[ary]

The only thing I could applaud more would be a new (and simpler) cross platform document format (for asset encapsulation and offline viewing) that could be transformed to and from HTML on a whim. Scribd <-> My Screen <-> My Printer. To death with PDF.

Come to think of it HTML5/CSS3 + an open archive/compression format would suit this purpose nicely.

[tomjen3]

What is your problem with PDF?

Almost any browser other than lynx has a buitin pdf reader, and pdf can be created by just about anything.

Finally pdf is a format that allow you to ensure that no matter where it is printed, it is exactly as you wanted it to be.

[gruseom]

The problem with pdf is that everything about it is clunky and slow. I didn't decide to groan whenever I see that something I want is trapped inside a pdf; years of annoyance just built that up as a reflex.

Edit: actually, there is an exception, and you mentioned it: printing a pdf, once you have it open, is almost always a good experience. Too bad it's the thing I want to do least often.

[ed]

You've just described ePub.

[ary]

I'm looking for visual and layout consistency across all mediums (screen, print, etc) and in my experience ePub isn't suited for that. My apology for the lack of clarity.