Author Topic: What is your favorite PDF reader ? (Read 13191 times)

BravoV · « **on:** May 31, 2012, 07:35:59 am »

I guess no body can live without it in this electronic world nowdays.

Let me start 1st, for desktop I'm using SumatraPDF (open source) but with native x64 bit compiled binary running at Win 7 x64 system. My reason is it has a really small footprint in memory and launched very fast too, and its capable of scrolling/zooming so stupidly fast even at a humongous scanned pdf file like those A0 sized schematic from old manuals, everything seems instantaneously rendered on screen. For tablet (ipad) I use GoodReader, again with the same reason that its pretty fast and capable of opening huge pdf without any glitches compared to other competitors.

Personally I never used annotation, so its pretty straight forward for me that my pdf viewer is for viewing only.

Which pdf reader you're currently using now and why ?

david77 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:03:34 am »

To be honest I've never even thought of using another product than Adobe's Acrobat Reader.
I still use an older version, I think it is 5 or 6. Works realtively good, if a bit slow at times. I will give SumatraPDF a try:)

pickle9000 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:22:14 am »

PDF-XChange Viewer the free version. It's very simple, fast, and small.

...mike

samgab · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:22:49 am »

"Foxit Reader" FTW. I can't stand Acrobat, it's such bloatware.

BravoV · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:48:37 am »

Just fyi, the sumatrapdf executable file "SumatraPDF.EXE" is only 4.5 MB (the 32bit version), and all you need is only this single file to run and doesn't need any other supporting files either, and windows registry is untouched at all. Also since its open source, its not an ad-ware of course.

I used to use foxit heavily for quite some time years ago before they're turning into heavily advertisement ridden software

and worst its now it so bloated compared to before ad-ware era.

AntiProtonBoy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2012, 09:14:07 am »

I'm also a Foxit Reader user when it comes to quick document checks. It has a tabbed user interface, which is ace, but sadly it does not remember document states between sessions. Also the recent version is really ugly... for some retarded reason they decided to re-skin the UI and gives no option to disable it.

I also found Google Chrome to be really good for opening multiple PDF tabs (like lots and lots of tabs), plus it reopens them between sessions.

codeboy2k · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2012, 09:41:21 am »

Quote from: BravoV on May 31, 2012, 08:48:37 am

Just fyi, the sumatrapdf executable file "SumatraPDF.EXE" is only 4.5 MB (the 32bit version), and all you need is only this single file to run and doesn't need any other supporting files either, and windows registry is untouched at all. Also since its open source, its not an ad-ware of course.

I used to use foxit heavily for quite some time years ago before they're turning into heavily advertisement ridden software and worst its now it so bloated compared to before ad-ware era.

I've used foxit for so long now, and yes, I've noticed it's gotten big and bloaty. I'll give sumatraPDF a try now.

kripton2035 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2012, 10:03:04 am »

I'm using preview, integrated with mac os x ...
simple and fast
dont like acrobat too !

Rufus · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:07:53 am »

Do any of the 3rd party readers provide the 3D view in this document?

http://www.hammondmfg.com/pdf/1550Q.pdf

firewalker · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:43:17 am »

For me Okular.

http://okular.kde.org/

Alexander.

BravoV · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2012, 12:09:09 pm »

Quote from: codeboy2k on May 31, 2012, 09:41:21 am

I've used foxit for so long now, and yes, I've noticed it's gotten big and bloaty. I'll give sumatraPDF a try now.

If you're running Win 7 x64 platform, just google for a precompiled 64 bit binary of this program, cause sumatrapdf website only provides 32 bit version. There are a lot of this pre-compiled in win x64 bit binary at the internet by sumatrapdf fans/supporters, some are heavily optimized for modern cpu platform which supposed to be better or faster, though I haven't bench them 32 vs 64 directly, it just "feels" faster especially in opening/viewing/zooming/panning a huge hundreds MB pdf file.

Quote from: Rufus on May 31, 2012, 11:07:53 am

Do any of the 3rd party readers provide the 3D view in this document?

http://www.hammondmfg.com/pdf/1550Q.pdf

I guess you're stuck with Acrobat, the SumatraPDF can not render the animated 3D view, it displays only a static 3D view, not sure at others. I can't recall if any of my pdf files collection need this feature, guess I can live without it.

Chasm · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2012, 12:29:10 pm »

Quote from: pickle9000 on May 31, 2012, 08:22:14 am

PDF-XChange Viewer the free version. It's very simple, fast, and small.

...mike

I second PDF-XChange Viewer Free, it's neat and quite powerful. If you need more functionality the upgrades are reasonably priced.

Standard and Pro versions can embed 3D objects which are fully functional in Adobe Acrobat Reader. No 3D view at this time through.

codeboy2k · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2012, 12:43:37 pm »

Quote from: firewalker on May 31, 2012, 11:43:17 am

For me Okular.

http://okular.kde.org/

Alexander.

Foxit Reader display a static 3D view, but I couldn't seem to manipulate it to change the view. So maybe not.

SeanB · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2012, 12:56:33 pm »

The default Xpdf reader, but have the Adobe bloatware just in case i need to use a unfriendly file with Java in it.

free_electron · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2012, 01:38:18 pm »

Adobe of course. Duh !
All the others are wannabe's and not guarantee to be complete in functionality.
Adobe does not release the full specs of the format..

The same bullshit with all those pdf printer programs. Just get the real thing.

As for 'bloatware' i have the real acrobat ( the generator and the reader that comes with that ) and it is noticably faster than the free reader. I have two identical computers. Same mobo cpu ram hdd video , everything identical. One with the paying version ( came in CS5 master edition. I bought that because i needed Illustrator , Photoshop and Indesign. Was cheaper to buy the whole suite than buying individual) and one with free version.

The paid acrobat opens documents much faster than the free one. Footprint is also smaller...
The paid one does not say 'acrobat reader' at the title bar but something else... I believe it says acrobat preview or acrobat distiller. I'll look it up when back home

Chasm · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2012, 02:16:13 pm »

I don't have a problem with bloatware, I have a problem with the unmitigated security problem Acrobat is.

BravoV · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2012, 02:31:32 pm »

Quote from: free_electron on May 31, 2012, 01:38:18 pm

Adobe of course. Duh !
All the others are wannabe's and not guarantee to be complete in functionality.
Adobe does not release the full specs of the format..

The same bullshit with all those pdf printer programs. Just get the real thing.

As for 'bloatware' i have the real acrobat ( the generator and the reader that comes with that ) and it is noticably faster than the free reader. I have two identical computers. Same mobo cpu ram hdd video , everything identical. One with the paying version ( came in CS5 master edition. I bought that because i needed Illustrator , Photoshop and Indesign. Was cheaper to buy the whole suite than buying individual) and one with free version.

The paid acrobat opens documents much faster than the free one. Footprint is also smaller...
The paid one does not say 'acrobat reader' at the title bar but something else... I believe it says acrobat preview or acrobat distiller. I'll look it up when back home

Not sure if you're filthy rich or not, but you're suggesting majority of people to buy a full blown acrobat application "just for reading" PDF file is just plain stupid.

Regarding incompatibilities on various features that Adobe Acrobat has, those are niche or minors that 99.99% of pdf files out there don't have that, and also for casual users that need to view only, those can be ignored.

free_electron · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2012, 02:40:07 pm »

why is it that posts on a forum are always misunderstood ...

What i'm saying is that there is a noticable difference between the free acrobat reader and the paid version. I'm not suggesting everybody goes out and buys CS5. It is just something i noticed. as for the why and how ? dont know

But i do stand by my remark on the pdf writer software as well as the free reader software. just get the real thing. the others are all wannabe's that do not have a 100% implementation. Only adobe can provide that.

SeanB · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:28:19 pm »

The free and the paid version of course are different.

FE obviously needed the distillation abilities of the Adobe creation suite, probably as a part of his generating manuals and application notes for his job. The reader part is just to test the output, and, being part of the suite, obviously does not have all of the bloat associated with having an updater, checking for updates and such, just the whole cut down core only. The suite relies on the developer being notified, and then updating the whole suite.

AntiProtonBoy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:50:30 pm »

Adobe is to PCs as cancer is to humans.

free_electron · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2012, 06:23:16 pm »

Quote from: SeanB on May 31, 2012, 03:28:19 pm

probably as a part of his generating manuals and application notes for his job.

nope. hobby

i'm writing books which requires having distiller and indesign. Plus i make all graphics in illustrator (which i am used to have at work) And i always wanted Photoshop and Premiere ( since i shoot pictures and video underwater as a hobby ) so in the end the whoel suite was cheaper than the individual components and it comes with Adobe Bridge that glues everything together.

Quote

checking for updates and such, just the whole cut down core only. The suite relies on the developer being notified, and then updating the whole suite.

hmm , now that you mention that... that may be it. CS comes with a centralized updater which is completely different than the regular updater. there's also no 'helper' applications that i can see in the process list. If i click on a pdf link in a website it does not open in the browser but in a separate window (always) so it looks there is no browser plugin either. So tere are apparently key differences. Anyway i got no complaints about it ( neither paid or free version ). It works, i'm happy.

SeanB · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2012, 06:46:01 pm »

I just use either an old version of MSOffice, or OOfice /LibreOffice or even Abiword.

A curse is people who send (whatever)x documents, as then I have to go to the machine concerned ( at work) and install the converter pack ( on a server) so they can read the stuff.

A pox too on computer suppliers who supply a "Trial" version of office, with a 6 month runtime. My solution is the free Libreoffice installed instead of it, most users do not notice the difference at all. Those wedded to office 2000 I demo office 2010 with the ribbon, then they want the "other office" instead.

Still got a version of WP around though, but it runs best in Dosbox, and is hard to print from.

FenderBender · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:07:27 pm »

To be honest, I don't mind Adobe Reader. I know that it's fat and ugly, but I used to use Foxit and sometimes stuff just didn't work, images not rendering correctly and 3D hardly worked. So I reinstalled Adobe.

I'm considering switching back because those problems have probably been fixed and Foxit was much lighter.

jerry507 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 01, 2012, 05:22:02 pm »

Foxit crashed all the time when I used it. Now I just use Adobe Reader on PCs. Preview on OSX is easily the best PDF reader I've ever used though.

LEECH666 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 01, 2012, 08:29:59 pm »

Using PDF XChange Viewer atm, because Opera (my browser) is incredibly slow at opening PDFs with the original Acrobat Reader.
I like the original Acrobat Reader GUI better tho. I also tried Foxit but there was a slight glitch that made me uninstall it again. Whenever I viewed a PDF inside the browser the printing toolbar howered over the browser window. No matter what tab was selected. I've also used Sumatra before and sometimes it does open PDFs Acrobat reads couldnt open because it thought the PDF was damaged. So give that one a try if you can't open a PDF.

Florian


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Author Topic: What is your favorite PDF reader ? (Read 13191 times)

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