if you would wipe one file format off the face of the earth forever, what would it be?

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Apathetic
I completely agree with you. I'm really surprised with the animosity towards PDF files. Granted, I don't really care for all the multi-media crap added in the newest versions, but when you need a single document format that needs to be read on multiple hardware and OS platforms it's really hard to beat PDF.

Dave

HTML?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Apathetic
I completely agree with you. I'm really surprised with the animosity towards PDF files. Granted, I don't really care for all the multi-media crap added in the newest versions, but when you need a single document format that needs to be read on multiple hardware and OS platforms it's really hard to beat PDF.

Dave

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: loki8481
definitely .pdf's for me... hate them so much, especially at work where I can't use foxit

PDF is a good choice. There's a few I'd like to see gone. Quicktime, Real Media, and PDF are the top contenders for elimination.

I couldn't function without PDF. The problem with PDF is it's been too successful and has bloated itself far beyond it's original, intended role.

As a format to transfer files between print professionals that will print reliably, it's stellar and rock-solid. The only trouble in that arena is that it's not foolproof - if you don't know what you're putting into the PDF, you can't be sure what you'll get out.

The addition of all the crazy multimedia BS in PDFs has diluted it's reputation, but not it's core function. Lots of people use PDF in ways PDF isn't intended. You're not supposed to edit them ? don't get me started on PDF forms.

Quicktime and RM I'm totally on board with sending down the toilet.

I think people hate Acrobat Reader more than they hate PDF.

Re: forms - I think that's one of the best features they ever added to PDF.

 

[Apathetic]

Adobe has made the PDF format spec free for download to anyone who's interested for years now. Don't like Acrobat? Feel free to write your own version with Adobe's help and blessing for free. The only thing they charge for is their PDF developer API binaries (which admittedly they really gouge you for but again, if you don't want to pay you can write your own for free). So while they CONTROLLED the spec for a long time, it was published for all to see and use.

If that's not enough for you, Adobe has turned the PDF format over to ISO. You read read about it and download the PDF spec here You should also be able to find the documentation on the earlier versions of the PDF spec on the same site.

Dave

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
.mov, .rm .pdf.

I don't see why anyone even produces a .mov or .rm when they could just product a divx .avi that is much more standard.

PDF needs to be replaced by a similar format, but it needs to be OPEN and more lightweight. What's up with PDFs being so heavy, and why do they need to keep updating adobe every 2 days? They just keep making it more and more bloated. I use foxit at home now.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
.mkv

5200 dual core with 4 gigs of ram and VLC still always has trouble decoding this piece of crap of a format. or I"m doing it wrong.

CCCP (free download) will enable silky smooth 720p and 1080p .mkv playback on most systems (yours certainly will) when you use the Zoomplayer, MPC, WMP, etc. VLC is not a very efficient player.

 

[Apathetic]

Ideally, yes. Sadly, reality rears its ugly head.

Dave

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Apathetic
I completely agree with you. I'm really surprised with the animosity towards PDF files. Granted, I don't really care for all the multi-media crap added in the newest versions, but when you need a single document format that needs to be read on multiple hardware and OS platforms it's really hard to beat PDF.

Dave

HTML?

Edit: Damn its vs it's typo

 

[nobody554]

.rm
.mov
.asf
thumbs.db

PDFs are fine.

 

[xeemzor]

.exe

 

[TwiceOver]

pdf... I still don't get how Adobe thinks a supped up Word is worth $400.

 

[Orsorum]

.wri
.rm
.mov

 

[Aikouka]

I don't hate PDF files, but I would say that Quicktime (if you don't have QTA) is quite an annoyance. Real Media would be my number 1 if they actually had a decent market share anymore.

Originally posted by: vi edit
.docx or whatever the excel version of office '07 is.

Seriously people.....stop freaking sending out documents in office '07 format. Large corporations are notoriously slow in retooling their productivity apps.

I hate having to constantly reply back to all the consultants that we work with asking them for a conventional .doc format.

You guys need to install the Office 2007 file format compatibility plug-in for Office 2003.... It ain't perfect, but it gets the job done.

Originally posted by: mugs
I guess I'd go with Quicktime, because I hate having to install it.

Use Quicktime Alternative. It's Quicktime without all the bloat. You can even use QTA with iTunes. Just install iTunes first and let it install Quicktime. Then uninstall Quicktime and install Quicktime Alternative and then install the QTA iTunes compatibility plug-in (it used to work out of the box with older versions of iTunes, but not anymore).

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
.mkv

5200 dual core with 4 gigs of ram and VLC still always has trouble decoding this piece of crap of a format. or I"m doing it wrong.

Matroska files are containers... all they do is contain streams of audio or video and subtitles. So yes, you are doing it wrong .

 

[Tobolo]

.mov or .aac for me. I hate them both.

 

[Crusty]

PDF needs to stay, Adobe needs to go. So considering Adobe isn't a file format... that's a terrible idea to get rid of PDFs.

Anything Real Media needs to die IMO.

 

[silverpig]

.rm is already dead
.mov isn't really annoying to me
.mkv is awesome and should be the new standard
.pdf is also good - I hate it when people send me doc and xls files
.asf blows but isn't really around anymore
.jpg.vbs - heh


My vote goes to .gif. I hate the stupid flashing moving avatars, sigs, and pictures all over the web.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
pdf... I still don't get how Adobe thinks a supped up Word is worth $400.

You can make a .pdf for free you know. You don't like Acrobat, not pdf.

 

[So]

another vote for .mov

.pdf is too useful for work and .rm is dead as a doornail.

 

[RESmonkey]

.rm, real media sucks

make .pdf lighter to use (adobe reader sucks, give me my bookmarking option!)

.swf --> only good for artsy websites. NOT good for when I need up-to-date info on something, only to encounter a Flash loading screen on the homepage.

 

[Babbles]

.mov

I haven't run into a RealMedia file in a long while so I think they are basically dead for me.

In regards to PDF I have found them to be professional and personally very useful. I am a bit surprised the amount of hate for PDF.

 

[IamElectro]

.rm
.mov

 

[Crusty]

For those that say that there isn't an alternative to PDF, you need look at Postscript files. I doubt it has all 'bells and whistles' of a PDF file, but I for one prefer them over PDF greatly.

 

[WelshBloke]

.rm
.mov
.wtv
.pdf


EDIT: meant dvr-ms

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: mugs
I guess I'd go with Quicktime, because I hate having to install it.

Use Quicktime Alternative. It's Quicktime without all the bloat. You can even use QTA with iTunes. Just install iTunes first and let it install Quicktime. Then uninstall Quicktime and install Quicktime Alternative and then install the QTA iTunes compatibility plug-in (it used to work out of the box with older versions of iTunes, but not anymore).

I haven't noticed it to be bloated (maybe it is, it just hasn't bothered me)... it's just that hardly anyone uses it, so when I happen upon a site that does use it I have to install it... and I'm just too lazy to do that, so I move on. And then eventually I come to another site that uses it, and I'm annoyed again that I don't have it installed.

 

[ElFenix]

.shs

wtf MS you invent a file format for word and then don't keep using it in later versions?

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: OUCaptain
.mkv

5200 dual core with 4 gigs of ram and VLC still always has trouble decoding this piece of crap of a format. or I"m doing it wrong.

Matroska files are containers... all they do is contain streams of audio or video and subtitles. So yes, you are doing it wrong .

additionally, VLC doesn't seem to take advantage of multi core processors properly yet. media player classic plays things just fine that VLC chugs on on my quad core.





as for acrobat, upgrade to standard

 

[CottonRabbit]

.mp3

 

[HannibalX]

.rar

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
pdf... I still don't get how Adobe thinks a supped up Word is worth $400.

Well anything Adobe makes is expensive.

Foxit's PDF tools are much cheaper.




OP: Why can't you use Foxit? It's a single standalone EXE.

Originally posted by: iFX
.rar

Boooo. Tis superior to ZIP.