Comments on: Maybe Foxit isn’t the Best PDF Reader? http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/ Technology News Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:16:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126462 Ryan Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:34:42 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126462 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-126275" rel="nofollow">Pieter wrote:</a><blockquote>On the downside: the installer file size is twice as big as it’d be if the versions were kept separate.</blockquote>[/div] True, but posting two different versions seems to cause conversion sometimes. I frequently get asked by people whether they need to download 32-bit or 64-bit versions of applications because they don't know what the difference is. This kind of takes care of that aspect. I wish that the information was provided in the browser's useragent so that websites could do the checking for the users. Pieter wrote:
On the downside: the installer file size is twice as big as it’d be if the versions were kept separate.

True, but posting two different versions seems to cause conversion sometimes. I frequently get asked by people whether they need to download 32-bit or 64-bit versions of applications because they don’t know what the difference is. This kind of takes care of that aspect. I wish that the information was provided in the browser’s useragent so that websites could do the checking for the users.

]]> By: Pieter http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126275 Pieter Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:30:19 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126275 On the downside: the installer file size is twice as big as it'd be if the versions were kept separate. On the downside: the installer file size is twice as big as it’d be if the versions were kept separate.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126249 Ryan Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:45:04 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126249 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-126191" rel="nofollow">Tomo wrote:</a><blockquote>Also - just noticed the PDF-XChange Viewer includes : JS support, J2K and also includes both 32 and 64 bit installers included in the one download !</blockquote>[/div] I did see that 32-bit and 64-bit versions are included in one single download, which I find to be awesome. Tomo wrote:
Also - just noticed the PDF-XChange Viewer includes : JS support, J2K and also includes both 32 and 64 bit installers included in the one download !

I did see that 32-bit and 64-bit versions are included in one single download, which I find to be awesome.

]]> By: Tomo http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126191 Tomo Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:18:10 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126191 Also - just noticed the PDF-XChange Viewer includes : JS support, J2K and also includes both 32 and 64 bit installers included in the one download ! Also - just noticed the PDF-XChange Viewer includes : JS support, J2K and also includes both 32 and 64 bit installers included in the one download !

]]> By: Tomo http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126190 Tomo Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:11:59 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-126190 Downloaded the latest build of PDF-XChange Viewer (1.030) and had none of the problems others mentioned existed - and the bulk of the reason for the extra size of download mentioned by others was the very comprehensive Help file and PDF manual that's included + the extra features that Foxit does not include by default and this one does - and their free ! So far so good - hope my early (excellent) impressions continue :) Downloaded the latest build of PDF-XChange Viewer (1.030) and had none of the problems others mentioned existed - and the bulk of the reason for the extra size of download mentioned by others was the very comprehensive Help file and PDF manual that’s included + the extra features that Foxit does not include by default and this one does - and their free !

So far so good - hope my early (excellent) impressions continue :)

]]> By: Change http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121774 Change Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:37:47 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121774 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121544" rel="nofollow">Ryan wrote:</a><blockquote> Adobe 8 preloads the software when Windows starts, which is why it is able to start so quickly. The other PDF readers don’t do that. </blockquote>[/div] True, by default it's doing that, but I've turned it off (removed the startup item). Still starts up fast :) Ryan wrote:
Adobe 8 preloads the software when Windows starts, which is why it is able to start so quickly. The other PDF readers don’t do that.

True, by default it’s doing that, but I’ve turned it off (removed the startup item). Still starts up fast :)

]]> By: PDF-XChange Viewer | CNET.ro http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121626 PDF-XChange Viewer | CNET.ro Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:07:41 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121626 [...] zvonul c? ar exista un program mai bun decât Foxit Reader, aplica?ia pentru citit fi?iere PDF pe care [...] [...] zvonul c? ar exista un program mai bun decât Foxit Reader, aplica?ia pentru citit fi?iere PDF pe care [...]

]]> By: Free PDF viewer and reader that’s better than Foxit viewer http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121614 Free PDF viewer and reader that’s better than Foxit viewer Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:14:15 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121614 [...] Overall, it’s a great PDF Viewer and has been working well in my tests. I’ve had an issue with the text not showing up correctly in the Sticky Note for some reason. Otherwise, everything has been pretty smooth. Test it out and post a comment on which PDF reader you like the most. Enjoy! Source CyberNetNews [...] [...] Overall, it’s a great PDF Viewer and has been working well in my tests. I’ve had an issue with the text not showing up correctly in the Sticky Note for some reason. Otherwise, everything has been pretty smooth. Test it out and post a comment on which PDF reader you like the most. Enjoy! Source CyberNetNews [...]

]]> By: Ashley http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121547 Ashley Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:43:09 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121547 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121526" rel="nofollow">Pieter wrote:</a><blockquote>I know it sounds stupid, but I’m sticking with Foxit just because I don’t like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional.</blockquote>[/div] I'm sticking with Foxit simply because it's always worked great for me and I've never had any issues with it. Sometimes, if it's not broken, there's no need to fix it! That's the way I feel about Foxit. Pieter wrote:
I know it sounds stupid, but I’m sticking with Foxit just because I don’t like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional.

I’m sticking with Foxit simply because it’s always worked great for me and I’ve never had any issues with it. Sometimes, if it’s not broken, there’s no need to fix it! That’s the way I feel about Foxit.

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121544 Ryan Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:22:33 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121544 [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121453" rel="nofollow">Max wrote:</a><blockquote>Does this program require installation? That’s one thing I really like about Foxit is that it doesn’t.</blockquote>[/div] Yes, it does require installation. I always installed Foxit anyways though, so it's not that big of a deal for me. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121456" rel="nofollow">Anonymous wrote:</a><blockquote>I love Sumatra PDF portable the best. I don’t need all those extra features. I just want to read it.</blockquote>[/div] That's a nice solution for anyone looking for a stripped down PDF reader, but I prefer having some of the extra features out-of-the-box. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121460" rel="nofollow">Change wrote:</a><blockquote>Did you try Adobe Reader after version 7? 7 was indeed horrendously slow, but the latest version is nearly as fast as Foxit (with better compatibility for free). On my 3-year old PC it takes 4s to open a PDF with a “cold” start and less than 1s to open the same PDF with a “warm” start. That’s why I switched back.</blockquote>[/div] Adobe 8 preloads the software when Windows starts, which is why it is able to start so quickly. The other PDF readers don't do that. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121473" rel="nofollow">Ian Cammarata wrote:</a><blockquote>Hmmm… Won’t let me edit again, so I’ll have to double post. Check out the memory usage, not what I expected. FoxitReader .. 8,972 K PDFXCview … 42,264 K SumatraPDF .. 13,660 K</blockquote>[/div] I'm surprised that Foxit is lower than Sumatra, which is quite impressive. I'm not surprised that the PDF-XChange Viewer is so high though because of the amount of features it offers. [div id=commentquote]<a href="#comment-121526" rel="nofollow">Pieter wrote:</a><blockquote>I know it sounds stupid, but I’m sticking with Foxit just because I don’t like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional.</blockquote>[/div] I actually completely understand your thinking on that. In fact, I thought the same thing originally. They need to come up with something that is easier to remember. Max wrote:
Does this program require installation? That’s one thing I really like about Foxit is that it doesn’t.

Yes, it does require installation. I always installed Foxit anyways though, so it’s not that big of a deal for me.

Anonymous wrote:
I love Sumatra PDF portable the best. I don’t need all those extra features. I just want to read it.

That’s a nice solution for anyone looking for a stripped down PDF reader, but I prefer having some of the extra features out-of-the-box.

Change wrote:
Did you try Adobe Reader after version 7? 7 was indeed horrendously slow, but the latest version is nearly as fast as Foxit (with better compatibility for free). On my 3-year old PC it takes 4s to open a PDF with a “cold” start and less than 1s to open the same PDF with a “warm” start. That’s why I switched back.

Adobe 8 preloads the software when Windows starts, which is why it is able to start so quickly. The other PDF readers don’t do that.

Ian Cammarata wrote:
Hmmm… Won’t let me edit again, so I’ll have to double post. Check out the memory usage, not what I expected.

FoxitReader .. 8,972 K
PDFXCview … 42,264 K
SumatraPDF .. 13,660 K

I’m surprised that Foxit is lower than Sumatra, which is quite impressive. I’m not surprised that the PDF-XChange Viewer is so high though because of the amount of features it offers.

Pieter wrote:
I know it sounds stupid, but I’m sticking with Foxit just because I don’t like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional.

I actually completely understand your thinking on that. In fact, I thought the same thing originally. They need to come up with something that is easier to remember.

]]> By: Pieter http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121526 Pieter Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:14:31 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121526 I know it sounds stupid, but I'm sticking with Foxit just because I don't like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional. I know it sounds stupid, but I’m sticking with Foxit just because I don’t like the name of this program. Why not name it PDF Exchange Viewer instead of PDF-XChange Viewer? That sounds way more professional.

]]> By: rojmiller http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121510 rojmiller Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:59:07 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121510 Great software. Has a few bugs, but the developers respond very quickly in their forums to comments and bug reports. Great software. Has a few bugs, but the developers respond very quickly in their forums to comments and bug reports.

]]> By: dekoninck http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121501 dekoninck Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:26:28 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121501 http://www.pdfxviewer.com/ At last, someone mention this software :) I like it and works well for me. One negative thing, so far: the highlighted text is covered with the highlight when printed. Otherwise the latest build is full of bugs! :( http://www.pdfxviewer.com/

At last, someone mention this software :) I like it and works well for me. One negative thing, so far: the highlighted text is covered with the highlight when printed.
Otherwise the latest build is full of bugs! :(

]]> By: David http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121500 David Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:20:06 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121500 I'll stick with Adobe Reader. I really don't think it takes long to start up. I admit that it did used to but that seems a long time a go now. And besides, it will no doubt be the best PDF reader in terms of supporting all the different PDF features and languages. I’ll stick with Adobe Reader. I really don’t think it takes long to start up. I admit that it did used to but that seems a long time a go now.

And besides, it will no doubt be the best PDF reader in terms of supporting all the different PDF features and languages.

]]> By: Andrew http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121498 Andrew Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:02:18 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121498 anyone have a direct download link their download page on their site doesn't load at all! anyone have a direct download link their download page on their site doesn’t load at all!

]]> By: jurkis http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121482 jurkis Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:51:05 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121482 PDF-XChange Viewer reconizes lithuanian letter "?" as "?". That's incorrect. PDF-XChange Viewer reconizes lithuanian letter “?” as “?”. That’s incorrect.

]]> By: Ian Cammarata http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121473 Ian Cammarata Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:05:13 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121473 Hmmm... Won't let me edit again, so I'll have to double post. Check out the memory usage, not what I expected. FoxitReader .. 8,972 K PDFXCview ... 42,264 K SumatraPDF .. 13,660 K Hmmm… Won’t let me edit again, so I’ll have to double post. Check out the memory usage, not what I expected.

FoxitReader .. 8,972 K
PDFXCview … 42,264 K
SumatraPDF .. 13,660 K

]]> By: Ian Cammarata http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121472 Ian Cammarata Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:42:16 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121472 First PDF file I tried to open, it popped up and error and wouldn't load. Although it was a pretty intense PDF, and a pain to view it even in Foxit (god awful redraw time). The PDF I was trying was a USGS map of the moon, located here: http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/PlanetaryMapping/DIGGEOL/moon/703/lnear.htm Really the annotation features are nice in both this and Foxit, but I could live without them. I guess I'll have to try out Sumatra. EDIT: I just loaded up Sumatra, and WOW!!! It handles this PDF very nicely. It even appears to have off screen compositing so it's very smooth and fast to scroll around. I think I'll use Sumatra from now on, and keep these other two around in case I need to do any annotation. First PDF file I tried to open, it popped up and error and wouldn’t load. Although it was a pretty intense PDF, and a pain to view it even in Foxit (god awful redraw time).

The PDF I was trying was a USGS map of the moon, located here:
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/P...../lnear.htm

Really the annotation features are nice in both this and Foxit, but I could live without them. I guess I’ll have to try out Sumatra.

EDIT: I just loaded up Sumatra, and WOW!!! It handles this PDF very nicely. It even appears to have off screen compositing so it’s very smooth and fast to scroll around. I think I’ll use Sumatra from now on, and keep these other two around in case I need to do any annotation.

]]> By: Chris Rossini http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121470 Chris Rossini Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:25:15 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121470 Great find Ryan! I love the tabbed documents...Interface is also pretty slick. Great find Ryan!

I love the tabbed documents…Interface is also pretty slick.

]]> By: DKong http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121468 DKong Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:32:03 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/2007/11/04/maybe-foxit-isnt-the-best-pdf-reader/#comment-121468 Tried pdf-Xchange; does not show pictures correctly, (has white lines through picture). Same pdf File shows correctly in Foxit and Adobe 7.07. Do not recommend, it also is a huge file download. Tried pdf-Xchange; does not show pictures correctly, (has white lines through picture). Same pdf File shows correctly in Foxit and Adobe 7.07.
Do not recommend, it also is a huge file download.

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