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Anon

[Free] A good PDF reader to replace Adobe?

Can anyone recommend a good free PDF reader (spyware free) to replace Adobe reader? Is Nitro a good and safe one, with perhaps fewer exploits than Adobe? Or maybe FoxIt reader?

Thanks for any help/tips.
whymeintrouble
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join:2001-06-20
Naperville, IL

whymeintrouble

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in the past I've used Foxit, have liked it alot, still use it on my desktops at home. even my android phone has it now
redwolfe_98
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i too have used "foxit reader" for the past few years (ever since the day that adobe reader 9 was released), but foxit may be driving people back to "adobe reader" now that they have started bundling "conduit" scumware with their program..

there have been bugs, too, with the latest version(s) of "foxit reader".. i don't know if they have been fixed, or not.. i haven't installed the most recent version, but i installed the earlier version and had problems with it, where the program wouldn't actually close the way it should have, when i tried to close it..

i personally didn't have problems with build 6.0.x, but some people said that it was really slow on their computers, and i wound up going back to using build 5.4.5 which can be downloaded from "filehippo.com"..

one thing that i will mention, if you try to install the latest version of "foxit reader", which is bundled with "conduit" scumware, and you find that the scumware has hijacked your computer, you shouldn't try to uninstall it from windows "add/remove".. there is a risk that it could trash your computer if you do.. instead, use "adwcleaner" and "junkware removal tool", and "malwarebytes", to remove the conduit scumware..

here is a related thread:

»[Updated] Free - Foxit PDF Reader/Creator 6.1.4
bennor
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There is always PDF-XChange Viewer and PDF-XChange Editor.
PDF-XChange Viewer : »www.tracker-software.com ··· e-viewer
PDF-XChange Editor: »www.tracker-software.com ··· e-editor

Kosh
We are all Kosh
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FWIW, Adobe has improved their reader to be a bit less bloaty, but I understand the exploits angle. I used Foxit but didn't care for the UI changes, so I'm using SumatraPDF now, it is free and open source.

darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
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join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR

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I'll mention Evince since no one else has; I found out about it from a previous thread on this same topic a quite a while back now.
Sentinel
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join:2001-02-07
Florida

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Sentinel to bennor

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Second vote for PDF-Xchange Viewer
I love it.

aussiedog
join:2007-01-10
Mesilla Park, NM

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aussiedog

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said by Sentinel:

Second vote for PDF-Xchange Viewer

+1

sbconslt
join:2009-07-28
Los Angeles, CA

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SumatraPDF +1
Expand your moderator at work

gate1975mlm
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Philadelphia, PA

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Re: [Free] A good PDF reader to replace Adobe?

PDF-XChange Editor is my favorite
decx
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My vote goes to PDF-Xchange Viewer.

jmorlan
Hmm... That's funny.
MVM
join:2001-02-05
Pacifica, CA
ARRIS BGW210-700
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If you use Irfanview as an image viewer, it will work fine as a PDF viewer using GhostScript Lite as a plugin.

GlennLouEarl
3 brothers, 1 gone
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Sumatra. You can also use Firefox and/or Google Chrome.

amazingm
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USA

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I've used Nitro Reader for years and have never had an issue with it. Some features are only available in the Professional (paid) version, but for my use, the free Nitro Reader is more than enough.

Buddel
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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join:2004-03-06
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Buddel to aussiedog

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said by aussiedog:

said by Sentinel:

Second vote for PDF-Xchange Viewer

+1

+1

Pentangle
With our thoughts we make the world.
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Pentangle to GlennLouEarl

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said by GlennLouEarl:

Sumatra. You can also use Firefox and/or Google Chrome.

I use both PDF-Xchange Viewer and Sumatra. The first for .pdf files; the second for .epub and .mobi files. Both programs are excellent in my view.

jaykaykay
4 Ever Young
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As have I. I've actually tried Foxit and Sumatra, but chose Nitro a number of years ago over the others, and I've stuck with it ever since.

Ctrl Alt Del
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I'm assuming you mean for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Android. Because if you're using Windows 8/8.1, Mac OS X, or iOS, they all have a built in PDF reader already.

EDIT: As pointed out by others, Firefox and Chrome also have built in PDF readers.
Mele20
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join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

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A builtin PDF reader in Windows 8? Where? Fx has a builtin one if you want to read in your browser which I do not like to do.
Mele20

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I've tried them all and several years ago I settled on Evince for Windows. It's the primary PDF reader for Linux and there is a version ported to Windows. I like it much better than any Windows PDF reader including Nitro and Sumatra. It works on Windows 8 even though the download page doesn't mention Windows 8.

»wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evin ··· ownloads

David
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Granite City, IL

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another +1 for foxit.

hamete
@qwest.net

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I've never had a problem with Foxit 5.1, but Nitro has also been reliable and makes it easy to save web pages as pdf's.
chitchatjf
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I myself am content WITH Adobe,but that is me

Ctrl Alt Del
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said by Mele20:

A builtin PDF reader in Windows 8? Where?

The Modern (aka Metro) Reader app will open PDFs: »windows.microsoft.com/en ··· -app-faq
Shady Bimmer
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I have been using the native viewer on Windows 8 and have used the native viewer on MacOS, IOS (iPad), and Android for as long as I can remember.

On Win7 I typically use chrome (the builtin viewer) but otherwise fall back to the Adobe Reader. As noted already it is not as bad as it had been and the standalone alternatives each in their own time seem to go the same route as Adobe.
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
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To divert the tiopic a bit, how about alternatives to Acrobat for CREATING pdf's?

What's the choice for that, which may have many of the same features that Acrobat has (web capture, etc...)?
Mele20
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said by Ctrl Alt Del:

said by Mele20:

A builtin PDF reader in Windows 8? Where?

The Modern (aka Metro) Reader app will open PDFs: »windows.microsoft.com/en ··· -app-faq

Aha...I think I remember that now. I uninstalled all Metro apps the day I got this computer. I can't use them anyway because I disabled UAC in the registry. I NEVER use Metro side and wish sorely that I could just rip it out of Windows 8. The ONLY need for Metro is if you need to access advanced boot options (other than Safe Mode).

jap
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If all you want to do is open & read (no editing) then Sumatra. Open source, fast, stable, stays out the way. Plain good code.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su ··· atra_PDF

n2kb
@50.40.236.x

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Anon

I (think / am 99% sure) that you can just drag a PDF into Chrome and it'll open it up without any other software required, if that helps at all.