Everyone has their own taste for applications, but it always comes down to simple yet powerful and arguing PDF readers and arguing browsers is almost the same, but you’ve more fighting ground.

I’m going to argue on which is the best, but I’m going to say that about 3 years ago I found a program for viewing PDF files and after that, I never looked back.

This is what I found..

If your the average user your probably using Adobe Reader [views PDFs] and here’s what you need to know about that- it only views PDF’s.

Why in the world Adobe finds the need to have a PDF viewer that’s almost 40mb [based on v9.2], I don’t know.

Are you serious?! 40mb for a PDF viewer and you can’t even add information to a PDF with the base install of Adobe Reader! You can’t add notes either…

Have you ever received a PDF form [something you need to fill out] and your thinking to yourself it sure would be nice to type in all the information and send it back, or fill it out, print it and turn it in? Duh?!

Everyone has and that functionality is NOT in Adobe Reader by default.

So you’ve to ask yourself why even use Adobe?

Adobe PPDF’s are a standard, and everyone wants to use whatever is required or don’t know other wise; so I’m offering this…

There are several others but I settled on PDF xChange Viewer.

The full installer is 15mb, the PORTABLE version is 6mb [paying attention yet?]. And smaller programs load faster and usually use less resources.

It loads fast, views PDFs, you can use the TYPEWRITER function to fill forms and you can add notes tot he PDF’S- AND… AND you can SAVE the PDF’s with this information in it. Try that with Adobe Reader.

OH did I mention it’s free? There’s a pro version, but for the average HOME user- this is perfect.

Here’s some other features:

Add Comments and Annotations to any PDF file (subject to security settings) – unlike the Adobe Viewer which requires the PDF creation tool to be ‘certified’ by Adobe !

Add & apply Custom Stamps from any Image or PDF File and even your Windows Clip board !

Mark-up pages with text and objects

Type directly on any PDF page, not just Adobe enabled forms documents – in Typewriter mode.

Export PDF pages or entire files to any one of the supported Image formats including BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG and many more …

Extract text from a PDF page/File

Make your navigation of large or complex PDF files both simple and enjoyable with the extended functionality of our ‘Loupe’ and the ‘Pan’ Window tools

Fill and Save Adobe Forms to disk, email or ‘post’ !

Full Javascript Engine included

Updated JPEG2000 Compression support – improving speed.

Plug-Ins for both MS IE or Firefox Browser’s included

Integrate seamlessly with your favourite translation software to translate text on the ‘fly’ – including :  ABBYY Lingvo 12, Translate It!, Lingoes.

Includes comprehensive Help file and PDF Manual – no extra downloads required to add features etc.

Portable version also available – can be run from any suitable device such as a Memory stick/CD/DVD etc – simply unzip and use – no installation required – just 4MB download !

If your a developer, there’s also a Developer’s Toolkit !

And like I stated, everyone has their favorites and their personal choices, but this was the best option I found for all the functions I needed and it used the least resources to get the job done. I no longer wait 10-15 seconds to have PDF’s open.

You can download the Portable version here.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
LHenryJr.
www.lehsys.com

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