A newsletter link to DL.TV probably was intended mostly to advertise a new(?) Ziff-Davis (publishers) site. They headlined a video about something called "Nabaztag, the WiFi Technobunny" but my connection's too slow to look at it. (And I don't think I'd be interested.)

What was more interesting, perhaps for some of our guys and gals, was a set of links to three separate free PDF makers. It appears that they ran a user survey, and these three came out on top.

Reported as a "favorite:" CutePDF Writer

Create PDF documents on the fly — for Free!
Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world. CutePDF Writer (formerly CutePDF Printer) is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer installs itself as a "printer subsystem". This enables virtually any Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional quality PDF documents - with just a push of a button!
FREE for personal and commercial use! No watermarks! No Popup Web Ads!

Free Download (Ver. 2.6; 1.96 MB) (link at the above page)

Requires PS2PDF converter such as Ghostscript (recommended).
You can get the free GPL Ghostscript 8.15: Free Converter (GPLGS8.15; 5.01 MB) at a the above page


Also Available by link from above page:
CutePDF Writer Companion
Easy-to-use PDF utility for Free!

"CutePDF Writer Companion is a powerful add-on to our award-winning free CutePDF Writer providing must have features including merge/split, security, doc info, stamp and page tools. This free PDF tool can also be used alone for processing your existing PDF documents. "
Free Download (Version: 2.61; Size: 2.10 MB)
Please read note below and then click Free Download to download the software.
This free download bundles with WhenU Save, the only software that provides you with the relevant coupons and ads you want. WhenU Save is not spyware and strictly protects your privacy. WhenU.com, Inc also provides full customer support for its programs.
Besides, WhenU Save can be removed entirely at anytime from Add/Remove programs.
If you don't like the ideal of free software being supported by ads, you may try our CutePDF Professional instead.   

PDF Creator from SoundForge, is another free .pdf maker that acts just like a printer, but lets you "print" a .pdf file on your machine from Windows program (that prints).

Primo PDF is a third free .pdf maker, quite similar. It does indicate some additional "security features" that were not mentioned by the two above, although they may have just omitted discussion. This one has a separate version specifically for Win98 users.

If you might have a need to create .pdf documents, this would be a good chance to try and compare a couple of freeby programs. Ziff-Davis publications are generally "trustable," even if you don't agree with their philosopies.

Note though that I have NOT tried any of these programs, so I can't offer any opinion on how they work, which is best, or on how they compare to the Adobe pdf programs I use.

In other news that probably should be in the BS section (Start your own thread if you need to discuss?):

Apple introduced a couple of really great looking new computers this week. Apple stock immediately dropped a couple of bucks. Apparently the investors would have preferred a new iPod or something else with "commercial appeal." The new Apple machines do look extremely good. (??)

And AOL Screws Up Again with release of data on AOL user searches. People Angry. AOL Apologizes.

John