Discussion Goodbye Adobe Reader

[dimar]

I've been using Adobe Reader for years, and only recently noticed how much startup and weird services Adobe Reader installs, which is really not needed for a PDF viewer. Even when I uninstalled it, there was still an Adobe service running, which I had to remove manually. No more Adobe Reader for me.

 

[faalin]

I have the latest version of adobe reader installed on my computer, if adobe is not open the only service running is the update service. If i open up adobe then i get 6 Adobe RdrCEF processes opened.

The only extra stuff adobe tries to get you to install is a bunch of McAfee junk but you can just uncheckmark that stuff before downloading.

 

[JeffreyP55]

I've been using Adobe Reader for years, and only recently noticed how much startup and weird services Adobe Reader installs, which is really not needed for a PDF viewer. Even when I uninstalled it, there was still an Adobe service running, which I had to remove manually. No more Adobe Reader for me.

Foxit reader works like a champ. Make sure to uncheck the, "try full version" for x amount of time.

Free PDF Reader: Download and View PDFs | Foxit

The best free PDF reader & viewer used by over 700 million users. Download Foxit PDF Reader for Windows, Mac, Android & more today!

www.foxit.com

 

[Grobe]

The Android version of Acrobat reader I've found supports forms (aka. buttons, text fields, etc).

A few years back I made myself a checklist to use on my phone. This is possible because pdf with forms, can actually be saved later after changing states of buttons/checkboxes and also text fields. Well - if using Acrobat reader, I did test some other pdf readers for Android but they didn't supported input fields/forms.

Important note: To make PDF with forms, one can use Libre Office Writer - you probably have to adjust the page size manually to make the final PDF appear correctly on the phone screen .

 

[USAFRet]

Foxit reader works like a champ. Make sure to uncheck the, "try full version" for x amount of time.

Actually, I'm having an issue with Foxit right now.
(Been using it for years)

Filling in a PDF form from the DMV.
Open in Firefox no problem.
Fill in some of the editable fields, no problem.

Save, and then open it in Foxit.
Some of the values are now in the wrong places.

Open that same saved file in Firefox, all is in the correct places.

 

[JeffreyP55]

Actually, I'm having an issue with Foxit right now.
(Been using it for years)

Filling in a PDF form from the DMV.
Open in Firefox no problem.
Fill in some of the editable fields, no problem.

Save, and then open it in Foxit.
Some of the values are now in the wrong places.

Open that same saved file in Firefox, all is in the correct places.

Me too. Haven't used Adobe reader in over 10 years. No problem here. (yet)

 

[BFG-9000]

Acrobat Reader became obsolete once all the browsers added pdf support. Before that it may have been handy to keep around in case your browser did not render a pdf correctly, but nowadays you can just use another browser.

Of course there are many cases where a PDF editor is desirable, but it's been 14 years since pdf support was added to Office and by now the free Office substitutes all support pdf too, which should certainly allow you to fill in fields on a form.

 

[Ralston18]

Another consideration is the source that provided any given copy of Adobe Reader.

Not at all uncommon to be at some website looking at or for a document while that site "offers" Adobe Reader as a download. Touting "free". Often including, as mentioned above, multiple add-ons etc..

Perhaps not necessarily with any malicious intent but there is no guarantee that that offered copy is up-to-date, uncorrupted, or actually virsus/malware free.

Generally accompanied by suggestions and encouragement to switch over to electronic document delivery for bills, financial statements, or disclosure agreements and other similar information. Claim being that Adobe Reader was needed to read the forms.

Like @BFG-9000 I have not had to use Adobe Reader for quite some time. Just took a quick look - not even installed anymore....

I think my last Adobe use was years ago for some out-of-state .pdf forms. Failed. Tried a couple of browsers - one of them worked.