Print to PDF

OK what am I doing wrong? I create a document in text edit and use print / save as PDF and it seams to work just fine. On other computers the format is all wrong. I also created a .doc in classic (i have office 98) and when I use print / save as pdf the print is tiny on the screen. To confirm this I printed to my printer and it was tiny. The origonal documents look fine on my screen but when I print or put it on a windows computer (email or cd) the format/size is all wrong. I have always had this problem and let it go thinking I did not know what I was doing but after reading and watching youtube videos I wonder what is going on. Also now I have need for this function. They all make it sound so easy why am I having format issues? I have a PowerMac G5 running 10.5.8