Quote:
Originally Posted by Daithi
You're right. PDFs weren't designed for dedicated eReaders, but then again MP3s weren't designed for iPods either.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
A negative assertion does not disprove the original.  |
It's not an argument based on a negative assertion. It is an an argument based on analogy.
By the way, the original was,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daithi
I would define an ebook format as "a file format that can display a book on an ereader" and by that definition a PDF is most certainly an ebook format. Just my opinion of course.
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To which you replied,
Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
PDF is not a format designed to display on/as an ebook.
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That is an example of a negative assertion not disproving the original.
Now to Sweetpea's objection.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea
That comparison is flawed...
PDF was developed before dedicated ereaders was even thought off. So, when they came, the PDF's weren't made up correctly for a small screen. Nothing you do on the reader will change the PDF (because that's the nature of the format, the application that shows it will show it as the original creator designed it).
With MP3 you don't have those problems. You only need a way to play a sound. There is no problem with layout. So, any device, dedicated or not, could be able to do it, be it tiny or huge.
So, in the first case (PDF) there is the function (show lettering) and format (show the lettering in a certain way, as the created designed). In the second case (MP3) there is only the function (play the sound). No format to consider (though the better players will be able to "boost" the sound by way of an equalizer)
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I have to disagree with you Sweetpea. Of course all arguements by analogy are never 100% on point, but in this case I think they're pretty close.
MP3s were made for playing on a computer. MP3s were made before the existence of the iPod. The iPod is a better music playing device than a computer. None of this changes the fact that MP3s are music files.
PDFs were made for reading on a computer. PDFs were made before the existence of the Kindle and Sony. The Kindle/Sony is a better book displaying device than the computer. None of this changes the fact that PDFs are book files.
PDFs weren't designed just for displaying books, but that doesn't change the fact that they do display books. Similarly, MP3s aren't limited to just playing music as they can also play podcasts and
any recorded sound.
Electronic readers were designed to display a variety of ebook formats with PDF being one of them. Just because the early generation of readers had small screens that didn't display PDFs well doesn't mean that PDFs aren't an ebook format. In fact the latest generation of ereaders with larger screens are quite capable of displaying PDFs.