[Rhodes22-list] Computer Question

[John Lock]

The Adobe Reader became ubiquitous back when Netscape started  
including it as part of their download package.  As others followed  
suit, it became the de facto standard for reading PDF files because it  
could be found on almost any computer.  But as the software became  
more bloated with extraneous features it got harder to keep  
compatibility.  People often had Acrobat Reader installed on their new  
PCs and never bothered to upgrade until they got a PDF that would not  
open.  By then you're 3 or 4 versions behind and the upgrade got  
messy.  So... 3rd parties filled the gaps with PDF readers that were  
just basic rendering machines without all the bells and whistles.

So, unless you get a document that requires some specific Adobe  
feature, there's no reason to install it.  Macs, for example, come  
with "Preview" and it handles PDFs just fine, no need to install  
Acrobat Reader.  If you get software that requires Acrobat Reader, go  
ahead and let it install.  Then go back into your "File Types"  
definition and repoint PDF files to Foxit (or whatever you're using).   
The software will be happy because it still sees Acrobat Reader, but  
PDF handling will be primarily handled by Foxit, so you sidestep Adobe.

Cheers!
John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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On Jan 4, 2009, at 8:32 AM, Brad Haslett wrote:

> You computer geeks probably already know this, and how to fix it as
> well, but I only fool with my computers when they behave badly.  I've
> been struggling with various versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader for
> years.  I've got some manuals on CD that will run on earlier versions
> but not later versions, and my attempt to install Acrobat 9 led to
> nothing but frustration.  Solution - eliminate it altogether.  I just
> downloaded Foxit Reader and so far it works great - much faster and a
> whole lot fewer resources. Now I'm contemplating removing Acrobat from
> the other two machines.  Anyone have experience with Foxit or a good
> reason not to dump Adobe?