DriveThruRPG is down! GRR!

[Jim Hague]

Well, that's one reason, out of many, why I don't buy .pdf's.

It was just that it actually came up about sites being down. The whole "anywhere you can find an internet connection" thing also implies being able to get easy internet access (many of the pro .pdf arguments assume that you are very centered around life at your computer, but if you don't have wireless access, don't like reading documents on a computer, don't like to pay for things using debit/credit and strongly prefer cash instead, and don't actually game anywhere near your PC they lose a lot of their appeal).

EDIT: Nope, nope, nope. I said I wasn't going to argue, and I'm not. I'll simply note that none of my print books have gone away, see as much use as PDFs, and purchasing PDFs has driven my print purchases to new levels. That's all.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I can't believe this turned into another argument over PDF's!

 

[ssampier]

Doesn't Drivethru have a time-window where you can download your product? Ex 10-15 days after purchase?

PDFs are great little purchase. Granted I do not buy PDFs with an available print version. Those books that do not exist or difficult to find, PDFs are a godsend (plus you can copy and paste stats, yes!).

Check out the ENWorld Publishing books. I loved Mechamancy and I will eventually buy Mechamancy II.

1. Throw away that "free" inkjet printer they gave you where you bought a computer. Those things are designed with only one purpose: to sell ink.

2. Buy an inexpensive laser printer. For $100-$150 you can buy a printer that will give you thousands of pages on a single toner cartridge.

Phil, you're not helping me avoid buying a laser printer (I have made several excuses not to buy one).

 

[Bacris]

That reminds me I need to replace my laser printer. I've had the thing for 8 years, going through 2 (yes, 2) toner cartridges and to this day print out the pages of PDFs I need when gaming =P

 

[ShinHakkaider]

IAnd really, if you need to take a number of hardcover books (which for many is just a reality), that's definitely no less weight and is generally more bulk than a notebook PC.

I used to hold games at my place so I wasnt used to having to transport books with me to a game.

I'd much rather bring my PowerBook and print out of what I need for the game.

It's much, much, much lighter.

 

[philreed]

Phil, you're not helping me avoid buying a laser printer (I have made several excuses not to buy one).

Excuses not to buy a laser printer:

1. "I like buying ink just so that it can dry out before I completely use the cartridge."

2. "I don't know. Lasers are pretty scary. I mean, I saw Star Wars and lasers hurt R2."

3. "My inkjet printer was free. Why should I pay for a printer when the computer companies give them away?"

4. "If I had a laser printer I would start buying PDFs and before I knew it I'd be up at 3 am buying just one more."

 

[Nightfall]

I can't believe this turned into another argument over PDF's!

Really? Cause I'm not surprised. If people can, they will grumble about price any day of the week.

"back in my day, a planitum piece bought you and yours an entire FIELD of mercs! Now you only get like 20. Oh sure they're more compentent but that size thing seems to matter more"

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Excuses not to buy a laser printer:

1. "I like buying ink just so that it can dry out before I completely use the cartridge."

2. "I don't know. Lasers are pretty scary. I mean, I saw Star Wars and lasers hurt R2."

3. "My inkjet printer was free. Why should I pay for a printer when the computer companies give them away?"

4. "If I had a laser printer I would start buying PDFs and before I knew it I'd be up at 3 am buying just one more."

I do a fair amount of cardstock modeling, and in this regard inkjets are preferable. (The wax used for color laser printers flakes off at the crease.)

That said, my next planned purchase is a B&W laser printer, to handle everything else.

The copy shop W&S mentioned was most likely Kinkos, they are a royal pain and I have stopped going there. Most are much more reasonable about things - the one exception that I had was at Copy Max, where one of the employees had trouble with it, we called over a manager, who said 'print it'. The employee used to work for Kinkos and was confusing Kinkos policy with the law....

The Auld Grump

 

[Jim Hague]

I'm really, really happy with my li'l Samsung - for black and white printing, it's aces:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828112055

 

[rom90125]

1. Throw away that "free" inkjet printer they gave you where you bought a computer. Those things are designed with only one purpose: to sell ink.

2. Buy an inexpensive laser printer. For $100-$150 you can buy a printer that will give you thousands of pages on a single toner cartridge.

Quoted for truth...additional benefits include better duplex printing and booklet printing. I print EVERYTHING in booklet form...it saves on paper/ink. If the pdf is particularly big, I then cut the paper after it is printed and bind it with a banana clip.