AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

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When Ars launched in 1998, readers accessed articles through web browsers on personal computers using screens ranging from large CRT monitors to expensive LCDs or grayscale displays. One of the earliest perks offered to subscribers allowed them to read content without a browser by accessing formatted PDF files. This feature enabled printing reviews, such as John Siracusa’s Mac OS X Public Beta review, for reading in places like subways or creating personal searchable archives. Another option included full-text RSS feeds, which provided more than the two-paragraph summaries typically found on the web.

In 2026, despite the proliferation of larger and more portable screens, ArsPro subscribers continue to receive PDFs of every article and full-text RSS feeds. The publication maintains these options because sometimes the web is not the ideal place to read. Subscribers also gain access to additional features designed for power users, including ways to save long features for flights, follow stories via RSS, remove distractions, and engage with a community that has discussed technology intelligently for decades.

Subscribing to ArsPro or ArsPro++ is presented as a win-win proposition where readers receive an improved experience without ads or trackers while supporting the site financially. A $25 subscription supports the reporting, analysis, reviews, and other content that defines Ars, helping the organization rely less on advertising and more on readers who value its work. Each subscriber contributes to funding the deeply geeky projects that make up the publication’s daily output.