PDF reader choice?

[KenK]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

TIA

 

[Bruce Hagen]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm
not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

TIA

Foxit Reader
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

Lightweight and with more functionality than Adobe Reader

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

Foxit Reader at http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/ I
think it's considerably better than Adobe Reader.

 

[Ken Springer]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

TIA

My initial exposure to Foxit wasn't good, but that was 2-3 years ago.
There may be no problem now, as a lot of people here like it.

I found one called Nitro Pro, http://www.nitroreader.com/, and install
it on my Windows machines.


--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.5
Firefox 23.0
Thunderbird 17.0.8
LibreOffice 4.1.0.4

 

[DGW]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

TIA

I've enjoyed very good results with SUMATRA.
http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/free-pdf-reader.html

It remains quietly in the background until you click a pdf. No
unsolicited updates & nothing to sell. I removed Adobe and purged it
from the registry a long time ago.

On the downside ..... if you download Sumatra by clicking one of those
pesky green "sf" thingies, you will likely encounter all sorts of
bloatware and other slimy stuff before you even get to Sumatra. Those
pesky green download thingies are everywhere, and should be avoided.

 

[Rasta Robert]

What's your choice for a PDF reader (for XP Home if it matters)? I use
Acrobat but am not fond of it. Frequent security holes and updates. I'm not
sure I entirely trust it. I try to avoid PDF files but sometimes have no
choice.

TIA

PDF-XChange Viewer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF-XChange_Viewer
http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer

 

[scsisys]

Another vote for Sumatra for PDF's.....Foxit just got to be to much of a
problem child.

scsisys

 

[Nil]

Another vote for Sumatra for PDF's.....Foxit just got to be to
much of a problem child.

How so? What's wrong with Foxit?

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

How so? What's wrong with Foxit?

I use Foxit 2.2. The entire installed folder is 6.5 megs.
It works good.
The latest version, 6.0.6x is 28.5 megs compressed.
Typical expansion is 2x to 3x.
I don't want the voice reader, embedded js functions, scanner,
video embedding, social networking, email, stamps, etc.
Just want a simple reader.

 

[Nil]

I use Foxit 2.2. The entire installed folder is 6.5 megs.
It works good.
The latest version, 6.0.6x is 28.5 megs compressed.
Typical expansion is 2x to 3x.
I don't want the voice reader, embedded js functions, scanner,
video embedding, social networking, email, stamps, etc.
Just want a simple reader.

This thread inspired me yesterday to install Foxit 6 to check it out.
It takes up about 78 MB. I already uninstalled Adobe Reader X, so I
can't compare, but I think it was somewhat more than that. Still, 78
seems excessive. Maybe I'll remove it and install Foxit 2.2.

I've seen complaints about recent versions of Foxit foisting the Ask
Toolbar during installation. I don't see any sign of the toolbar, but I
find an option in Preferences that says, "Hide Ask.com search button",
so maybe it's there somewhere.

Otherwise, I like Foxit. It seems faster than Adobe Reader and it's
easier to maneuver around a PDF.

 

[jim]

This thread inspired me yesterday to install Foxit 6 to check it out.
It takes up about 78 MB. I already uninstalled Adobe Reader X, so I
can't compare, but I think it was somewhat more than that. Still, 78
seems excessive. Maybe I'll remove it and install Foxit 2.2.

I've seen complaints about recent versions of Foxit foisting the Ask
Toolbar during installation. I don't see any sign of the toolbar, but I
find an option in Preferences that says, "Hide Ask.com search button",
so maybe it's there somewhere.

Otherwise, I like Foxit. It seems faster than Adobe Reader and it's
easier to maneuver around a PDF.

When installing use " advanced " which lets you install what you need .

 

[Paul]

This thread inspired me yesterday to install Foxit 6 to check it out.
It takes up about 78 MB. I already uninstalled Adobe Reader X, so I
can't compare, but I think it was somewhat more than that. Still, 78
seems excessive. Maybe I'll remove it and install Foxit 2.2.

I've seen complaints about recent versions of Foxit foisting the Ask
Toolbar during installation. I don't see any sign of the toolbar, but I
find an option in Preferences that says, "Hide Ask.com search button",
so maybe it's there somewhere.

Otherwise, I like Foxit. It seems faster than Adobe Reader and it's
easier to maneuver around a PDF.

I ran the Inno setup file in WINE in a Linux VM.

There were two folders in TEMP. One folder had a
copy of Google Chrome. (If you already have Chrome,
I suppose this is no big deal. An analysis of Chrome
shows it isn't exactly all that friendly either.
Evil, almost.)

There is a series of pictures here, for what a Foxit install
looks like, and I don't see Google Chrome in this sequence.

http://www.pc-helpforum.be/f304/foxit-reader-downloaden-en-installeren-handleiding-58412/

They show an Ask Toolbar with a Foxit button on the right side of it.
At first, I thought the Toolbar picture looked familiar. And then
I saw the word "Ask" when looking a little further down.

http://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads6/5140368b640f6/5140368b63d10-Foxit_-_Ask_Toolbar.PNG

So maybe they slyly put the Chrome in there somewhere. I don't
know if I want to continue that installer any further right now.
I got all the info I really needed, by the time I got here.
Then used the wording in this picture, in an image search,
to find the pc-helpforum.be thread.

http://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads6/514035e77c05b/514035e77bc84-Foxit_-_Setup_Wizard.PNG

The second folder in TEMP contained "foxit.tmp", which is a PE32
program and only 1,897,984 bytes or so. I suppose that could
be the thing drawing the installer dialog.

The Program Files folder for Foxit has CheckUpdate.exe,
gcapi_dll.dll, gtapi_signed.dll, and the last two appear
to be Google files. The CheckUpdate appears to be the
same size as one of the files in the Google Chrome folder,
but with a different MD5SUM. Maybe Google Chrome springs up
the first time Foxit runs ?

So, yeah, an older version probably sounds like a good idea.

Running the uninstaller in the Program Files folder seemed to
work. And it removed the Applications Data stuff for Foxit as well.
So they probably didn't get $1 for my Chrome installation, if it
indeed happened. I tried scrolling through a file listing,
and I can't see any other signs it's hiding on my virtual
C drive in WINE.

Paul

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

I use Foxit 2.2. The entire installed folder is 6.5 megs.
It works good.
The latest version, 6.0.6x is 28.5 megs compressed.
Typical expansion is 2x to 3x.
I don't want the voice reader, embedded js functions, scanner,
video embedding, social networking, email, stamps, etc.
Just want a simple reader.

The main reason for installing later versions is that some recent .pdf
files may contain elements that won't display with the earlier versions
(be it of Acrobat, Foxit, or whatever). I suspect the proportion of such
..pdfs is pretty tiny - anyone have any feel for what it actually is?

On the original question: I've only experience with Acrobat and Foxit,
and prefer the latter, though I agree more recent versions are getting
too big. One thing I do like about Acrobat (9 I think it is - not sure
how long it's been there) is the ability to print as booklet: IMO that
should be part of any printer driver, at least for printers that can do
double-sided, but since it isn't, it's handy to have it there in
Acrobat. I don't know which if any other .pdf readers offer it - the
versions of Foxit I have I think don't.

 

[Nil]

When installing use " advanced " which lets you install what you
need .

I always do that. Ask Toolbar was not listed. Chrome might have been, I
don't remember for sure, but if it was I declined.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

How so? What's wrong with Foxit?

You took the words out of my mouth. I've been using Foxit Reader for a
couple of years now (always the latest version) and I think it's
great. There's nothing wrong with it that I know of.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I always do that. Ask Toolbar was not listed. Chrome might have been, I
don't remember for sure, but if it was I declined.

You are correct. Ask is not a choice, but Chrome is. Unfortunately,
installing Chrome as the default browser is pre-checked, so you have
to uncheck it if you don't want it. As far as I'm concerned, that's
reprehensible, but it doesn't affect how good the Foxit Reader product
itself is.

 

[Nil]

You are correct. Ask is not a choice, but Chrome is.
Unfortunately, installing Chrome as the default browser is
pre-checked, so you have to uncheck it if you don't want it. As
far as I'm concerned, that's reprehensible, but it doesn't affect
how good the Foxit Reader product itself is.

The pre-selected foistware thing is annoying and underhanded.
Unfortunately, most of the "free" software that I've installed in the
past year or two does it. You just have to always choose the Advanced
install option, keep your eyes open, and read all messages to see what
you're agreeing or not agreeing to, and don't go blindly clicking the
Next button.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The pre-selected foistware thing is annoying and underhanded.

Yes and yes.

Unfortunately, most of the "free" software that I've installed in the
past year or two does it.

Yes.


You just have to always choose the Advanced
install option, keep your eyes open, and read all messages to see what
you're agreeing or not agreeing to, and don't go blindly clicking the
Next button.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

We apparently agree on this! <g>

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

The main reason for installing later versions is that some recent .pdf
files may contain elements that won't display with the earlier versions
(be it of Acrobat, Foxit, or whatever). I suspect the proportion of such
.pdfs is pretty tiny - anyone have any feel for what it actually is?

On the original question: I've only experience with Acrobat and Foxit,
and prefer the latter, though I agree more recent versions are getting
too big. One thing I do like about Acrobat (9 I think it is - not sure
how long it's been there) is the ability to print as booklet: IMO that
should be part of any printer driver, at least for printers that can do
double-sided, but since it isn't, it's handy to have it there in
Acrobat. I don't know which if any other .pdf readers offer it - the
versions of Foxit I have I think don't.

Foxit 2.2 is installed on the W7 work computer, also, and I get
about 5 pdf's per day, M-F, from companies and contractors
around the USA and Canada. So far there has been only one
contractor that sent a pdf that Foxit 2.2 cannot read.
That was in 2010 and I had him send me the *.doc instead.
I don't know what program he used to make the pdf.
No problems opening pdf's off the web, so far.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: []

The main reason for installing later versions is that some recent
.pdf files may contain elements that won't display with the earlier
versions (be it of Acrobat, Foxit, or whatever). I suspect the
proportion of such .pdfs is pretty tiny - anyone have any feel for
what it actually is?

[]
Foxit 2.2 is installed on the W7 work computer, also, and I get
about 5 pdf's per day, M-F, from companies and contractors
around the USA and Canada. So far there has been only one
contractor that sent a pdf that Foxit 2.2 cannot read.
That was in 2010 and I had him send me the *.doc instead.
I don't know what program he used to make the pdf.
No problems opening pdf's off the web, so far.

So that's 5×5×52×about 3, plus web ones; one dud out of that. Sounds
like a good reason to stay with the older versions (-:!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Look, if it'll help you to do what I tell you, baby, imagine that I've got a
blaster ray in my hand." "Uh - you _have_ got a blaster ray in your hand." "So
you shouldn't have to tax your imagination too hard." (Link episode)