Just Writing About PDF Files And Standardization…

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve made PDF versions of each post available for free download. This is mostly because I wanted to archive my writing somewhere offline, for myself and for anyone else who may prefer reading this way.

I don’t like sitting at my computer and reading. I do it, of course, but I don’t enjoy it. I prefer reading on my Motorola Xoom and I’m assuming there are others who prefer reading on whatever device they have, too.

Another reason for providing PDF versions of my posts is I host my files at FileSonic and they pay me a little for each download. I also get paid if you sign up for an account, which I recommend if you plan on downloading several files. I make everything I create available for free, and FileSonic makes this possible.

Also, someday, after I’ve written several posts, I’ll probably find myself bored one day and I’ll sit down and read them all again. It will be interesting a few months from now to read these posts and be reminded of the mental and psychological state I was in and how my thinking progressed (or regressed or digressed) from day to day. It will certainly suck not being able to correct any errors or to edit the writing, but it will be informative and interesting nonetheless.

Of course, all the posts will remain on the website. I don’t mean to imply that I’ll take them down after a certain time period. You don’t have to download the PDF versions now in order to read them at your leisure later. I just like having options. I might even collect them each month into a sort of digest. As far as I’m concerned, anything I can do to make them more accessible (without compromising their integrity or adding too much to my workload) is a plus.

Now, why did I choose PDF files over EPUB or MOBI or other formats? I simply wanted full control over the layout and styling of the documents. The MOBI and EPUB formats are considered the standard for eBook readers like the Nook and Kindle, and they’re typically great for simple text documents, but they’re very constraining when it comes to laying out images or incorporating them into the text. So since both the Kindle and the Nook can read PDF documents, which have virtually no design limits, it was really an easy decision to make. Considering all the rich media out there and available for free on the Internet, I don’t now why anyone buys eReaders anyway, except for budget restraints, I guess.

Like I said, I have a Xoom, so that is the device I designed the documents for and the one they’ll look the best on. Also, I use the Adobe Reader app for Android, but there is an iPad version, too. Any device that can read PDF files will do, though. My documents will simply fill the screen better on the Xoom.

For Offline Viewing, Download PDF Versions Of All “Just Writing” Posts Here...

To finish this off, I’d like to mention that standardization never works. Like any other creator, I want to make my documents available on every device ever made and every one that will be made. However, unlike standardization preachers, I can accept it is an impossible goal. I don’t expect anyone to build their devices according my standards and I don’t have to design my documents according to theirs. I’d much rather have every device use a completely different format and then have the manufacturer give me a program (a word processor or whatever) that allows me choose if I want to support their device or not. When everyone tries to support standardized formats, they never support them the same and I end up having to compromise and design for the lowest common denominator or I have to design for each one separately anyway. Standardization is a very enticing idea, but it is ultimately (and obviously) unrealistic.

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Michael Island