tlug: Printed media?? Who needs TeX?

[Marcus Metzler <mocm@example.com>]

John De Hoog writes:
 > 
 > Sometimes I worry about you people in academia. ;-) Don't you know by
 > now that printed output is going the way of the typewriter, and that
 > digital output on flat screens and publishing via the Internet are the
 > direction the world is headed? Why are you still worried about
 > typesetting? HTML is flexible and free.  The layout and type size are
 > controlled by the reader. Searching for keywords is instantaneous. Even
 > the language can be changed by some of the rough-and-ready translation
 > programs available today.
 > 
 > TeX is a great typesetting system, but who needs it anymore? Even at my
 > age, and with my background as a former publishing company editor, I can
 > see this coming. Who reads printed computer magazines these days? By the
 > time the printer gets around to printing them and the post office has
 > lugged them to your door, they are already old news. The Internet is the
 > fastest and easiest medium for getting information to the public, and it
 > doesn't even require cutting down trees or hauling tons of freight.
 > 
Have you ever tried reading a book on a computer screen? I wouldn`t do 
it. The same goes for papers that are more than 2 or 3 pages long. For 
quick information and looking up things web pages may be fine, but if
you have to (or want to) read longer text segments the computer screen 
can be a pain. Granted, if you use an LCD screen some of the pain 
is gone. I find it much easier to read stuff on my notebook than on a
desktop machine. So, I would say that you are partly right, but that there
still is a long way to go until reading a novel on your computer is as 
enjoyable as reading it in a book format. Maybe when the PDAs have
large enough screens and you can write on them as easily as on paper. 
Until then you still need books and typesetting programs. 

Marcus

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Marcus Metzler
Department of Physics    | $B")(B $B#2#7#4!<#8#5#1#0(B
Toho University          | $B@example.com)A%66;T;0;3#2!<#2!<#1(B
Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, | $BElK.Bg3X(B  $BM}3XIt(B  $BJ*M}(B
Chiba 274-8510           | 
Japan			 |
e-mail : mocm@example.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Next Meeting: 10 October, 12:30 Tokyo Station Yaesu central gate
Featuring the IMASY Eng. Team on "IPv6 - The Next Generation IP"
Next Nomikai: 20 November, 19:30  Tengu TokyoEkiMae 03-3275-3691
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor: PHT, makers of TurboLinux http://www.pht.co.jp