I recently printed out a chapter from a math book on infinite series.

Andy

[Lemurion]

Most of my PDFs are bought from HERO games and if I'm going to use them regularly I print them out.

[lmarie]

Teacher here. Yes, I print them out often, for various reasons: student handouts that I photocopy, administrative info that I'm required to have at my fingertips, etc.

[Mike's Place]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

A RANTI'm trying to read the document on a 12" screen. I cannot read the damn thing at less than full magnification, and that cuts off about a third of a page.

I have a screen that is 8 1/4" high x 13" wide (15.4"), but the resolution is 1920x1200. I think the high-res makes the diff because I have no problem reading a normal PDF... oh, I do use a pair of 1.0 reading glasses.

I print PDF's out anyway because I write a lot of notes on them.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Mike's Place

I have a screen that is 8 1/4" high x 13" wide (15.4"), but the resolution is 1920x1200. I think the high-res makes the diff because I have no problem reading a normal PDF... oh, I do use a pair of 1.0 reading glasses.

I print PDF's out anyway because I write a lot of notes on them.

15.4" wide screen with resolution 1920x1200?
WOW!

my laptop has the same screen size, however, I use 1280x800 - native.
Even my 20" ( standard 4:3) desktop monitor is configured to 1600x1200.

I find both of them on the border, I would not be able to use higher resolution on them.

[Nate the great]

The results so far are very interesting.