.pdf layout - why portrait?

Mike Healey

Why is it that every .pdf document I download is in portrait page setup, when every computer screen I've ever had is best suited to landscape layout?

I spend more time zipping up and down each page than I do reading it, half the time.

Since most of us (I suspect) don't print them out, but read them onscreen, this habit is patently absurd.

synchronicity

Because some people still aren't using huge screens. That means they can't read what's written at 100% page size. That in turn means, with a landscape format they would have to zoom in and horizontal scroll, which is 10x worse.

System_1

A lot, if not most, pdf documents are designed to be printed, not just by the end user, but in the case of things like technical documents, they will have been designed for print originally by the manufacturer themselves. It just makes sense.

Le Commentateur

It's only a matter of time before somebody (Apple?) produces a computer screen that you can set up to use either portrait or landscape format.

redddraggon

Le Commentateur wrote:

It's only a matter of time before somebody (Apple?) produces a computer screen that you can set up to use either portrait or landscape format.

It's been done already, all you need is a screen that has a rotation mount, the video drivers already allow the output to be horizontal or vertical.

giant_man

Le Commentateur wrote:

It's only a matter of time before somebody (Apple?) produces a computer screen that you can set up to use either portrait or landscape format.

You're about 15 years too late mate, they done it before.

System_1

giant mancp wrote:

Le Commentateur wrote:

It's only a matter of time before somebody (Apple?) produces a computer screen that you can set up to use either portrait or landscape format.

You're about 15 years too late mate, they done it before.

Yep, I've got one. If you think scrolling and zooming is a PITA rotating your screen is even worse. I never use that function.

ColinJ

Just buy one of these - it would be like having two large rotated monitors side-by-side !

iainf72

Heck. Windows will let you have one screen landscape and one screen portrait if you like (depending on video card) if you use 2 or more screens