Adobe Acrobat (Adobe Acrobat 5.0 Upgrade)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Adobe Acrobat 5.0 Upgrade
Date:	02/12/04 (808 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Secure File Transfer, Global Use - Free, Software Updates

Disadvantages: None

~Introduction~

As I start this review, I will declare that my knowledge of computers and their applications is good, but not as extensive as some people's. I do know some of the more advanced functions of a computer and am pretty confident that I can write the review in a more than legible manor.


I have come across Adobe Acrobat Reader a number of times in my use of computers and the internet and I feel that the programme is worthy of a review from myself. I am taking my A-levels at school at the moment and Adobe Acrobat pops up a lot in business studies. We are often assigned tasks to find cash flow forecasts or a break even analysis from a real life company and many of these are Adobe Acrobat files.


~Overview~

The Adobe Acrobat software, allows users to view and compile documents that can't be edited by others. The text and pictures can't be edited in the same way that they can be on Microsoft Word or Excel for example. The files are called PDF's, which means Portable Document Format. This allows documents to be exchanged between people and companies, without the fear of tampering or editing taking place. It helps to make the document secure and gives the writer security.

The other very handy feature of PDF files is that they can dramatically reduce the amount of paper and other media. They can be stored on computers, rather than hundreds of sheets of paper having to be printed off and stored away taking up vital space. They are also a lot easier to access and find again, than documents stored in huge filing areas.


~Adobe: Facts~

The company Adobe was formed in 1982. They are among the top producers of computer software in the world at the present time and are hugely respected. Their annual revenue is far in excess of $1 billion and is still rising year on year. There are over 3,500 employees of the company globally, making them a true multinational venture. They are constantly striving to make improvements to the technology and services that they provide, to give the consumers brand satisfaction.


~Getting Adobe Acrobat Reader~

The Adobe software does come as standard with most computers nowadays. It is likely that there will be a version readily installed and available for use as soon as you turn a new PC on. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, visit adobe.co.uk to download it. There is a link that takes you direct to the page where you can download it from. It is completely free and you don't have to register your details if you don't want to. However, if you do register they only ask you for very simple personal details and in return they will keep you up-to-date with new software and modifications as they become available.


~Features~

The Adobe Acrobat Reader software is available to anybody around the world absolutely free of charge. This means that a lot of people have the software on their computer and therefore will be able to access PDF files without any problems. The global recognition of the brand is vital and it is good that people can access PDF's from any computer in the world.


The PDF files that are produced using the Abobe software are far better than those created using other programmes. The advantages of Adobe files are largely down to the extensive range of features including: the display of singular pages on demand by clicking on the page tab, varying embedded fonts and text sizes and also the ability to present files in different formats through different displays. There is also a search feature that can identify words of phrases within the main body of text or in titles, annotations, bookmarks and data fields.


~Updates~

There are always new versions and updates of the Adobe Acrobat Reader being released. The current version is 7.0 and 8.0 is well on the way. If you have the software of an older version installed on your computer, then you may consider updating it. The features tend to improve and the overall presentation of the programme and navigation are also far better.


~Conclusion~

I would certainly recommend Abobe Acrobat to anybody, as long as it is of use to you in some way. I appreciate that many people won't have the need to share important files securely, but if you are in a business that requires this then this is the solution for you. It is so safe and you can feel confident that if anybody tries to alter documents, that they won't be able to. The quality of the document still remains top quality and is good enough for formal presentation.


~More Information~

For more detailed information on products and services from Adobe, you can visit their global or UK websites:
www.abobe.co.uk
www.abobe.com

Adobe Acrobat is supported on all computers and systems and a full list can be found on the company website.

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