Die, Scribd. Die. • Hacker News Board

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#11

Post by jcl » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 6:00 PM UTC

aristus wrote: post #4

dmix wrote: post #2

Scribd has a lot of value in sharing documents online. The scribd API is implemented in a business application that I built and run. The documents automatically upload to scribd and appear as iPaper on the page. So not only can you download the file, you can view it with out having to leave the browser. The users love this feature. It compliments the files... not replacing the format or w/e the argument here was. I l…

"If it was meant to be downloaded..." That's the problem. The original author/publisher DID mean to have the PDF downloadable, and people posting to HN DID mean to link to that PDF. HN/Scribd throw themselves into the middle of that. They redirect you to their online version, and ask you to register before you can download. It's annoying and not what people want . Scribd is pretty nice, I like it. But the autolinking…

There's also the issue that people submitting the link to HN rarely own the copyright to the content, but HN will silently ask Scribd to make a copy anyway and serve it to the internet at large. Needless to say, there are authors who dislike that approach:

http://notes-from-a-sticky-wicket.blogspot.com/2007/12/scrib...

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#12

Post by jcl » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 6:48 PM UTC

okeumeni wrote: post #9

I will suggest Scribd talking with Macromedia or some PDF style company; they should just convert documents in PDF like format instead of trying to reinvent the toothbrush.

I'd be surprised if they'd have much luck with Macromedia, as it's now part of Adobe -- essentially a direct competitor.

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#13

Post by deathbob » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 7:16 PM UTC

I've lurked here for months, but this article and the responses has led me to register and comment. If you're debating the merits of scribd vs a pdf file, you've missed the whole point. That's like debating youtube vs. [insert video format here]. Who cares if you can do more with the pdf or .avi file? Scribd is a service that hosts files. The same logic that says pdf files are 'better' would lead you to host the raw DV capture on your own server instead of uploading it to youtube. When the goal is sharing your video/document with other people, does that make any sense? Also as many have pointed out every argument made in the article is pretty much wrong. Downloading works, copy paste works, etc. No they're not in competition with adobe, adobe doesn't host files... Ultimately scribd is about sharing, and it pretty much whips ass at that.

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#14

Post by mikeryan » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 7:55 PM UTC

deathbob wrote: post #13

I've lurked here for months, but this article and the responses has led me to register and comment. If you're debating the merits of scribd vs a pdf file, you've missed the whole point. That's like debating youtube vs. [insert video format here]. Who cares if you can do more with the pdf or .avi file? Scribd is a service that hosts files. The same logic that says pdf files are 'better' would lead you to host the raw…

You miss the point PDF files don't need a common platform. IT IS a common platform. PDF is ubiquitous and full featured, there's no need to change file format in order to share it.

The author's argument is ff scribd is a service to host files then do it - host the files, don't convert them to an inferior format. Heck instead of iPaper why not just convert them to PDF to begin with and save the intermediary.

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#15

Post by mattjaynes » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 7:59 PM UTC

Hmmm, let me get this straight. The author wants a service that allows developers to quickly and programatically convert proprietary format documents (MS Office, etc) to standard easily viewable formats (pdf, flash) for FREE to 'die' because he has somehow missed the obvious text-selection tool in iPaper (even same icon as Adobe uses), the obvious ways to download the document as pdf, and somehow has mysterious double-scrollbars that no one else seems able to duplicate. Better vote this post up!

I'll try to counter the rant with one of my top reasons Scribd should not die:

Have you ever been to a corporate site that has loads of links to Microsoft Office documents? (Ex: http://www.humanrights.coe.int/equality/Eng/WordDocs/Documen... ) I have, and it's such a pain to have to download and open the documents manually. Then I also have the documents that I downloaded cluttering up my hard drive - when all I wanted to do was take a quick look at it. So I find myself not even bothering with the Office documents - which I'm sure is not what the company trying to promote themselves wants. If you look at http://www.scribd.com/platform/documentation - you'll see Scribd has provided a solution to this problem with their QuickSwitch service. Once this is used, all of those proprietary format documents on the site are 'magically' converted into standard formats you can view easily: pdf and flash. Nice.

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#16

Post by kirubakaran » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 8:36 PM UTC

snowmaker wrote: post #8

astine wrote: post #3

Scribd conversion is done automatically when someone submits a PDF to HN. I find it annoying too, but its not their fault.

Actually, it doesn't anymore. That was recently turned off.

No. I tried it now. It is still getting scribd.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=223195

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#17

Post by deathbob » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 8:45 PM UTC

mikeryan wrote: post #14

deathbob wrote: post #13

I've lurked here for months, but this article and the responses has led me to register and comment. If you're debating the merits of scribd vs a pdf file, you've missed the whole point. That's like debating youtube vs. [insert video format here]. Who cares if you can do more with the pdf or .avi file? Scribd is a service that hosts files. The same logic that says pdf files are 'better' would lead you to host the raw…

You miss the point PDF files don't need a common platform. IT IS a common platform. PDF is ubiquitous and full featured, there's no need to change file format in order to share it. The author's argument is ff scribd is a service to host files then do it - host the files, don't convert them to an inferior format. Heck instead of iPaper why not just convert them to PDF to begin with and save the intermediary.

"You miss the point [avi] files don't need a common platform. IT IS a common platform. [avi] is ubiquitous and full featured, there's no need to change file format in order to share it. The author's arguments is if [youtube] is a service to host files then do it - host the files, don't convert them to an inferior format. Heck instead of [flv] why not just convert them to [mpeg2] to begin with and save the intermediary.

See how ridiculous that sounds?

Also, Scribd doesn't just host pdf files, they host others too. If you had to write software to translate multiple source languages to one language, would you compile down to a language you control every aspect of (ipaper) or one you do not control (pdf)?

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#18

Post by mikeryan » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 8:51 PM UTC

deathbob wrote: post #17

mikeryan wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You miss the point PDF files don't need a common platform. IT IS a common platform. PDF is ubiquitous and full featured, there's no need to change file format in order to share it. The author's argument is ff scribd is a service to host files then do it - host the files, don't convert them to an inferior format. Heck instead of iPaper why not just convert them to PDF to begin with and save the intermediary.

"You miss the point [avi] files don't need a common platform. IT IS a common platform. [avi] is ubiquitous and full featured, there's no need to change file format in order to share it. The author's arguments is if [youtube] is a service to host files then do it - host the files, don't convert them to an inferior format. Heck instead of [flv] why not just convert them to [mpeg2] to begin with and save the intermediar…

Wait I see what you did there.

Awesome you waited all this time to comment on a post, just to not argue the authors point? I read the article it never seemed to argue the point of the service its whole point was about the necessity of changing file formats. Nice Red Herring, you're even getting points for it.

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#19

Post by kaos » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 8:55 PM UTC

dmix wrote: post #6

evgen wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So not only can you download the file, you can view it with out having to leave the browser. The users love this feature. Perhaps your users should get a browser that supports plugins to allow in-browser viewing of PDF. Then again, since _all_ browsers support these plugins and even ie/windows users can get a good pdf handler like foxit I really don't see why you would want to use scribd.

Are you serious? Its a business application. All my users still use IE6. Nothing like enterprise IT. I've managed to convince 5 of them to FF3 at a meeting yesterday.

tell them that IE6 is a virus, you wouldn't be liying

Re: Die, Scribd. Die.

#20

Post by kaos » Fri, Jun 20, 2008, 8:57 PM UTC

I'm a heavy scribd user and i think that is great to share documents, you can create groups and start discussions, find similar books and people that share your tastes.

You can't do that with acrobar reader.