SillyDog701

[Fulvio]

I have Adobe Reader 9.3.2 ( or is it 9.3.0?), which. from what I determined from the website, is the latest version. Twice an update notice came up, and, twice, it failed, saying that the installer has insufficient permissions at two different files (different files each time). I, finally, downloaded the setup file from the website. I had two choices, i.e. to repair or uninstall. I chose the first option, and twice, when the process was over, I got system errors.
This morning, I uninstalled, and then reinstalled, with no issue. Less than one hour later, I got another notice that there was an update available. But, did not proceed. Has anyone had this experience?

Never mind! Sixth time is the charm! Now, I have 9.3.3!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.12pre) Gecko/20100701 Shiretoko/3.5.12pre

[Antony]

You are very patient.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.6; en-US; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6

[iJohnE]

I had a similar problem today with my Grandparents XP machine. I installed the reader updates and it sent it on perpetual cycle of restarting. I had to uninstall and re-install Adobe Reader to get it to stop.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; WOW64; en-US; rv:2.0b1) Gecko/20100628 Firefox/4.0b1

[DJGM]

Adobe Reader has become too bloated recently. The last version I used had an install size over 100MB.
That is seriously way over the top for an application that is made primarily for displaying documents.

What makes things worse, is Adobe forces you to install a totally pointless and unnecessary download
manager before you can download Adobe Reader or Flash Player. If you try downloading with Firefox,
it tries to also install a pointless extension that installs the download manager. Since I've added an
extra bit to the UA string (like Firefox/3.5.x) on my SeaMonkey, Adobe attempts to force me to
install this add-on ... and it won't install in SeaMonkey as it's only compatible with Firefox.

My recommendation ... use Foxit Reader instead, and to hell with the Adobe bloatware!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.1.10) Gecko/20100504 SeaMonkey/2.0.5 (like Firefox/3.5.x)

[Anonymosity]

I got my new Mac Flash plugin installer from here:
http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/fl ... osx_ub.dmg
For Windows:
http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/fl ... player.exe

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko Firefox/3.6.6

[Antony]

Adobe Reader has become too bloated recently. The last version I used had an install size over 100MB.

100MB isn't that big in today's standard, to be fair. Also, the disliking of Aodbe Reader itself is an entirely different subject.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; U; CPU OS 3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/531.21.10 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.4 Mobile/7B367 Safari/531.21.10

[Mandrake]

Adobe Reader has become too bloated recently. The last version I used had an install size over 100MB.
That is seriously way over the top for an application that is made primarily for displaying documents.

What makes things worse, is Adobe forces you to install a totally pointless and unnecessary download
manager before you can download Adobe Reader or Flash Player. If you try downloading with Firefox,
it tries to also install a pointless extension that installs the download manager. Since I've added an
extra bit to the UA string (like Firefox/3.5.x) on my SeaMonkey, Adobe attempts to force me to
install this add-on ... and it won't install in SeaMonkey as it's only compatible with Firefox.

My recommendation ... use Foxit Reader instead, and to hell with the Adobe bloatware!

I agree. At under 7MB, Foxit Rader is a great alternative that is much lighter.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; en-US; rv:2.0b1) Gecko/20100628 Firefox/4.0b1 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)

[DJGM]

Adobe Reader has become too bloated recently.
The last version I used had an install size over 100MB.

100MB isn't that big in today's standard, to be fair.

An install size of 100+MB is fine for a large suite of applications, such as Adobe's own Creative Suite,
or Microsoft Office, but like I said, it is way over the top for one application that is made primarily
for one purpose ... displaying documents. A document viewer does not need to be so bloated.

Just because hard drives of 1TB are relatively low cost for most people now, there's still no excuse
for any software app made only for one single purpose to use more disk space than necessary.

Also, the disliking of Adobe Reader itself is an entirely different subject.

The bloat issue is really the only thing about Adobe Reader I don't like ... but with Foxit Reader
being a much lighter and faster alternative app ... Adobe Reader is surplus to requirements.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.1.10) Gecko/20100504 SeaMonkey/2.0.5 (like Firefox/3.5.x)

[James]

Greg,

I'm interested in Foxit Reader having never used anything but Adobe's Reader. Have you experienced any issues with Foxit not opening certain files? Does it more or less duplicate the capabilities of Adobe?

One other thing needs to be said for the latest version. Most users have said that it's full of adware, even when you un-check the options during a custom install. Check out the following comments:

http://download.cnet.com/Foxit-Reader/3 ... 13206.html

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6

[DJGM]

Foxit Reader displays all PDF files the same as Adobe Reader does. I can't that say I've noticed any
major differences between the two apps for PDF rendering. A Mozilla plugin is also included too.

As for the alledged adware ... although the Ask.com toolbar isn't really adware, and certainly not
of the malicious variety, to ensure it isn't installed and added to Firefox and IE, be sure to click
the Decline button on the page in the Foxit Reader installer wizard that prompts the install the
bundled Ask.com extras, as well as unchecking the two checkboxes on that page.

Also, I always recommend choosing the Custom install option on any installer that has this option.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.1.10) Gecko/20100504 SeaMonkey/2.0.5 (like Firefox/3.5.x)

[James]

Thanks. Good information.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6

[iJohnE]

You might also want to check out Sumatra PDF. It's the one I rely on:

http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sum ... index.html

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)

[Fulvio]

Adobe Reader is, definitely, bloated. All I need it is to read, and, possibly, print .pdf files.
Foxit Reader sounds useful, but it is shareware, if I understand correctly. In other words, you try it, and must pay to keep it. At this time, I am opting for free bloat. But, I will check some other software. By the way, I never had any problem with Adobe Reader, and did not know how big it was, until I went to the Add/Remove.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.12pre) Gecko/20100701 Shiretoko/3.5.12pre

[DJGM]

Foxit Reader sounds useful, but it is shareware, if I understand correctly.
In other words, you try it, and must pay to keep it.

No, you understand incorrectly. Foxit Reader is freeware, their other PDF tools and apps are shareware.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.1.10) Gecko/20100504 SeaMonkey/2.0.5 (like Firefox/3.5.x)

[Fulvio]

When I got to the Foxit page, it said to try it, and there were links to buy it. But, when I went to the foxit page I saw a "help me choose" section on the left side.
I tried another of the free programs. It did the following:
1. took default without asking me, from Adobe Reader.
2. It proceeded to crash every time that I tried of open some .pdf files created with Adobe Reader.
3. After uninstalling, it kept default, and I had a good time trying to open the old files with Adobe Reader.
I normally, download .pdf files, and save them,
I will try Foxit, which I hope will let me decide, first.

Installed it, and I like it. One has to read all steps, and there is no surprise.
As for the Firefox plugin, it is a funny fzip format, which causes error when I try to open it with AlZip, my default program. Now, it seems that I will have to get another program. Is this it?. We will see.
Thanks, DJGM.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:2.0b2pre) Gecko/20100706 Minefield/4.0b2pre