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Introduction
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| Sick to death of Adobe's slow, bloated PDF Reader? If so, then consider one of the excellent free third party viewers that are available. |
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Discussion
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PDF-XChange Viewer. Like Foxit it allows PDF annotation; but in this case, it thankfully leaves the annotated copy free of validation marks. It also allows you to fill and save Adobe PDF forms, extract text and images, magnify text and export PDF pages or documents to BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG formats and has excelent image/text clarity. The only downside is the program size; at 15.11MB. However, there is a portable version available that is only 5.69MB. Foxit Reader. It's small, loads in a flash, supports bookmarks, has search capability, offers many extra features and even allows you to annotate PDF files. On top of that, it can also print PDFs. On the downside, I find the PDFs look less clear on my PC screen than with PDF-XChange; and the annotation feature leaves validation marks which can only be removed by buying the full version of the reader. One thing of which you might want to be careful of, is that during the installation, if you un-check or check to install the firefox plugin, the start menu shortcut, desktop shortcut, and quick launch shortcut boxes are automatically checked. Smallest of all is Cool PDF reader. It can view, print, and convert PDF files to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS, and the Standard installer is only a 938KB download! What I didn't like about Cool PDF Reader is that I got a few error messages while trying to open some of my PDF files, but the other ones I tried worked fine. Another thing that bothered me is that page contents do not get updated while the scroll bar is being dragged, and loading pages can sometimes get glitchy. All in all this is a slim reader that does what Adobe Reader does with alot less resources. In the heavyweight category we have Perfect PDF Reader 5. The download size weighs in at a whopping 22MB. If the size doesn't scare you off, Perfect PDF Reader has some unique features. It can export PDF's as plain text or export by the page as images (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, Metafile) with different resolutions. Other features include the ability to extract text and images, fill, save, and print PDF forms, and apply digital signatures and timestamps. Overall, this is a a great PDF reader that lacks some features like PDF annotation and is a large download. Sumatra PDF Viewer. The interface is a little crude and no, it hasn't got the features or image clarity of PDF-XChange; but 99.9% of the time, all most folks want from a PDF reader is to be able to read PDFs. And that's what Sumatra does.
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Related Products and Links
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PDF-XChange Viewer
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Loads reasonably fast, can print PDFs, allows basic annotation without watermaking, superior text clarity, allows you to fill and save Adobe PDF forms, extract text and images, magnify text, and export PDF pages or documents to BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG formats. | |
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Extra features come at cost of a big download, not as fast loading as Foxit | |
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http://www.docu-track.com/home | |
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http://www.docu-track.com/downloads/users/ |
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15.11MB  2.042  Restricted Freeware (full commercial version available)  Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
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Portable version available (5.69MB) | |
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FREE version may be used both for private and commercial use - provided it is not redistributed or bundled with other software | |
Foxit Reader Free
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Stable,fast,can print PDFs as well read, allows PDF annotation. | |
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PDF's look slightly blury. Have to pay to remove annotation watermarks. | |
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http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ | |
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http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/ |
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3.57MB 3.0 Build 1817 Restricted Freeware (full commercial version available) Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
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Cool PDF Reader
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Loads the fastest. Can convert PDF's to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, and EPS. Very small download. | |
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The scroll bar does not update the contents of the PDF while you drag it. Not alot of features compared to PDF-XChange. Annoying "Convert PDF to EXE" ad. | |
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http://www.pdf2exe.com/index.html |
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(656KB) or (938KB) 2.0.0.99 Unrestricted Freeware Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
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Portable version available (626KB) | |
Perfect PDF Reader 5
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Exports PDF's as plain text or export by the page as images (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, Metafile) with different resolutions. Can Extract text and images, fill, save, and print PDF forms, and apply digital signatures and timestamps. | |
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Very large download(22MB). Fair image quaility. Does not not support PDF annotation. | |
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http://www.soft-xpansion.com/ | |
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http://www.soft-xpansion.com/index.php?p=/pdftech/pdfqr/ |
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22.44MB 5.0.4 Unrestricted Freeware Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
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Sumatra PDF Viewer
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Small, fast, source code available. | |
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Few features - it's basically just a viewer, image quality is not the best. | |
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http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/index.html | |
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http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/download.html |
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1.2MB 0.9.3 Unrestricted Freeware Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista |
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Portable version available | |
Contact Details:
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor new61. Registered site visitors can contact me by clicking here.
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I spend a lot of time on Facebook, also on the application "Farm Town" lol lately when I am on it a message comes up saying that the flash player has encountered a problem and needs to close and it then shuts down the program. I currently have the latest edition available of the Adobe Flash Player. Could someone tell me why this is happening and possibly offer a solution of some sort. As I am not up on the technical side of things it needs to be easy to follow, for example I dont even know what roll the flash player plays lol. Wld welcome any advice. Thankyou
If you care to register and post this again in the forum I'm sure someone will be able to help.
I don't think you are asking your question in the right place. I suggest you take your question to yahoo answers or something similar.
http://answers.yahoo.com/
I have tested both Acrobat Adobe Reader and Professional. although they are the leading viewer and manipulators around, but FoxitReader seems to be faster on startup, page scrolling and navigation, and one of the most important features which makes me a fan of Foxit is its history feature, which takes you directly to the page which you were reading last time you closed your PDF file.
It helps me not to save page numbers anywhere else!
Reza Bakhshi
but none of them is faster, and more handy than KPDF in KDE, Linux! ;)
R B.
KPDF is history. Try Okular :)
Now i am trying PDF-XChange Viewer - Portable v.2.04105
absolutely better than sumatra :D
thanks
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http://tasarhane.com
Try this: http://www.stdutility.com/stduviewer.html - really lightweight and fast loading.
I tried both Foxit Reader and PDF XChange Viewer Free. PDF XChange Viewer got jpeg2000 and asian language support integrated, while you have to download them for Foxit. It even contains a browser plugin, while it has to be downloaded for Foxit also. Extracted both files are about the same size for me (i am using the installed version from both). Featurewise PDF XChange Viewer Free is better, which is the reason why it is my favourite.
love adobe reader lite
Honestly, I would love to continue using Sumatra PDF Viewer because it's so simple and easy to use. I stopped using it and switched back to FoxIt Reader for three reasons (I know they aren't "big deals" but they bother me)
1) Sumatra does not remember the settings for viewing pages, I put "continuous facing" but every time I open another PDF or eBook, it goes back to the default one page view. This is quite annoying since I have a huge lecture/ebook collection that I browse through, and I prefer viewing pdfs to make it seem like I'm reading a book. I did not like having to keep changing the option.
2) Sumatra also always open off screen. The window always open partially off my screen and I have to drag it back into place. It also does not stay maximized, but changed sizes after I close and reopen.
3) I did not see a tab viewing option. The big up's for FoxIt reader is that it views files in tabs, which is very convenient (some other viewers probably have this option, but I did not try any other ones.)
Since I am a big PDF and eBook reader, it's difficult for me to always change the settings and drag windows into place. If these aren't bugs, then it must be my computer. So seriously, this program would've done the job for me since I do not require all other fancy tools, but it did not work out for me. I also realize that the words and text come out blurry (as stated here), much more blurry than FoxIt Reader.
how about http://soft-xpansion.com/index.php?p=pdftech/pdfqr
Thank you for your suggestion. I added it to the list :)
I like xpdf for its simplicity
Oops sorry about that. I guess this is the only one you like for the small pdf size huh?
I meant this is the smallest light weight low system resource viewer that wou have tested. The portable one here.. Thank you for the links and reviews.
You might consider green browser and ob1 browser for speed and size in browser cat.
Cool PDF Reader 2.0.0.99
Search for that. It used half the resources as the app Sumatra. Sumatra was faster however Cool PDF Reader 2.0.0.99 has not yet crashed. The tests I conducted were from a 45mb magazine scan. As I forward through the pages in Sumatra it drains 100+ in task manager. I then have to minimize and expand it from tray thus reducing to the 20+ at start. If there is a program that minimizes applications that are hogging too much mem or mimicks that function somehow can someone link to it here please?
Happy new year 09'
Cool Pdf should only be used for ebooks with pdf text not large scanned archives such as art books and the like. I just had 2 failures in a row with it and Sumatra could read one of the 2 a 33 mb file but "could'nt render the page" for the 150mb one. Perhaps a web created 150mb archive might not choke it up too badly. I leave this all up to you folks now. Keep up the good work.
The same size.
But PDF-xchange viewer has more functions,so I choose it.
there is program to speedup acrobat reader installation and make it light. basically it doesnt load components used rarely resulting in faster startup of acrobat reader. and yes foxit does have stability issues.
just uninstalled PDF-XChange Viewer kept telling my my files were corrupt
I've been using Foxit since 2 years now..
Its lightweight, fast and doesnt eat up memory unline the Adobe PDF reader. It does the job..Why pay more for same service ?
I've used Foxit for a year or so. It suits me well as I only need text, not graphics so have not seen the graphics problem. As for the 'marks', it was only an issue once and free graphics software gets rid of that problem. I switched to pdf-X for a while but found it a bit clumsy compared with Foxit so I switched back after a couple of months.
I use pdfs for everything I can. My printer has a problem due to lack of use. I can always find stuff and don't have to get any exercise to do it. I almost never post anything by snail mail. I can change/update my stuff when necessary. I'm so lazy I'm organised.
After trying Foxit and Pdf-X, I turned back to Adobe Reader... Lite.
Foxit is the best
I've recently been testing out another free option called eXPert PDF Reader from Visagesoft. The download file is just under 8MB and you can find the download link at http://www.visagesoft.com/products/pdfreader/.
I haven't used it very often, but my impression is that this program loads quickly and displays PDF files cleanly and clearly. It appears to have the same basic tools as most free PDF readers including text and graphic selection tools that allow you to copy and paste content elsewhere, but it also provides options to add comments and attachments to the file. (Serious editing requires buying their eXPert PDF Editor companion program.)
So far it looks like it might be a keeper.
Nitro PDF is also worth a look. It is a bit slow on html conversion but watch for deal pricing and you'll be pleased.
Yes, I have already tried it using the Firefox extension and I like it. The latest versions also produces PDF's online without the need of any aditional software installed, and the quality - comparing with Adobe Pro - is very reasonable; the bandwidth is limited though, I was only able to do 1 multipage PDF at a time.
I've tried Foxit Reader before but didn't find it very stable. I may try PDF-XChange sometime.
As much as I hate the bloat of Adobe Acrobat Reader, I don't believe there are any alternatives out there that perform as well.
One thing that irritates me is how Adobe keep adding unnecessary features to the .pdf standard, forcing you to upgrade to the latest reader in order to properly display the latest files. Is it just me, or has Adobe turned into the Microsoft of the publishing software world? --Igor
Is it just me, or is Adobe Reader 9.0 much faster than 8.0? Seems very quick. Still a very large download though (33.5MB).
Best Free Non-Adobe PDF Reader is Adobe Reader Lite: "This is a bloat-free version of the popular PDF viewer, Adobe Reader, brought to you by Shark007, the creator of Vista Codec Package".
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/Adobe-Reader-Lite.shtml
Adobe Reader Lite as Best Free Non-Adobe PDF Reader, that's classic!
Anyway, these are some pros and cons for me (others' opinions will of course be different):
Pros:
* Opens much faster than normal Adobe Reader
* Good compatibility, renders PDFs correctly where others sometimes fail
* Memory usage is about the same as other contenders
Cons:
* Installer gives no options as to what to install, where to install to, etc.
* Just takes over the system from other PDF reader and when uninstalling it, it does not revert the system back to the way it was, at least it removed all the installed files
* Installed its 50MB in size (and that's just the Reader directory, it installs files in other directories as well)
* There's still a pop-up asking about sending anonymous feedback regarding usage to Adobe, I call that bloat, so not every useless feature is removed
* No portable version
* Does not have some of the added features that other contenders have
Bloat-free and it's still a 16.5 MB download? No thanks!
If the installer size is the only thing it matters to you, don't use it. There's no comparison between Adobe Reader with Foxit or PDF-X in terms of render quality or PDF compatibility.
I used Foxit for about a year and couldn't stand the fact that you couldn't highlight and save without the evaluation marks on the pdf. I've switched to PDF-XChange a few months ago and love the fact that you can highlight and annotate and save without the marks. However, I recently have been noticing that PDF-XChange is somewhat sluggish in rendering pages. I have tried to tweak my settings but this has not yet helped. Opening up the same file in Foxit the page is rendered faster.
For PDF-XChange Viewer the article states: "There is a lite version available that's half the size but missing most of the features." This is untrue.
There is a portable version that is smaller in download size (4.39 MB), but the functions are exactly the same as the normal installer one. In fact, the PDF-XChange Viewer EXE file for both are about 6.4MB in size.
See comments below, I've already said that. The portable version doesn't have the IE/FF plugins, manual, and "live" update. Lite is shareware, maybe it wasn't in the good old days...
http://www.pdf2exe.com/reader.html
Foxit is very good for text documents, but for images and specially for vectorial images is very, very bad - not really an alternative to Adobe free. Recently I couldn't see some images (perfectly displayed in Adobe pro), the program prompted me to upgrade, but there was no new version... I tried to contact their technical support, but they give me no feedback, so I'm willing to try PDF-XChange Viewer. Problem is their site is down...
So I download PDF-XChange Viewer (2.0) from Snap files and must say it renders smothly the file where Foxit (2.3.2923) stuck. The downside is memory usage, with this 4MB pdf crowded of vectorial images it uses 450MB of RAM. On the other hand, opening the 10 MB Acronis manual, it uses 48MB of RAM.
I don't like the GUI, but you can hide all the toolbars including the advertising, shortcuts are easy and common, the app really keeps the saved settings, you get a plugin for IE AND Firefox and it has some advanced features to tweak memory and thread usage. Too bad you cannot change the bookmarks style, they could alow you to hide those intrusive icons. Overall I think its better than Foxit.
Another reason not to use Foxit is that the unninstaller simply doesn't work. I knew this was true in previous versions but can confirm 2.3.2923 has the same problem. After installation of PDF-XChange Viewer, I couldn't set it as my default viewer. The reason? - left over pieces of Foxit in the registry. I had uninstalled with Revo, scanned and cleaned the registry with Ccleaner, but I was able to find and delete 25 KB of Foxit data (a lot!) running regedit. Cleaning the registry manually was the fix, take care!
I've also found that PDFs with lots of vector diagrams are using lots of memory, up to 512MB for me, but it doesn't go higher than that. It will start off low, and for each page opened the memory usage will climb.
I thought it might be a memory leak, so I did a little bit of digging, there is a setting for "Memory usage", with "System memory in percentage points". Set this to a certain level and the memory usage won't go over that.
I think what happens is that it stores all the previous pages in memory, so if you go back it shows up instantly. All pages gets stored until it reaches the allowable memory usage, then it starts releasing some of the pages from memory.
I've uninstalled FoxIt, very much impressed with PDF-XChange Viewer since it also loads very quickly, you can add commenting to files and also fill in forms and save it.
Jim, the Lite version costs $24 for single user and it has more features than the viewer. You are probably talking of the 4MB portable, right?
Foxit reader is great. I use it all the time, however when I try to download Vanguard Funds tax documents, it won't let me. Is there a way? It wants me to use adobe reader. My adobe reader 8.1.2 is corrupted and it won't let me uninstall it.
Search revo in the uninstall section.
I just tried STDU and I am on board... I have been a user of Foxit v1.x for some time now but STDU looks pretty sweet too... thanks for the tip!
PDF-XChange Viewer does not allow you to fill and save forms. I tried it with a pdf with editable text fields and PDF-XChange Viewer only deleted the default text, would not let me fill in new text. Any suggestions on a free viewer that would let me add new text to editable text fields?
Sumatra worked for me on State taxforms.
I tried Foxit first, but it wouldn't work.
Sumatra Reader
Website: http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/index.html
Download page: http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/download.html
Just tried PDF-XChange Viewer with a form and it works perfectly: filled in the fields and saved it. Maybe there's something wrong with the document.
Another vote for STDU Viewer, tabs + bookmarks ... it's excellent !!!