But for me, today is different, because instead of walking my driveway, I pick up a steaming cup of coffee and head for my office. I sit my coffee on its coaster on top of the desk and reach for my mouse. Giving the appropriate clicks, I hear the modem dial my Internet Provider (IP). Soon I see the little icon in the lower right hand side of the monitor telling me I'm online.

A click on my "Favorites'' and another click on "Sharon Herald" (www.sharonherald.com) brings up the newspaper's Web page. One more click on the Digital Edition link to select "today's edition'' and I soon have miniature pages of The Herald in .pdf format filling my screen. I click on the first page (A-1) and a popup appears asking me for my user name and password. These IDs were sent to me in an e-mail by the techies at The Herald once my subscription was started. Entering the required information soon ushers in the latest edition onto my 19-inch display screen in the Adobe viewer.

This virtual paper looks exactly like the real one on the newsstands. With my pdf subscription I'm now screened to read every item on the page. Should the article be continued, there is a convenient little marker highlighted that when clicked takes me onto the continuation. Sigh ... I sip my coffee and relish the thought that this is here for me to read and I didn't have to trudge down that snowy path, pull the copy from the box, knock off the snow and trudge back again. Ah, ain't high-tech grand when used appropriately.

You, too, can enjoy this luxury. It begins by visiting the Herald Digital Edition's Web page, http:ŽŽpdf.sharonherald.com. Toward the top center of the page is a help section. Here you can find information regarding cost and "how to.'' Once you've talked with the circulation department to enroll as a subscriber, the Herald techies send you an informative e-mail containing your user name and password.

I found the process easy, straightforward, and I was able to get into The Herald digital issue the first time. On the first page of that day's edition I found a hotlinked next-page marker that advanced me forward. Using my browser's "Back" button, I returned to the digital issue entry page. I clicked on another desired page and it filled my screen without my having to re-enter user name or password. For me this is a much-desired feature and provided assurance that this .pdf version had been developed the right way.

A limitation I found was in the selection of text information, but the limitation is caused by the Adobe reader and not The Herald. This limitation restricts the reader from selection of one column of text at a time. Instead, the Adobe reader selects the whole page, beginning from the level where the "I beam'' is placed, on downward as the drag on the mouse is applied.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Click and hold the text-tool button to change the tool to a T with dotted rectangle around it. This lets you select a single column of text.)

The default page view is 16.32" by 23.97" at 83 percent. If you are familiar with Adobe Acrobat Reader you can increase the view percentage easily. I found the default comfortable and simple to navigate.

Printing, on the other hand, is based upon the capabilities of your attached printer. Mine wanted to cram the full news page into an 81Ž2-by-11-inch paper, much too small for me to read comfortably. The limitation mentioned earlier prevented me from smoothly selecting one or another article to print. If you are technically inclined, you probably know ways of grabbing only the information you want, but it will take a little effort.

Getting the newspaper in this high-tech mode offers some strong advantages:

   » No cold trip to the delivery box or the corner store to pick it up.

   » The complete paper is available shortly after midnight.

   » Six months of back issues are available for viewing.

   » All of this is consistent with politically correct ecological principles.

Here are a couple of reminders that you might find helpful.

Make sure that the little hand on the mouse pointer changes from having the fingers spread to a single pointing finger when you click on the connector tab.

Use the search (binocular icon) for only one page at a time.

Take advantage of some of the other high-tech features offered by The Herald as well. In the business directory, you can find quick access to a local business, and even mapŽdirections if desired. The employmentŽclassified section comes with select and view features for isolating only those ads you desire. Check out the Sample Resumes, Interview Questions and other related topics that will give you an edge in finding the ideal job. Some local stories are available in HTML format for reading without using the Adobe viewer.

As I sit here with my hot coffee, reading the current issue, occasionally glowering out the window at the lake-effect snow, I sigh, "Ain't high-tech grand.''

Chuck Roberts writes about computers for The Herald. Roberts, of Mercer, has more than 20 years of experience in software design and programming. Questions are welcome and can be sent to Adding Bytes to the Net! in care of The Herald, Box 51, Sharon, 16146 or via e-mail to: mroknick@sharonherald.com