Reading PDF files on Windows or Linux

Bob Russell · 02-08-2009, 01:55 PM

I don't remember any recent discussion of free PDF software alternatives for a Windows or Linux computer, so maybe it's time to stir up the pot.

For Windows, there is Adobe Reader, Digital Editions that also reads ePub documents, and the program that I've been using... Foxit.

Are there any other really solid (and preferably lightweight) PDF readers out there that we should be considering? What's your favorite?

And for you Linux folks... what do you recommend? (Please be sure to indicate which OS you are discussing!)

Jellby · 02-08-2009, 02:23 PM

On Linux I use Acroread (or whatever name it has now). It's maybe not the most efficient, but it supports the most features (like transparency, layers, vector antialiasing, javascript...). Oh, and I had to go back to version 7, because in version 8 it was not possible to close a file and then go "back" to reopen the file (and this is a must when working with LaTeX).

Other options are xpdf, kpdf, okular...

msundman · 02-08-2009, 02:48 PM

On linux I use Okular, because it has such nice bookmarking and annotation abilities. Also, it supports lots of different formats, not just PDF.

Kayaker · 02-08-2009, 03:40 PM

On Ubuntu GNU/Linux, I use Evince which is distributed as part of Gnome.

vivaldirules · 02-08-2009, 04:50 PM

Thank you for asking this, Bob. I've been toying with getting a netbook and using Linux to avoid Windows, if possible, and I have no idea what ebook formats I'll be able to read. So I'll be watching this thread carefully. I could also use tips on other ebook formats (Adobe DE, DOC, LRF, PRC, etc.) that I'll be able to read and with what software alternatives without having to doing any blasted conversions or DRM removals.

kovidgoyal · 02-08-2009, 04:52 PM

You can read all non DRMed ebook formats onlinux using calibre. As far as I know you cant read any DRMed ebook formats on linux

tompe · 02-08-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

You can read all non DRMed ebook formats onlinux using calibre. As far as I know you cant read any DRMed ebook formats on linux

MobiPocket read was working in wine but maybe that is not considered to be linux.

kovidgoyal · 02-08-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

MobiPocket read was working in wine but maybe that is not considered to be linux.

For the purposes of vivaldirules, I doubt it

Elfwreck · 02-08-2009, 08:54 PM

Foxit PDF reader has versions for Windows, Windows Mobile, embedded Linux (I have no idea what that is) and several portable systems; it'll run off a flash drive.

Sumatra is also Windows-only, and will also run portably.

Googling turns up free PDF readers for other platforms, but as I don't use the platforms, I'd rather not comment on them--I have no idea if they're too complicated, or too buggy, or terrific.

pilotbob · 02-08-2009, 09:28 PM

gmail has a new web based PDF viewer. It looks like it might be flash based, not sure. So, just email yourself the PDF and view it in your browser.

BOb

shadow2501 · 02-09-2009, 04:27 AM

PDF-Xchange viewer for Windows

pros :
-free
-light (must be installed but the folder can be copied, 8mb on version 1)
-can open files with non-latin characters (unlike adobe)
-can be used to make annotations
-can export pdf pages to pictures

cons :
-some embedded objects (like sounds) doesn't work
-unlike adobe, can't even save in txt format.

All in all, it is worth considering as a default pdf viewer

rowjimmy · 02-09-2009, 12:12 PM

I installed the Windows versions of Acrobat Reader and Mobipocket on an eeepc (Xandros, i believe) under wine. The installation was painless - no crippling glitches. ADE doesn't install without Internet Explorer, so I installed Reader version 6, which is the last version of Reader to support DRMed library downloads. If I remember right, the Mobipocket installation was of an earlier version (5, not 6) and also supports DRMed books.

I can fetch the actual version numbers if anyone is interested. For me, the trick with DRMed downloads in wine was making sure the reader software can access the internet in order to validate the copies' keys.

Emu · 02-09-2009, 03:36 PM

There are many reasons for foxit, here is my fav reason:
Once I had problems opening a file with foxit (problems with a graph). I contacted the support and after a few days they fixed the problem in an update!

FOXIT is my sollution for pdfs!

bigblubber · 02-10-2009, 06:17 AM

I am using a mobile version of Microsoft Reader on my pocket PC as well as my laptop and it works just fine. I will never use Adobe Digital Editions again, it is good eye candy but it is not stable and kept on disappearing along with my books ( on my laptop ) and it is DRM'd all to hell. Adobe Acrobat is ok but the pocket pc version is a bit annoying because you have to scroll a lot. With MS Reader on pocket pc the pages are configured to fit the screen so you just turn the page.

Scythe · 02-10-2009, 10:09 AM

Windows
Foxit

Linux
Evince - What I use about 99% of the time.
(Acroread) Adobe Acrobat - (it's a lot faster than the Windows version, and sometimes it corrects the forms I need to print out whereas Acroread doesn't)

02-08-2009, 01:55 PM	#1
Bob Russell Gadget Fan Posts: 5,217 Karma: 545637 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad, Droid Charge	Reading PDF files on Windows or Linux I don't remember any recent discussion of free PDF software alternatives for a Windows or Linux computer, so maybe it's time to stir up the pot. For Windows, there is Adobe Reader, Digital Editions that also reads ePub documents, and the program that I've been using... Foxit. Are there any other really solid (and preferably lightweight) PDF readers out there that we should be considering? What's your favorite? And for you Linux folks... what do you recommend? (Please be sure to indicate which OS you are discussing!)

02-08-2009, 04:52 PM	#6
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre Posts: 22,489 Karma: 2944574 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You can read all non DRMed ebook formats onlinux using calibre. As far as I know you cant read any DRMed ebook formats on linux __________________ Get calibre Notice to all: I can not provide assistance with DRM removal, for legal reasons, so please do not contact me about it.

02-08-2009, 08:54 PM	#9
Elfwreck Wizard Posts: 4,988 Karma: 21320468 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Clié; PRS-505; EZR Pocket Pro	Foxit PDF reader has versions for Windows, Windows Mobile, embedded Linux (I have no idea what that is) and several portable systems; it'll run off a flash drive. Sumatra is also Windows-only, and will also run portably. Googling turns up free PDF readers for other platforms, but as I don't use the platforms, I'd rather not comment on them--I have no idea if they're too complicated, or too buggy, or terrific. __________________ When I'm not here, I'm somewhere else. Mind the rainbows.

02-08-2009, 09:28 PM	#10
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 18,754 Karma: 4233896 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	gmail has a new web based PDF viewer. It looks like it might be flash based, not sure. So, just email yourself the PDF and view it in your browser. BOb __________________ Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence. --Napoleon Bonaparte

02-09-2009, 03:36 PM	#13
Emu Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 72 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Had: iRex iLiad 8", iriver stroy HD 6", Dell Vostro A90 9"	foxit There are many reasons for foxit, here is my fav reason: Once I had problems opening a file with foxit (problems with a graph). I contacted the support and after a few days they fixed the problem in an update! FOXIT is my sollution for pdfs!

02-08-2009, 02:23 PM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 5,141 Karma: 2474345 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon	On Linux I use Acroread (or whatever name it has now). It's maybe not the most efficient, but it supports the most features (like transparency, layers, vector antialiasing, javascript...). Oh, and I had to go back to version 7, because in version 8 it was not possible to close a file and then go "back" to reopen the file (and this is a must when working with LaTeX). Other options are xpdf, kpdf, okular...

02-08-2009, 02:48 PM	#3
msundman Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 269 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: FBReader on Android	On linux I use Okular, because it has such nice bookmarking and annotation abilities. Also, it supports lots of different formats, not just PDF.

02-08-2009, 03:40 PM	#4
Kayaker Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Kindle	On Ubuntu GNU/Linux, I use Evince which is distributed as part of Gnome.

02-08-2009, 04:50 PM	#5
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 9,843 Karma: 12304195 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Thank you for asking this, Bob. I've been toying with getting a netbook and using Linux to avoid Windows, if possible, and I have no idea what ebook formats I'll be able to read. So I'll be watching this thread carefully. I could also use tips on other ebook formats (Adobe DE, DOC, LRF, PRC, etc.) that I'll be able to read and with what software alternatives without having to doing any blasted conversions or DRM removals.

02-09-2009, 04:27 AM	#11
shadow2501 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: prs-500	PDF-Xchange viewer for Windows pros : -free -light (must be installed but the folder can be copied, 8mb on version 1) -can open files with non-latin characters (unlike adobe) -can be used to make annotations -can export pdf pages to pictures cons : -some embedded objects (like sounds) doesn't work -unlike adobe, can't even save in txt format. All in all, it is worth considering as a default pdf viewer

02-09-2009, 12:12 PM	#12
rowjimmy Member Posts: 19 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Peoria Device: Sony PRS-505	I installed the Windows versions of Acrobat Reader and Mobipocket on an eeepc (Xandros, i believe) under wine. The installation was painless - no crippling glitches. ADE doesn't install without Internet Explorer, so I installed Reader version 6, which is the last version of Reader to support DRMed library downloads. If I remember right, the Mobipocket installation was of an earlier version (5, not 6) and also supports DRMed books. I can fetch the actual version numbers if anyone is interested. For me, the trick with DRMed downloads in wine was making sure the reader software can access the internet in order to validate the copies' keys.

02-10-2009, 06:17 AM	#14
bigblubber Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: none	I am using a mobile version of Microsoft Reader on my pocket PC as well as my laptop and it works just fine. I will never use Adobe Digital Editions again, it is good eye candy but it is not stable and kept on disappearing along with my books ( on my laptop ) and it is DRM'd all to hell. Adobe Acrobat is ok but the pocket pc version is a bit annoying because you have to scroll a lot. With MS Reader on pocket pc the pages are configured to fit the screen so you just turn the page.

02-10-2009, 10:09 AM	#15
Scythe Member Posts: 13 Karma: 40 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony PR505	Windows Foxit Linux Evince - What I use about 99% of the time. (Acroread) Adobe Acrobat - (it's a lot faster than the Windows version, and sometimes it corrects the forms I need to print out whereas Acroread doesn't)

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