DVI was created at that same time. I know some PostScript, but I don't know DVI, so it's hard for me to judge which one is better. DVI though, from the start,

DVI was created at that same time. I know some PostScript, but I don't know DVI, so it's hard for me to judge which one is better. DVI though, from the start, wasn't a commercial product, and, I believe, was also "open-source" (even though the term might not have been officially established). Unfortunately (for DVI) Adobe started off by incorporating PostScript into printing hardware, so there was little reason for anyone in the printing industry to look for alternatives. It was a huge let down though when Adobe decided to replace PS with PDF. It still kind of is. I think about PDF as being a missed opportunity. Too many things in this format have been poorly designed, and, on top of it, it's forced for the situations where it shouldn't be used (eg. storing official documents) which generates a lot of hate for the format.