Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard Description:

Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard review:
1 stars (Great product gone bad -- warning -- don't buy this version, ) - Having purchased and been very happy with Acrobat 4-6 standard editions, I am sorry to say Version 7 is real step backwards for Adobe:



-- The program will not read many pdf documents Acrobat 4-6 will (this may some sort of font copyright problem or just a flaw in this version of the software).



-- The Activation process is tedious, difficult and prevents you from using your own software, even if you only install it on one machine.



Having purchased this software almost a year ago, I uninstalled it because it did not read files Acrobat 6 does, as mentioned above. I thought this might be a bug in the program which Adobe would fix. So I installed and uninstalled it several times, each time the program would not work. Now the program tells me I have activated it too many times, though I have no working copy of the program. The software tells me to call Adobe customer support, but after keeping me in a computer loop for 10 minutes I learn the "call center" is closed, or there is simply no answer after 50 minutes.



If I could return this software I would. It does not work. I can't return my copy, but you don't have to buy a copy. Stick with 6.0 or the cheaper Scansoft program. Acrobat 7.0 does not work, and after a time Adobe won't let you use, even if you buy it, full price.
1 stars (Too Intrusive - Too Microsoft - Too annoying) - One reason to like adobe was that they weren't Microsoft and they actually paid attention to their customers. Those days appear to be gone. Don't want extra toolbars on an already crowded interface (not adobe - but Office) too bad, you get them anyway. I could try and track down the reason or method to remove them but that would take hours and I don't have the time, They don't make it easy and it ignores customization of the toolbar when you restart. It's like spyware - and to accomplish this - it had to be a deliberate attempt to take over functions of my computer which I HATE! I'm a graphic designer so my opinion of Adobe is generally very high and I use their products a lot. This one is a dog though. Don't waste your money on the upgrade, until they start listening to their customers again.



This is not a worthwhile upgrade. The added functionality is not that much, it hasn't solved any of the previous PDF version problems (e.g. having to save as an earlier version if the document will be distributed via the web to accomodate for earlier versions of Reader or Acrobat).



Skip this. If you are an original buyer and don't need it for professional printing, don't bother there are other less expensive PDF creators out there that work just as well without adding unwanted features to your interface. Go out to dinner (and you would be able to afford a nice one) with the difference.
4 stars (WOW Great program.) - Review of "Adobe Acrobat 7 Standard"

by Randy Brandon.





Pros: Feature rich, and robust. Simple user interface.



Cons: No full manual.



What can you say about the Adobe Acrobat program? What you should be saying is WOW!



Who would have guessed that all of these years down the road that Acrobat would have become such a total industry standard. And that there would be no fewer than four Acrobat programs to work with; Acrobat 7 Pro, Acrobat 7 Standard, Acrobat Elements, and of course Acrobat Reader.



I have been an Acrobat user since way back in Version 3, and I still use some form of Acrobat at some time during every day.



What I still think is a bit odd, is that dozens of people that I consult with about their computers every day, still have no real idea as to what Acrobat files really are, or even how to create them. They know what they look like, and use the free reader to view them, but that is a far as most of them go.



So, with that thought in mind, here goes my very own explanation as to what Adobe Acrobat does. It is a graphics application program that bundles, and encapsulates graphic and text files together into a single file. Now this is an extremely simplified version of what the program ultimately does, but you get the gist of its main purpose, and function.



That usually begs the next question: Why do I need to bundle all these files together?

The short answer is that if you want to insure that the person receiving your file is seeing the file like it looked on your side when you sent it.



And, in their own words " AdobeÂ# AcrobatÂ# 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure, reliable Adobe PDF documents"









So, in its essence, Acrobat 7 is the great equalizer, and the supreme translator all wrapped into one program. Ever since the computer/internet world found its legs, there was a problem with people sending a combined graphics and text file. And when they sent it, the layout looked great to the sender. But, alas, when that file arrived on the other end, it was a mess with text over here, and photos over there, etc.



The solution was Acrobat. This application was built to convert all types of file formats into a singular format that anyone could view with a free browser on all computers.



In making this giant leap to Version 7 Acrobat from my ancient version 4, I am a bit star struck with all of the new features in Acrobat 7.



To start with, there are numerous programs out there which can now create PDF files via a one click feature. These include Office, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express.

Several of these options are Windows only features, and we can only hope that the Mac mail and browser programs will soon be added to this list.



And here is a new twist; You can now attach a file to your PDF document. Sort of like putting an attachment to your attachment...



There are several improvements to adding headers, footers, backgrounds, and watermarks, and the process is much easier that it ever was.



As always , the usage rights that users issue with their PDF files can be even more customized than before. Added control of the end user is really the key when limiting that control is important.



Acrobat 7 now supports both static, and interactive forms. Those Interactive type of forms created with either Acrobat Professional, or Adobe Designer allow for digital signatures, and electronic form completion.



Passing documents for review back and forth from art director to client, and back again is what Acrobat does very well. All browser based reviews done with a Mac are performed through Safari.



So when a designer sends out an Acrobat file to a client for review, the PDF files arrives at the client side, and a commenting toolbar shows up(if sent in a managed review document).

The reviewing tools provided include; The Callout tool, Group markups, Dimensioning tool, Exporting of comments and markup,Tracking Reviews, and finally, Approving documents in 4 eastern languages. There is a lot of control here, and that is why designers like it so much.



New security features allow for even more secure signature validation, plus revokable limits, and even secured attachments to your PDF files.



There are noticeable improvements to the accessibility features. There is extended language support, along with a much faster searching function that I personally use a great deal.



Acrobat 7 has now added an "Autosave" feature that can safeguard your data being backed up to another file name without messing up the original.





For the times when it is necessary to view some 3D content in a PDF file, version 7 can now do just that.



Version 7 can now create, and save "PDF/A" files for archiving, It can also scan paper documents directly into a searchable PDF file. Very nice.



One of the newest features in Version 7 is the new "Organizer", and is similar to Photoshop's Browser. Very easy to use, and well thought out.



There are lots of additional new features included with this version 7, but I will let you do the additional exploring for yourselves. Adobe has always been at the forefront in loading up their software with amazing features, and this latest version of Acrobat 7 certainly proves that point. The entire Acrobat family has grown to epic proportions in the scope of what it can do for documents, and their users. It's popularity in itself shows that the program works, and not only does what it is supposed to do, but does it beautifully.



Adobe Acrobat 7 steps up to the plate, and knocks it out of the park. Oh, did I mention that I am impressed? Now, some of my amazement could possibly stem from my shock at jumping from a much older version to this new version 7, but great software is a joy to use, especially when you need it.



Adobe Acrobat 7 is a feature rich, amazing, and quality product. There simply is no substitute. If you don't already own it, then you need to.