[ntoshev]

I do. Google Chrome and Safari both open PDFs very smoothly on Windows. Even in Firefox I am not sure Scribd is an improvement over opening plain PDF (it shows a progress indicator, but it might as well take more time to open in total).

[sdurkin]

Jesus, I don't expect groupthink from HN.

Be rational. Most users use IE on Windows. Even if you don't like it, that's the way it is. Adobe Reader 9 loading in IE can crash the browser. Don't believe me? Google "IE loading PDFs" and you'll see the huge number of users who have problems.

Flash is reasonably reliable in IE. Additionally, Scribd has the option of embedding ads in the PDF more easily by using the player, which gives them a path toward monetization.

When creating a business, you have to be realistic. This is not a techno-utopia where the best technology always wins. In the browser wars, IE is still the current leader. You have to live with it if you want to maximize profit.

[ntoshev]

Then you should have said "Internet Explorer opening PDFs is a pain point and scribd solves that". Fair enough, although I can argue Chrome is both much better solution to this particular problem :)

Personally I think scribd solves some problem for publishers, while actually degrading the experience for a significant minority of the viewers. Their relationship with publishers have significant negative externalities, and this makes scribd at least somewhat evil.