Essential Computer app (Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Member Name: dfisher

Product:	Adobe Acrobat Reader
Date:	09/06/06 (199 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free, easy to use interface

Disadvantages: Limited functions, slow.

The PDF format is a universally accepted format which allows all computer users to view a document as exactly it had been intended. The thing with downloading, for example, Word documents is that a lot of people have different versions of Word with different features and options selected. So chances are that when you open the Word document some pictures will be out of place or the margins will be messed up.

What Adobe Acrobat Reader does is it enables files to be read using one format. Typically word documents and other documents can be turned into PDF files which will mean that file is of one format and can be read universally.

Adobe Reader is free to download and is constantly updated and patched. It is a simple 'reader' application and will allow a user to read the document and edit it lightly. What I mean by this is that the latest versions allow you to use a interactive marker pen to highlight sections for your own use without altering the document permenantly. Reader also allows the user to copy and paste sections of text and photography for your own use from the PDF file itself. However, this is about the limit of Adobe Acrobat reader. It does allow you to print the document out but any permenant editing will require Adobe's own Acrobat software which is very expensive. Also since most documents are password protected, the chances of being able to edit a downloadable PDF is limited.

Most companies now provide PDF brochures on their goods and services as an alternative to paper brochures. This then makes Adobe ACrobat Reader and essential application that ALL computer users should have. Its quite a small download and is not system resource - heavy so it won't slow down your computer.

The only negative points about Acrobat Reader is its lack of editing functions. The other negative point is that earlier versions are pretty slow to load and display documents however this has been improved with the latest versions.

A must have download, and since it doesn't cost anything there is no reason not to have it.

Summary: Essential download. Simple to use but lacking in any substantial features

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