Is there a free way to edit PDFs? How about a program to open PDF’s quicker?
My co-worker Todd just put me on! I used to hate opening PDF files because they bog my system down as they are opening and I just never really took to them. Now there is a program called FOXIT that replaces Adobe’s PDF reader and it is SUPER FAST! It has add-ons that also allows you to edit and convert documents to pdf – I mean how much more can you want! Best of all it is FREE! (The reader is free but looks like they charge for the add-ons including editing) They have add on packs that do spell check, auto form filler and the such for a small fee.
Foxit Reader is a free PDF document viewer and printer, with incredible small size (only 2.1 M download size), breezing-fast launch speed and amazingly rich feature set. Foxit Reader supports Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7.
In the past, you have to download a huge PDF reader from ‘another’ software company, go through a lengthy installation process and wait for an annoying splash window to disappear just to open a PDF document. Moreover, if you want to annotate a PDF document, you have to pay US$299 to buy ‘certain’ software.
Now with Foxit Reader, you don’t have to endure such pain any more. The following is a list of compelling advantages of Foxit Reader:
- Incredibly small: The download size of Foxit Reader is only 2.1 M which is a fraction of Acrobat Reader 20 M size.
- Breezing-fast: When you run Foxit Reader, it launches instantly without any delay. You are not forced to view an annoying splash window displaying company logo, author names, etc.
- Annotation tool: Have you ever wished to annotate (or comment on) a PDF document when you are reading it? Foxit Reader allows you to draw graphics, highlight text, type text and make notes on a PDF document and then print out or save the annotated document.
- Text converter: You may convert the whole PDF document into a simple text file.
- High security and privacy: Foxit Reader highly respects the security and privacy of users and will never connect to the Internet without users’ permission. While other PDF readers often silently connect to the Internet in the background. Foxit PDF Reader does not contain any spyware.
What’s New in Version 2.1?
The following is a list of exciting improvements introduced in Foxit Reader 2.1.
New features:
- Design interactive forms
- Measure distances
- Insert images and add links into the PDF
- Loupe tool
- Attach files to the PDF
- Select multiple annotations and specify annotation transparency
- Reading history recalls the place you were when you closed the PDF
- E-mail the PDF
- Check spelling in typewriter and form filler functions
Enhanced features:
- Enhanced zoom tools
- Renovated IE plug-in with almost all the capabilities of the main program
- Print only the annotations
- Enhanced permission control
- Built-in and improved JavaScript engine
- Better support for multi-language input
- Enhanced typewriter function
- Improved full screen view
- Many bug fixes
This thing opens big PDF files so much quicker and pain free over Adobe Reader! It looks like they have a mobile version for your handheld as well but they want some money for that. Try it out and let us know what you think – There are trials for the add-ons that cost $$$ – give em a shot! Sound off in the comments.
_TheFreeLovingAdmiN_
September 27, 2007 - 2:02 am
On Windows I use the even lighter Sumatra for PDF. On Linux I use KPDF.
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September 27, 2007 - 1:27 pm
It should be noted that the free version of Foxit can’t create pdf documents or convert pdf documents to text like this summary seems to indicate.
All of the above is only available in the pro version…
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September 27, 2007 - 2:11 pm
free version works for me to fill out forms and it is so much faster then adobe. that is all i need
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September 27, 2007 - 9:48 pm
I’ve had to maintain docs that are only available in PDF format, and it sucks. It’s not free, and it requires a couple of stages, but her’s my preferred solution.
Start with “e-PDF Converter” (http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=8554-30) for 34 bucks. This is the only converter I’ve found that reliably goes from PFD to DOC rather than to RTF. Convert the PDF to a .DOC. Open it in the free Open Office Writer (openoffice.org) and save it in OO’s native format, .ODT, and use that as your master copy. When you need a PDF, there’s a “save as PDF” option in OO Writer.
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October 10, 2008 - 6:54 am
Check out PDF-Xchange Viewer. It’s free, customizable, and includes a host of annotation tools, all free. Much better than Foxit, IMHO.
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