August, 2000      Diablo Blue      Page 9

Without checking the Official DVPC Archives (do we have an "Official DVPC Archives?"), I don't know if anyone knows how many years we have held Windows Night in November. The best answer so far is "lots." Windows Night consumes an enormous amount of work trying to contact, cajole and confirm enough vendors to show up and/or send prizes. Like most things in a volunteer organization, the job usually falls on just a few people. We originally started Windows Night when Windows was new (remember Windows 3.0?) and many people asked why they needed Windows. DOS worked fine -- remember?
As we approach the new millennium and the release of Windows Millennium edition in September, I think Windows is firmly entrenched on our systems. Getting enough vendors to fill our room is getting increasingly difficult, and even more time-intensive as companies merge and swallow each other and their marketing budgets shrink. Comdex has always been a competitor to our event. (Even Comdex was smaller last year!!!) Quite honestly, the Board was not up to the time commitment to put Windows Night together. (We usually start in July to have everything in place for November). So we decided that this year we would skip Windows Night. Will it reappear next year? Will something else take its place? Perhaps. We are always looking for good ideas -- AND VOLUNTEERS!

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Acrobat eliminates page constraints, too. Editors don't have to worry about filling an extra page when they have only seven pages of material, or to trim a page when they can easily fill nine pages. There is no need to do the laborious task of collating, folding and/or stapling and sticking on stamps.
Deadlines become more elastic and more up-to-date news included. Once the newsletter has been thoroughly proofread, corrected and converted to a PDF file, it's ready to go out via e-mail without delay.
Many groups, recognizing the economic and other benefits of PDF, now use Acrobat to publish at least a portion of their newsletter each month. When I first started the Ken's Korner column three years ago, receiving a PDF newsletter was a rarity. Now I get two or three dozen each month.
What I recommend in my Media Workshops is that groups set up pilot programs and start using Acrobat to create PDF newsletters for a portion of their subscription list (e.g. vendors, advertisers, exchange copies for other groups and members who volunteer to forego printed copies)as a pilot program. The list can be expanded as more people, particularly new members, agree to receive their newsletters in electronic form.
I realize this isn't your typical software application review -- and it isn't meant to be! It's meant to be a thought-started for groups (and individuals) who are willing to consider a new, effective and efficient means of publishing documents in the new millennium.
At $249 for the full version of 4.0 ($99 for update version), Adobe Acrobat may be pricey for the casual, occasional user but it makes sense for anyone who produces a lot of documents and needs to distribute them widely via e-mail or on CDs. It also makes a great dollars and cents value for any group.
I welcome comments about their experiences from groups and individuals that use Acrobat -- and from those who find fault with my reasoning and suggestions. If response warrants, I will print replies in a future column.