The following header lines retained to affect attribution:
|Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1998 10:14:48 +0000
|Reply-To: Mailing list for the LaTeX3 project
|From: Sebastian Rahtz <[log in to unmask]>
|Subject:      Re: portable LaTeX
|To: Multiple recipients of list LATEX-L

|Timothy Murphy writes:
| > I simply meant that DVI can be translated into many different formats,
| > eg PostScript, PDF, commands for Diablo daisy-wheel printer, etc.
| > In that sense it is obviously more versatile than PDF.
| >
|on the other hand, I can print my PDF in Acrobat to any device supported by my
|copy of Windows. ie, a very great deal more devices that those for
|which there is a dvi driver. When did anyone last write a dvi driver?

How small the world has become!  8^{

There are other types of computers in the world than IBM compatible PCs.

Even if you include Apple compatible PCs, there are other types of
computers in the world.

E.g., I own a TRS-80 4p and an AT&T 3B1.  At work I use a SGI Indy.

There are other types of operating systems in the world than programming
support systems vended by Microsoft.

Even you include Apple MacOS, there are other types of operating systems
in the world.

E.g., I run CP/M on the 4p, UNIX 3.51m on the 3B1 and IRIX 6.2 on the Indy.

E.g., some people have been known to run Linux and FreeBSD on their machines.

``Win'' devices are a bane on anyone who would want to use those devices
on any of those operating systems or who would want to use their system's
CPU(s) for some other purpose than being the missing CPU from the ``Win''
device.  In my view, they are an attempt to prohibit multi-tasking OSs
on IBM compatible PCs.

And, yes, I have written dvi drivers -- e.g. for a NEC P6 Pinwriter.

|sebastian

Randolph J. Herber, [log in to unmask], +1 630 840 2966, CD/CDFTF PK-149F,
Mail Stop 318, Fermilab, Kirk & Pine Rds., PO Box 500, Batavia, IL 60510-0500,
USA.  (Speaking for myself and not for US, US DOE, FNAL nor URA.)  (Product,
trade, or service marks herein belong to their respective owners.)