Buying PDFs

[DanMcS]

A couple of questions regarding PDFs.

1) If I don't own a printer, is there any reason I should even consider buying a PDF?

How much of the PHB do you really use in a game? If you're playing a wizard, skip most of the classes, most of the combat chapter, and most of the spells. If you're playing a fighter, skip all of the spells. With other books, you'll tend to use even less at any one time - a feat here, a magical item there. PDFs are perfect for this kind of reference usage, particularly since they're searchable.

2) If I burn a PDF to a CD, could I take it to a local printer (example: Staples Business Depot) and pay to have it printed there?

Yeah, usually.

3) Does anyone ELSE find it strange to pay money for PDFs, given that they're almost impossible to preview? It's not like you can return it for a refund, or re-sell it on eBay. Or can you?

Nope. PDFs tend to be short and to-the-point, so I know what they're about before I buy them. And they're cheap, so it's not like if I buy a $40 hardbound and don't like it. At most I'm out 5 bucks.

And yes, in the US you could legally resell a pdf you bought as long as you delete all copies of it from your system afterwards - you can only sell the one copy you bought. It's a product, you bought it, you can sell it. In practice, it tends to be assumed that you're infringing copyright if you try to sell off a pdf you don't want.

 

[philreed]

And yes, in the US you could legally resell a pdf you bought as long as you delete all copies of it from your system afterwards - you can only sell the one copy you bought. It's a product, you bought it, you can sell it. In practice, it tends to be assumed that you're infringing copyright if you try to sell off a pdf you don't want.

I completely agree with this. I figure as long as you delete the file once it's sold you're perfectly legal.

 

[jgbrowning]

I completely agree with this. I figure as long as you delete the file once it's sold you're perfectly legal.

Yep.

joe b.

 

[ZombieButch]

If you want to have your PDF's printed, PrintFu kicks butt. I've had half a dozen books printed out there in the last couple of months. They're fast and inexpensive.