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  3. Free PDF reader preference

Free PDF reader preference

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  • J Joan M

    Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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    sir_download_alot
    wrote on last edited by
    #19

    Personally I have decided to use the paid version of NitroPDF just because I liked the free version and had a need for the functionality of the paid version. Haven't regret it. My company installs Acrobat on my machine as default but I tend to uninstall it again :-D As a pure PDF reader I actually often use Chrome with a PDF viewer extension.

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    • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

      I've used FoxIt for years because it's free, fast and easy.

      Someone's therapist knows all about you!

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      kalberts
      wrote on last edited by
      #20

      Several years ago, in the early years of Foxit, my employer wanted us, for "political" reasons, to use Foxit. The character rendering, especially in small sizes, was so terrible that it strained my eyes badly, so I refused. After being shown the same document side-by-side, on one screen, in Adobe Reader and Firefox, my boss accepted my complaints, and we ditched Foxit. A few years later, under a new employer, I tried Foxit again to see if rendereing had improved. It ha not, as far as I could see. We did not switch to Foxit. Linux users claimed that rendering on their screens were very good; it seemed as if the Windows port was a quick and dirty left hand job. If Foxit on Windows today were as bad as a few years ago, it probably would have been out of the market, so I guess it has improved. But I don't care to check until I have to find another PDF reader; then I might try it again. Twice, with a few years inbetween, leading to the same conclusion, was enough to settle my mind. It takes more than "But try it now, it might have improved!" to excite me.

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      • J Joan M

        Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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        GKP1992
        wrote on last edited by
        #21

        For me, SumatraPDF is as good as it gets (as far as reading goes). It is very fast, looks really classic and obeys the PDF restriction rules and best of all is, its free :-D . Also, one really handy feature I find is that it remembers where you left off reading in a PDF and opens from there next time you want to read.

        I am not the one who knocks. I never knock. In fact, I hate knocking. Just barge in will'Ya?

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        • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

          I've used FoxIt for years because it's free, fast and easy.

          Someone's therapist knows all about you!

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          Magrat
          wrote on last edited by
          #22

          Yep. Version 5.4.5. Very old now but quick and clean.

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          • J Joan M

            Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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            maze3
            wrote on last edited by
            #23

            Chrome browser

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            • S sir_download_alot

              Personally I have decided to use the paid version of NitroPDF just because I liked the free version and had a need for the functionality of the paid version. Haven't regret it. My company installs Acrobat on my machine as default but I tend to uninstall it again :-D As a pure PDF reader I actually often use Chrome with a PDF viewer extension.

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              BryanFazekas
              wrote on last edited by
              #24

              This is a bit off topic from the OP's question. Nitro's reader works fine, but I had enough problems with the print driver in their professional version that I switched to Foxit. Nitro's free print driver works ok, but I found the file size of the resulting documents was larger, and the resolution was lower quality. Given the comments in this thread regarding Foxit, I need to dig a bit deeper into that. I really like the editor and the reader comes up faster than others I've tried, but if it's sending telemetry to anyone, I'm looking for a replacement.

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              • G GKP1992

                For me, SumatraPDF is as good as it gets (as far as reading goes). It is very fast, looks really classic and obeys the PDF restriction rules and best of all is, its free :-D . Also, one really handy feature I find is that it remembers where you left off reading in a PDF and opens from there next time you want to read.

                I am not the one who knocks. I never knock. In fact, I hate knocking. Just barge in will'Ya?

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                eduardoresek
                wrote on last edited by
                #25

                Not to mention it can read djvu files as well...

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                • J Joan M

                  Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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                  User 10521398
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #26

                  SumatraPDF, it's fast with rendering, opens almost instantly, reguarly updated and offers tabs (which I prefer not to use) some old versions also didn't obey print-locked documents which is handy! I use CutePDF as a printer driver (Win7)

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                  • J Joan M

                    Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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                    sasadler
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #27

                    Sumatra, been using it for years. Never tried Nitro, but the rest were tried and thrown away.

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                    • G GKP1992

                      For me, SumatraPDF is as good as it gets (as far as reading goes). It is very fast, looks really classic and obeys the PDF restriction rules and best of all is, its free :-D . Also, one really handy feature I find is that it remembers where you left off reading in a PDF and opens from there next time you want to read.

                      I am not the one who knocks. I never knock. In fact, I hate knocking. Just barge in will'Ya?

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                      Jan Holst Jensen2
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #28

                      Couldn't agree more. I have used SumatraPDF for years and am very happy with it.

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                      • J Joan M

                        Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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                        TonyManso
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #29

                        I use Foxit. Though it seems like a majority of the responders use SuatraPDF.

                        On the other hand, you have different fingers. - Steven Wright

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                        • E eduardoresek

                          Not to mention it can read djvu files as well...

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                          GKP1992
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #30

                          And "Epub" and "Mobi" ;P

                          I am not the one who knocks. I never knock. In fact, I hate knocking. Just barge in will'Ya?

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                          • J Jalapeno Bob

                            I use PDF Xchange Viewer from Tracker Software[^]. It is free, allows the user to insert a comments layer, allowing the addition of text and "rubber stamps." It comes with a number of preset rubber stamps and also allows users to create and use their own. I created a signature stamp which allows me to "sign" documents.

                            __________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that there are some things I just can’t keep up with, the determination to keep up with the things I must keep up with, and the wisdom to find a good RSS feed from someone who keeps up with what I’d like to, but just don’t have the damn bandwidth to handle right now. © 2009, Rex Hammock

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                            David Carta
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #31

                            Plus one for PDF Xchange Viewer. Free, fast, great editing tool. I always set Chrome to open my PDFs in my sysytem viewer, because 90% of the time I need to type on or draw on the PDF. I especially love the draw tool, as it allows me to "sign" these documents, by drawing my signature. I never print PDFs anymore for signatures. I use an old version b/c I haven't seen any reason to upgrade.

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                            • J Jalapeno Bob

                              I use PDF Xchange Viewer from Tracker Software[^]. It is free, allows the user to insert a comments layer, allowing the addition of text and "rubber stamps." It comes with a number of preset rubber stamps and also allows users to create and use their own. I created a signature stamp which allows me to "sign" documents.

                              __________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that there are some things I just can’t keep up with, the determination to keep up with the things I must keep up with, and the wisdom to find a good RSS feed from someone who keeps up with what I’d like to, but just don’t have the damn bandwidth to handle right now. © 2009, Rex Hammock

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                              Mark Johnston SSCGP
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #32

                              I've used PDF-XChange Viewer for several years now and really like it more than a few others I've tried. But it appears that the Viewer has been discontinued in favor of their commercial PDF-XChange Editor. This is unfortunate (for users looking for freeware). But at least they still allow you to download the Viewer (for now).

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                              • J Joan M

                                Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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                                swampwiz
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #33

                                I use PDFExchange. I used to use FoxIt, but it began to show ads, so I dropped it like a bear taking a cr@p in the woods. :mad:

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                                • J Jalapeno Bob

                                  I use PDF Xchange Viewer from Tracker Software[^]. It is free, allows the user to insert a comments layer, allowing the addition of text and "rubber stamps." It comes with a number of preset rubber stamps and also allows users to create and use their own. I created a signature stamp which allows me to "sign" documents.

                                  __________________ Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that there are some things I just can’t keep up with, the determination to keep up with the things I must keep up with, and the wisdom to find a good RSS feed from someone who keeps up with what I’d like to, but just don’t have the damn bandwidth to handle right now. © 2009, Rex Hammock

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                                  LightCC42
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #34

                                  Key reasons for using PDF Xchange Viewer: 1. Annotations 2. tabbed PDFs 3. set it up to remember your open docs and it will reopen them (great for rebooting) 4. it's fast - no Adobe bloat

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                                  • J Joan M

                                    Hello all, 1. Acrobat reader DC. 2. Nitro PDF reader. 3. Foxit Reader. 4. Windows Reader. 5. SumatraPDF. Which is your preferred one and why?

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                                    Rollin Shultz
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #35

                                    I opted to not install a pdf reader. I just use either chrome or Torch (a chrome based browser with extra features). It's one less app/program to maintain.

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                                    • S swampwiz

                                      I use PDFExchange. I used to use FoxIt, but it began to show ads, so I dropped it like a bear taking a cr@p in the woods. :mad:

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                                      GKP1992
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #36

                                      swampwiz wrote:

                                      like a bear taking a cr@p in the woods.

                                      Nice analogy. :-D

                                      I am not the one who knocks. I never knock. In fact, I hate knocking. Just barge in will'Ya?

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                        I've used FoxIt for years because it's free, fast and easy.

                                        Someone's therapist knows all about you!

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        Joan M
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #37

                                        Thank you for the suggestion Mike, but after what I've read about metrics being sent to China... I've tested Nitro and Sumatra. Both are fast on my computer, Nitro seems to do more things, but it also installs a printer driver which in my case is not needed so I've decided to go the Sumatra way. By now it works as expected. Thank you again!

                                        www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming

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                                        • G Gary Wheeler

                                          6. Evince[^]: free and commercial-use friendly, unlike Adobe Reader

                                          Software Zen: delete this;

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                                          Joan M
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #38

                                          Thank you for your suggestion Gary! I've tested Nitro and Sumatra on a virtual machine as nitro seems to be the alternative to foxit and Sumatra has been the most suggested one. Both are fast on my computer, Nitro seems to do more things, but it also installs a printer driver which in my case is not needed so I've decided to go the Sumatra way. By now it works as expected. Thank you again!

                                          www.robotecnik.com[^] - robots, CNC and PLC programming

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