Comments on: Die, Scribd. Die. http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/ Screams in the Night Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:15:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: wdr1 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16544 wdr1 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:09:15 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16544 I'm closing comments on this post. At this point are just saying the same thing over & over again. If you'd really like to comment, I'll leave the followup open: http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/22/scribd-the-followup/ -Bill I’m closing comments on this post. At this point are just saying the same thing over & over again. If you’d really like to comment, I’ll leave the followup open:

http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/22/scribd-the-followup/

-Bill

]]> By: Scott Macdonald http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16543 Scott Macdonald Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:45:06 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16543 YouPublish fills in many of the gaps left behind by Scribd. For one, you can select your Copyright level, set your price for your products you publish (or you can share them for free), and the site's in line viewer can preview almost any kind of document (not just PDFs). Check it out at: www dot youpublish dot com YouPublish fills in many of the gaps left behind by Scribd. For one, you can select your Copyright level, set your price for your products you publish (or you can share them for free), and the site’s in line viewer can preview almost any kind of document (not just PDFs). Check it out at:

www dot youpublish dot com

]]> By: Hermeneutic http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16541 Hermeneutic Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:19:41 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16541 ... and it's got the most apalling search tool (or, at least, the results are laughably random) … and it’s got the most apalling search tool (or, at least, the results are laughably random)

]]> By: Hermeneutic http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16540 Hermeneutic Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:16:43 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16540 Isn't the main problem with Scribd that of copyright? As an example, there must be pretty much every DABS/Idiot's/O'neill reference book up there Kind of like a Napster for documents. Isn’t the main problem with Scribd that of copyright? As an example, there must be pretty much every DABS/Idiot’s/O’neill reference book up there

Kind of like a Napster for documents.

]]> By: Julie http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16506 Julie Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:03:29 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16506 "an idiot will post a link to a document there" I use Scribd quite a bit, offering both a PDF file as well as a link to Scribd. Some people don't like the forced start of an app to read the PDF. Plus, I can embed the Scribd doc in my blog posts. I've found it a convenient way to organize docs online by categories, etc. and provide an RSS feed to my readers. So, I can, instead of linking to all individual posts where they might find, for example, free project sheets, just link to the Scribd folder. There's all kinds of handy things about it. But if you just want to go f**k Scribd, I guess that'd give you something fun to do for about a minute. Whatever. “an idiot will post a link to a document there”

I use Scribd quite a bit, offering both a PDF file as well as a link to Scribd. Some people don’t like the forced start of an app to read the PDF. Plus, I can embed the Scribd doc in my blog posts.

I’ve found it a convenient way to organize docs online by categories, etc. and provide an RSS feed to my readers. So, I can, instead of linking to all individual posts where they might find, for example, free project sheets, just link to the Scribd folder. There’s all kinds of handy things about it.

But if you just want to go f**k Scribd, I guess that’d give you something fun to do for about a minute.

Whatever.

]]> By: Timmy Jose http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16439 Timmy Jose Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:16:54 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16439 This whole discussion is hilarious! For one, I was not aware that stating the facts would bring so much of active aggression out of ADD-inflicted folks who do not have the patience to check out a site before delivering their death-sentences. @Bob, Justin, JT and Paul - Thanks for the support mates. The sad fact is that telling the truth is not enough for some folks. They probably want drama, abusive language and bombast. And maybe all the features of a mature site in a single page, plain page with oversized fonts and arrows pointing them to the options. @All the hecklers - Read above. Peace! This whole discussion is hilarious!

For one, I was not aware that stating the facts would bring so much of active aggression out of ADD-inflicted folks who do not have the patience to check out a site before delivering their death-sentences.

@Bob, Justin, JT and Paul -

Thanks for the support mates. The sad fact is that telling the truth is not enough for some folks. They probably want drama, abusive language and bombast. And maybe all the features of a mature site in a single page, plain page with oversized fonts and arrows pointing them to the options.

@All the hecklers -

Read above.

Peace!

]]> By: Clive http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16433 Clive Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:51:00 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16433 When Scribd first started Google gave it a lot of 'juice' in rankings. Consequently marketers such as myself used it to get high PR backlinks to our sites and even links, from within documents, to our products. Late last year Scribd made this harder to do - no clickable links in profiles and not sure re .pdf uploads. At the same time they covered every available inch of white space with Adsense and other ads. Pot/Kettle/Black etc. but that's OK as it appears Google Juice him all gone :-) When Scribd first started Google gave it a lot of ‘juice’ in rankings. Consequently marketers such as myself used it to get high PR backlinks to our sites and even links, from within documents, to our products.

Late last year Scribd made this harder to do - no clickable links in profiles and not sure re .pdf uploads. At the same time they covered every available inch of white space with Adsense and other ads.

Pot/Kettle/Black etc. but that’s OK as it appears Google Juice him all gone :-)

]]> By: Dennis Rivers http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16426 Dennis Rivers Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:44:53 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16426 I have been experimenting with scribd and Ipaper and everyone I show it to likes the page-turning and zooming features. The problem I have with scribd is that I am not sure they can keep up with the bandwidth demand. Their biggest advantage IMHO is that they are faster than a pdf. One the delivery crawls, their advantage is totally gone, which I fear will be the case when they get millions of users looking at millions of documents. Their document delivery is already hitting bottlenecks now. I wrote to the developers and suggested that they license the technology so that the millions of documents could be on thousands of servers, rather than just the scribd servers, but I did not hear back from them. I hope others will suggest the same. I would certainly pay a couple hundred bucks for an Ipaper kit that I could install in my cgi-bin. I have been experimenting with scribd and Ipaper and everyone I show it to likes the page-turning and zooming features. The problem I have with scribd is that I am not sure they can keep up with the bandwidth demand. Their biggest advantage IMHO is that they are faster than a pdf. One the delivery crawls, their advantage is totally gone, which I fear will be the case when they get
millions of users looking at millions of documents. Their document delivery is already hitting bottlenecks now. I wrote to the developers and suggested that they license the technology so that the millions of documents could be on thousands of servers, rather than just the scribd servers, but I did not hear back from them. I hope others will suggest the same. I would certainly pay a couple hundred bucks for an Ipaper kit that I could install in my cgi-bin.

]]> By: paul grahamcracker http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16423 paul grahamcracker Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:32:29 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16423 first off: this is a company valued at more than $17 million; anyone that says it has failed is a moron. Secondly, this is a company that is going to get sued. Having a site whose main purpose is to steal books is just not sustainable. so yes, scribd will die. and it will die at the hands of lawyers. first off: this is a company valued at more than $17 million; anyone that says it has failed is a moron.
Secondly, this is a company that is going to get sued. Having a site whose main purpose is to steal books is just not sustainable.
so yes, scribd will die. and it will die at the hands of lawyers.

]]> By: mike http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16418 mike Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:15:33 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16418 @Greg: LOL... oh man... you do realize that Scribd will get majority of those hits, right?? LMAO! If you're in charge of your County, you need to be fired ASAP! @Greg: LOL… oh man… you do realize that Scribd will get majority of those hits, right??

LMAO! If you’re in charge of your County, you need to be fired ASAP!

]]> By: Matt http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16417 Matt Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:19:18 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16417 Whats the big deal? Is this doc viewer that bad? I tried to look at it, but I couldn't because Flash doesn't work very well in a 64-bit Firefox. I'm sure it is a lot cooler looking than html though.. Whats the big deal? Is this doc viewer that bad? I tried to look at it, but I couldn’t because Flash doesn’t work very well in a 64-bit Firefox. I’m sure it is a lot cooler looking than html though..

]]> By: Joe http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16416 Joe Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:25:26 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16416 This seems worse than Safari's built-in PDF viewing, which lets you select and copy text without a special mode, gives you a true native scrollbar, and makes it obvious how to save the PDF if you want to. PDF may suck, but wrapping it in Flash sucks even worse. This seems worse than Safari’s built-in PDF viewing, which lets you select and copy text without a special mode, gives you a true native scrollbar, and makes it obvious how to save the PDF if you want to. PDF may suck, but wrapping it in Flash sucks even worse.

]]> By: Greg http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16415 Greg Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:33:49 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16415 I am the webmaster for my County. We have over 29 million (27 terebytes) of Official Record documents (deeds, mortgage, etc) we serve in pdf format. By moving them to scribds' iPaper format we will be able to embed google ad words that are relevant to each document. With about 20 million page views per year we are going to generate almost $5 million in ad revenue. Thats why I like iPaper. <I>[Good luck w/ that. I the Future of your Country isn't resting on that expected $5m. -- WR]</I> I am the webmaster for my County. We have over 29 million (27 terebytes) of Official Record documents (deeds, mortgage, etc) we serve in pdf format. By moving them to scribds’ iPaper format we will be able to embed google ad words that are relevant to each document.

With about 20 million page views per year we are going to generate almost $5 million in ad revenue.

Thats why I like iPaper.

[Good luck w/ that. I the Future of your Country isn’t resting on that expected $5m. — WR]

]]> By: Wtf http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16414 Wtf Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:50:55 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16414 WTF? I can select, copy and print. I don't see any scrollbars on the left either. If you hate scribd, don't use it. Scribd lets a number of formats (ppt, pdf etc.) available to people who donot have appropriate viewers installed. Most do have Flash installed. WTF? I can select, copy and print. I don’t see any scrollbars on the left either. If you hate scribd, don’t use it. Scribd lets a number of formats (ppt, pdf etc.) available to people who donot have appropriate viewers installed. Most do have Flash installed.

]]> By: gus http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16413 gus Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:15:18 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16413 I just get a blank white box when I go to scribd to view the document. I just get a blank white box when I go to scribd to view the document.

]]> By: RIchard Hollerith http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16412 RIchard Hollerith Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:11:34 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16412 I what the OP says is true -- that scribd.com prevents cutting and pasting and prevents conversion of the documents to common formats like text, html or pdf, then scribd sucks. I what the OP says is true — that scribd.com prevents cutting and pasting and prevents conversion of the documents to common formats like text, html or pdf, then scribd sucks.

]]> By: business http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16411 business Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:53:13 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16411 Wow. Scribd, you just got served. Wow. Scribd, you just got served.

]]> By: jjq http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16410 jjq Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:49:41 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16410 I think scribd is great to share documents, you can create groups and start discussions, find similar books and people that share your tastes. You can save the documents in pdf, txt, etc. You can copy & paste (look for the cursor in the ipaper, select text and hit ctrl+c) I don't see any differences between the pdf and the scribd version. If you don't like it don't use it. Downlaod the pdf and kiss adobe's ass. Pointless blog entry ever. I think scribd is great to share documents, you can create groups and start discussions, find similar books and people that share your tastes.

You can save the documents in pdf, txt, etc.

You can copy & paste (look for the cursor in the ipaper, select text and hit ctrl+c)

I don’t see any differences between the pdf and the scribd version.

If you don’t like it don’t use it. Downlaod the pdf and kiss adobe’s ass.

Pointless blog entry ever.

]]> By: Crap Cannon http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16409 Crap Cannon Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:35:44 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16409 Scribd is about as useful as a Crap Cannon. Scribd is about as useful as a Crap Cannon.

]]> By: Ibrahim Hussein http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16408 Ibrahim Hussein Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:34:16 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16408 This is just so funny... Its the same thing I was thinking of Scribd but I never thought of blogging about it. lol Nice Post .... :) This is just so funny…
Its the same thing I was thinking of Scribd but I never thought of blogging about it. lol
Nice Post …. :)

]]> By: Lance http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16407 Lance Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:03:03 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16407 Hi there, I don't know if this is an issue with Firefox3 or what but your site doesn't have any padding or spacing on the left thus the text is nearly flush with the edge of the browser window. It makes everything annoying to read. Just thought I'd let you know. Hi there, I don’t know if this is an issue with Firefox3 or what but your site doesn’t have any padding or spacing on the left thus the text is nearly flush with the edge of the browser window. It makes everything annoying to read. Just thought I’d let you know.

]]> By: David http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16406 David Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:56:56 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16406 Scribd isn't just a huge mistake, it's a huge pile of active wrongness. Just because you can render crap in Flash does not mean you should make a Flash viewer for existing document types. I refuse to follow links that go to Scribd, and actively encourage others to do the same. Scribd isn’t just a huge mistake, it’s a huge pile of active wrongness. Just because you can render crap in Flash does not mean you should make a Flash viewer for existing document types.

I refuse to follow links that go to Scribd, and actively encourage others to do the same.

]]> By: Reddit_reader http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16405 Reddit_reader Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:46:24 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16405 Below is all I get when I go to the scribd link. I agree, it's pretty damn sucky! Hello, you have an old version of Adobe Flash Player. To use iPaper (and lots of other stuff on the web) you need to get the latest Flash player. Below is all I get when I go to the scribd link. I agree,
it’s pretty damn sucky!

Hello, you have an old version of Adobe Flash Player. To use iPaper (and lots of other stuff on the web) you need to get the latest Flash player.

]]> By: NM http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16404 NM Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:30:16 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16404 Scribd is a POS. But I think I've figured what they've done with those $8 million of VC funding they just got -- they hired a bunch of sockpuppets to go on astroturfing around the blogs. Scribd is a POS. But I think I’ve figured what they’ve done with those $8 million of VC funding they just got — they hired a bunch of sockpuppets to go on astroturfing around the blogs.

]]> By: Ben Mc http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16402 Ben Mc Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:00:06 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16402 You can Copy/Paste, it's on the top right. You can Print, it's on the top left. Two scroll bars? What's wrong with your computer? No double scroll-bars here. You can embed your documents on your website without requiring your viewers to open Adobe. This is a GOOD thing for a lot of us. No, it doesn't appear that you can easily save the document to your computer, so that's the only down-side I can see. Someone is having a bad day :( You can Copy/Paste, it’s on the top right.

You can Print, it’s on the top left.

Two scroll bars? What’s wrong with your computer? No double scroll-bars here.

You can embed your documents on your website without requiring your viewers to open Adobe. This is a GOOD thing for a lot of us.

No, it doesn’t appear that you can easily save the document to your computer, so that’s the only down-side I can see.

Someone is having a bad day :(

]]> By: Richard http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16401 Richard Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:47:31 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16401 I agree. I agree.

]]> By: ihateittoo http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16400 ihateittoo Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:23:08 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16400 f*** scribd. f*** scribd.

]]> By: bung http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16399 bung Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:20:21 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16399 Scribd: Great for stealing books. Their whole value, as far as I can see, is to offer other people's IP back out. Where why generate revenue or value from, I don't know, but it's been great to get some pdf versions of books I already own (and be tempted by a few I don't). Scribd: Great for stealing books.

Their whole value, as far as I can see, is to offer other people’s IP back out. Where why generate revenue or value from, I don’t know, but it’s been great to get some pdf versions of books I already own (and be tempted by a few I don’t).

]]> By: Mike http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16398 Mike Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:17:13 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16398 Yeah, Scribd is terrible. I've had run-ins with their crappy viewer and, contrary to what everyone says, I remeber *not* always being able to d/l a PDF version. Perhaps some doucments are restricted. On further thought, I recall having to scour bugmenot to find a login, so perhaps they only allow registered users to download. In any event it's a stupid idea; a flash PDF renderer would be an awesome tool to use on websites, but that's not what Scribd is. Trying to build a community site centered around a flash widget that forces reading in a tiny box 1/4 the size of your screen and breaks normal PDF expectations -- like scrolling with the keyboard -- is idiotic. The thing should be a preview tool, not the main attraction. Finally, creating a site that encourages all publishing to be done via pseudo-PDF encourage retarded, as you say, Web 0.5 presentation styles. All of a sudden instead of interesting web pages describing something you get 95 page PowerPoint shows with an average of 1/8 sentence of new information per page. An no links, because people just don't use links in PDFs. Yeah, Scribd is terrible. I’ve had run-ins with their crappy viewer and, contrary to what everyone says, I remeber *not* always being able to d/l a PDF version. Perhaps some doucments are restricted. On further thought, I recall having to scour bugmenot to find a login, so perhaps they only allow registered users to download.

In any event it’s a stupid idea; a flash PDF renderer would be an awesome tool to use on websites, but that’s not what Scribd is. Trying to build a community site centered around a flash widget that forces reading in a tiny box 1/4 the size of your screen and breaks normal PDF expectations — like scrolling with the keyboard — is idiotic. The thing should be a preview tool, not the main attraction.

Finally, creating a site that encourages all publishing to be done via pseudo-PDF encourage retarded, as you say, Web 0.5 presentation styles. All of a sudden instead of interesting web pages describing something you get 95 page PowerPoint shows with an average of 1/8 sentence of new information per page. An no links, because people just don’t use links in PDFs.

]]> By: evgen http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16397 evgen Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:16:08 +0000 http://wdr1.com/blog/2008/06/15/die-scribd-die/#comment-16397 To all of you whining about how this is better than the shitty Acrobat plugin, please for your own sanity get Foxit and kick Adobe to the curb. Foxit provides plugins that allow in-browser pdf viewing on windows (mac users get an enlightened OS that deals with pdfs like a dream, so we will ignore them) and as a stand-alone pdf viewer it is a hell of a lot better than acrobat. To all of you whining about how this is better than the shitty Acrobat plugin, please for your own sanity get Foxit and kick Adobe to the curb. Foxit provides plugins that allow in-browser pdf viewing on windows (mac users get an enlightened OS that deals with pdfs like a dream, so we will ignore them) and as a stand-alone pdf viewer it is a hell of a lot better than acrobat.

]]>