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I'd like to offer some suggestions, some observations, and play devils
advocate.<br>
<br>
Melody Soice wrote:
<blockquote cite="midBAY106-F2636CC774C5F203CE99952AAA30@phx.gbl"
type="cite">I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who never opens
the PDFs.
<br>
<br>
Michael, I know that you're probably using a great, over-powered
computer with super graphics capabilities and a wonderful internet
connection. We don't all have that at home. Opening PDF files at our
home is, likely as not, going to lock up any applications I have open
if not the entire computer. That has happened often enough that I just
don't open PDFs unless I have to.
<br>
</blockquote>
If this is a problem I would suggest that you try a differ viewer for
your PDF files. For low power and low memory systems I am currently
recommending the <b>Foxit Reader</b>. <br>
<br>
<ul>
<li>It is a great little PDF reader and unless you are needing the
super advanced functions of PDF then it is all most people will ever
need. <br>
</li>
<li>The entire reader is a one executable file and compressed or in
an installer package is only 1.2MB and can fit on a floppy if you need
to take it somewhere for install (as opposed to a 20+ MB download for
the current Adobe Reader. <br>
</li>
<li>It's memory footprint is far smaller. Opening he May Two Towers
is uses less than a quarter of the memory (and far less CPU) than the
Adobe reader would.</li>
</ul>
I encourage you to give it a try and see if it fixes your PDF
problems. <br>
<br>
<div align="center"><a
href="http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php"><u><b>http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php</b></u></a><br>
</div>
<br>
After all most all SCA forms, handbook, law, etc. are distributed as
PDF files these days. It's important to be able to open and print
those as needed.<br>
<blockquote cite="midBAY106-F2636CC774C5F203CE99952AAA30@phx.gbl"
type="cite"><br>
I also find it more difficult to read publications online and much less
enjoyable.</blockquote>
Sometimes I do as well. Sometimes I like having a hard copy to mark
up. Sometimes I like having a hard copy to take with me to an event.
Sometimes I just like a hard copy. The great thing about PDF as a
form of electronic distribution is that it preserved the page layout
almost perfectly and if I want a hard copy of something and don't feel
like reading online then it takes just a minute for me to print my own
copy.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="midBAY106-F2636CC774C5F203CE99952AAA30@phx.gbl"
type="cite"> I have only read one copy of The Two Towers since
Stargate ended its publication. </blockquote>
Stargate is still publishing The Two Towers. Their distribution method
as simply changed and now they are using electronic distribution rather
than a paper distribution<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="midBAY106-F2636CC774C5F203CE99952AAA30@phx.gbl"
type="cite">I am glad that the information is still available to
anyone wanting to get to it badly enough, however, it is no longer
something I look forward to receiving. I'm not trying to just gripe
here but if you really want to understand why I consider the
discontinuation of the physical Two Towers to be a great loss and a sad
mark of the decline of our barony I hope this helps clarify the issue
for at least one family.
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
I feel just the opposite. <br>
<br>
I never subscribed to The Two Towers. Since I have lived in this area
I have been in Gates Edge and I have always subscribed to the Over the
Edge but never The Two Towers. Like most people if subscribed to
anything I only subscribed to the immediate local branch. Sometimes I
would hear of something that was printed in The Two Towers and would
wish for the chance to read it and now I have that chance. Since
Stargate started distributing electronically I go to the website each
month to read the latest issue. I think it is very likely that the
newsletter now actually reaches more people than it did as paper and
ink.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="midBAY106-F2636CC774C5F203CE99952AAA30@phx.gbl"
type="cite">Hopefully I'm the only one that feels this way. Don't
jump down my throat folks and start telling me how I need to upgrade
our computer, I'm just letting you know where things stand for us.
<br>
<br>
Melody
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
If your computer does all that you want and need it to then ya don't
need to upgrade. However since it wont currently allow you to
comfortably read a PDF and since the bulk of all the SCA's important
documents are published in that format then I encourage you to try the
Foxit reader and see if that free and simple alternative works any
better for you.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
-Eadric<br>
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