Is there any need for Adobe Acrobat anymore.

[UKSBD]

I don't create or edit PDF's only view them.

Just got a new PC with Windows 11 and notice no Adobe Installed.

Do we really need it anymore with PDF's opening in browsers?

 

[Ozzy]

No, Adobe isn't really needed any more as Windows and macOS both can view and print them natively; but I did need to install Adobe the other week when I needed to remove the security from a file so that I could feed it to ChatGPT for some research. Then I uninstalled it afterwards.

 

[martin_shl]

If you have PDFs on your local machine or local network, you'll need some program to open them and view them (though I think this can also be your browser). The free version of Adobe Acrobat for viewing works fine and apart from showing features in the user interface that you have to pay for it does all I need. Others may do just as well. One feature I like is you can now view PDFs in tabs so when working with multiple PDFs it is easy to have them in one place.

 

[Ozzy]

One feature I like is you can now view PDFs in tabs so when working with multiple PDFs

This is now native in Google Chrome without needing to install Adobe, and for Mac users (like me) is also native in 'Viewer' too. For me personally means I don't need to install another piece of software that isn't needed.

 

[Newchodge]

I immediately installed the free Adobe Acrobat on my Windows 11 machine. I prefer to choose what I use, not be dictated to by Microsoft.

This is now native in Google Chrome without needing to install Adobe, and for Mac users (like me) is also native in 'Viewer' too. For me personally means I don't need to install another piece of software that isn't needed.

I don't use Google Chrome.

 

[Kerwin]

Adobe Acrobat is amazing slow and resource intensive compared to other options.

 

[fisicx]

Thunderbird opens pdfs files. So does Firefox. No need for adobe anything.

 

[Martin Patfield]

I can't even seem to preview PDF files in File explorer with the preview pane. (images show fine when clicked on)

Deleted Acrobat, using Foxit for Outlook usability to preview in outlook. But file explorer thing is annoying. Unsure if it's them or my PC!

 

[DontAsk]

Viewers built on to browsers are invariably inferior to the free acrobat, in my experience.

 

[fisicx]

Viewers built on to browsers are invariably inferior to the free acrobat, in my experience.

In what way?

All the documents I open look OK.

 

[Tables Force]

I can't even seem to preview PDF files in File explorer with the preview pane. (images show fine when clicked on)

Deleted Acrobat, using Foxit for Outlook usability to preview in outlook. But file explorer thing is annoying. Unsure if it's them or my PC!

Seems to be a recent MS update - loads of users complaining about this.

Google Search - the file you are attempting to preview could harm your computer windows 11

 

[DontAsk]

In what way?

All the documents I open look OK.

They open and look OK but where's the advanced find or the forward/backward page navigation? I'll be sticking with Acrobat.

 

[fisicx]

They open and look OK but where's the advanced find or the forward/backward page navigation? I'll be sticking with Acrobat.

Ok. But using Firefox I have both those tools.

Nothing wrong with using acrobat but the opening question was about a need for acrobat. These is no need but you can choose to download and install.

 

[Newchodge]

Ok. But using Firefox I have both those tools.

Nothing wrong with using acrobat but the opening question was about a need for acrobat. These is no need but you can choose to download and install.

There is no NEED for Chrome, Firefox or any other browser, everyone can use Microsoft Edge!

 

[Karimbo]

i use it. open pdf invoices multitab. sometimes need to make comments on pdf files. and acrobat reader is good for that.

proliferation of rubbish e-banks, closed tide account, they never provided a closing statement, just a csv file showing transactions. so for future audits i put a note in the last statemt (what should be the second from last) that it is the last statement provided and the balance was trasferred to x account and closed)

 

[fisicx]

i use it. open pdf invoices multitab. sometimes need to make comments on pdf files. and acrobat reader is good for that.

Can do all that with Firefox (and Thunderbird)....

 

[UKSBD]

The power of a UKBF post - Adobe Inc down 5% in a day

 

[Martin Patfield]

Seems to be a recent MS update - loads of users complaining about this.

Google Search - the file you are attempting to preview could harm your computer windows 11

Ahhhhh brilliant.

Reddit is a font of knowledge to work around.

 

[TCH]

not forgetting qpdfview

it can cope with multi-page pdf's, not sure how true that is of the browser-based solutions

 

[Kerwin]

On the macOS side of things Preview is pretty darn good.

 

[Edith_J]

I keep Adobe Acrobat on my Windows 11 PC because it’s the easiest for me, and I sometimes need to edit PDFs, so I can’t really do without it. If you don’t need to edit PDFs, there’s not much reason to install it.