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Microsoft to Introduce PDF competitor 'Metro'

Posted by timothy on from the that-portable-thing-sounds-dangerous dept.

RustNeverSleeps writes "Computerworld reports that Microsoft will be including a new document format called 'Metro' with Longhorn. Apparently, Metro is intended to be a competitor to Adobe's PDF and Postscript formats. The format will be open and available for royalty-free licensing, and will be based on XML. Can we expect Microsoft to do this right? If they do, I think it could be a good thing." Reader gsfprez is less optimistic: "... I noticed the main, and probably most important difference between old and busted PDF and new-hotness Metro (besides the Queer Eye styled name)... 'We will offer products based on this next generation RIP technology and make them available under license to printer manufacturers and software integrators worldwide.' Yes, I can see it now - entire industries undoing their time-tested, battle hardend PDF-based workflows with free and open files all for the chance to use patented, pay-for-use Microsoft proprietary workflows, software, and files. Good luck with that, guys."

3 of 798 comments (clear)

  1. what a fucking gay name by pugnatious · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    and it's XML?
    I'm not holding my breath either

  2. I hate PDFs. I hope Microsoft kills them. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I want to scream whenever I have to use a PDF that I can't fill in on the computer. Because of the retarded limitations they place on the viewer, the form *must* be set up for document input when it's created.

    It's true: when you create a PDF you can specify the fields that the user is able to fill out on the computer *before* printing it out. But of course, nobody *ever* takes the 30 seconds it takes to do that. A typewriter would do the job great - but that seems counterproductive.

    So I have to print the bastard out, fill it in with tiny handwriting since no fucker ever thought to make the boxes big enough to actually write in ("but it looks big enough for text on a screen", they say) - then mail it off to whatever corporate behemoth requires the paper trail.

    In summary: PDF seems to be fine if the author desires handwritten forms. As someone who has to fill the damn things in, I HATE them! It seems as though Microsoft would almost have to work hard to make the same mistakes.

  3. Re:Royalty free license by Evil+Adrian · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Please, enlighten us. Give examples to support this totally ridiculous, totally unfactual claim of yours.

    --
    evil adrian