%

Bob wrote:

 > Is there any freeware reader or converter for these .ps
 > (Postscript?) files that all these scientific and academics
 > post their papers in?

[[As I explained the acadamics (60%) 
who put all their work into PostScript 
form with bitmapped fonts have basically trashed their 
work.  Unless they kept TeX source files or DVI files.
All of Hobby's publications suffer.  You virtually have no 
choice on Mac but to go via a PS printer to paper.
And how long will that last?]]

Attached to GhostScript is a converter PS2PDF that is
implemented in CMacTeX. Also Academics get an $80 price for
Acrobat Distiller suite. But you can also use MacGS,
which is freeware (passim), but its good only for a very few
pages preferably one.

For acadamic stuff, easy street is DVI format with Textures
Reader (free). You have to install the CMPS type1 PS fonts
before-hand; use the %-version that do not show up in font
menus.

 Bob> Going to look (again),  URL would be welcomed...
 Tedd> Where's the web site?

hobby@... 
http://www.cs.bell-labs.com/who/hobby/pubs.html

Consult CTAN  ftp://ftp.tex.ac.uk for software--
use "quote site index <keyword>" for enquiries.

Ooff.  Getting set up is very much like dressing for American
football.

             Cheers

                    Larry

PS. CMacTeX ($40?) includes a truly vectorial PDF 
version of the MetaPost documentation.