[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: Nielsen frags PDF with misinformative Alertbox... AGAIN!

Subject: Re: Nielsen frags PDF with misinformative Alertbox... AGAIN!
From: David Knopf <david -at- knopf -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 09:57:26 -0700


kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com wrote:

Goober wrote:


Honestly, this guy blames technology for bad
authoring. So I blame him for bad information.

What's fair is fair.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030714.html

Summary: Users get lost inside PDF files, which are typically
big, linear text blobs that are optimized for print
and unpleasant to read and navigate online. PDF is
good for printing, but that's it. Don't use it for
online presentation.


Actually, as much NOT a fan of Jakob Nielsen as I am, I'm in total
agreement with his article. I hate PDF for anything other than a hardcopy
document whose publication is completely under my control. As a final
softcopy deliverable I think they're awful.


In all cases? For all users? For all deliverables? Sounds like an overgeneralization to me. PDFs have their place. It seems to me that Nielsen's comments are nothing more than overly broad generalizations and that they neglect basic questions like design and audience.

Regards,


--

David Knopf ~ Knopf Online ~ San Francisco
mailto:david -at- knopf -dot- com ~ http://www.knopf.com

Consulting & Training for Technical Communicators
FrameMaker ~ WebWorks ~ Structured Authoring ~ XML
WebWorks Publisher Certified ~ Adobe Certified Expert: FrameMaker
Member, JavaHelp 2.0 Expert Group
Moderator, HATT & wwp-users



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NEED TO PUBLISH FRAMEMAKER CONTENT ONLINE? "Mustang" is a NEW single
sourcing tool for FrameMaker that lets you easily publish your content
online. No macro language required! http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l3

Mercer University's online MS Program in Technical Communication Management:
Preparing leaders of tomorrow's technical communication organizations today.
See www.mercer.edu/mstco or write George Hayhoe at hayhoe_g -at- mercer -dot- edu -dot-
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: RE: Typographical treatment of GUI components
Next by Author: Re: This file is protected...
Previous by Thread: Re: Nielsen frags PDF with misinformative Alertbox... AGAIN!
Next by Thread: Re: Nielsen frags PDF with misinformative Alertbox... AGAIN!

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:

Sponsored Ads