Adobe Acrobat 9 Released, CS 3.3 Available

[clevin]

Apple probably want to go with cocoa alone eventually, to maintain two sets of APIs isn't really idea.

Guess we will see, after all, apple need to remove carbon from iTunes, Finder, etc first, 3rd party apps..... who knows if pros outweigh cons at this time.

 

[aafuss1]

No reader 9 yet-so if you were to share PDF's that use the new v9 features, others would not be able to access version 9 created files.

 

[arlecchino]

So is Adobe 8 EOL?

So does Acrobat 9 fix the printing issue where I can't print anything with Acrobat? Updates through 8.1.2 have done squat to fix this, so I use Preview to print and Acrobat to do everything else. Ridiculous!

Sounds like I have to spend 160 bucks to find out!

-AJT

 

[benpatient]

Yawn.

Does anyone even use Acrobat anymore?

It's been many years since I had a use for it, and at my University the only copies we have in operation are one on the scanner (for the occasional student needing to make a PDF), and one each on the desktop of all the um, ... "slower" secretaries in the department.

I can't even remember the last time I used Acrobat *reader* let alone the full app. If Adobe hadn't kept such a tight grip on PDF creation over the years, no one would need or use Acrobat at all. It's so badly coded it's almost useless and many other programs do similar things better and could completely replace the functionality of Acrobat overnight if they were legally allowed to.

Here's a thought Adobe ... how about making good software instead of relying only on monopolistic practices, copyrights and legal agreements to sell your products and keep your customers?

I send literally hundreds of PDFs out to various clients, print shops and packaging manufacturers every month.

Acrobat DOES stink, and it stinks extra hard with Leopard, and I'm not going to buy this stupid update, but Acrobat is a necessary component in almost everything a professional graphic designer does these days. Or are you suggesting that there is some other document format with vector and raster capability that can be generated from a standard design application?

Mac users can SEE most PDFs with Preview, but it chokes on bigger, more complex ones, often spitting out very wrong results. jpgs rasterize type and make it impossible to check the "fine print," eps files won't even open in any app that most PC users have installed. It's basically PDF or nothing.

Apple has had this for 7 years

Um...Jaguar came out in late summer 2002...not 7 years ago, and it only supported the equivalent of Acrobat 3 (no gradients or transparency or anything beyond pretty basic content). In case you're wondering, Acrobat 3.0 (PDF 1.2) was released in 1996. Not exactly in the same boat.

 

[stephenli]

I use both preview and acrobat in office.
once i need to crop, resize and re-arrange pages, I really need acrobat.
Preview is fast, but sometimes just not work well.

is it worth to upgrade? for me, no thanks. I don't need video embed function.

 

[cwhitmer]

Acrobat 9 Pro

This upgrade is worth it, as far as what I've found. I purchased it and downloaded it today and gave it a spin. I'm not an Acrobat expert, but it's indispensable in my situation. Here's what I found so far that's improved over version 8:

1. A bug in version 8 when combining multiple files has gone away completely. This is worth it alone.

2. On my Intel iMac, it seems to work quite a bit faster than version 8. (MUCH MUCH faster than version 7 was since 9 is also a universal binary).

3. Printing is also MUCH improved in this new version.

4. When switching from version 8 to 9 while in the middle of a project, the files made with version 9 appear to be a bit smaller and leaner with no loss of quality.

5. The crash/error messages I used to get when quitting version 8 about a third of the time have vanished. Version 9 quits faster with no fuss.

6. The little watch that replaces my cursor when I start version 8 has vanished (to my delight) in version 9.

7. Overall stability is MUCH improved.

This is very much worth the upgrade price.

 

[ErikGrim]

This upgrade is worth it, as far as what I've found. I purchased it and downloaded it today and gave it a spin. I'm not an Acrobat expert, but it's indispensable in my situation. Here's what I found so far that's improved over version 8:

1. A bug in version 8 when combining multiple files has gone away completely. This is worth it alone.

2. On my Intel iMac, it seems to work quite a bit faster than version 8. (MUCH MUCH faster than version 7 was since 9 is also a universal binary).

3. Printing is also MUCH improved in this new version.

4. When switching from version 8 to 9 while in the middle of a project, the files made with version 9 appear to be a bit smaller and leaner with no loss of quality.

5. The crash/error messages I used to get when quitting version 8 about a third of the time have vanished. Version 9 quits faster with no fuss.

6. The little watch that replaces my cursor when I start version 8 has vanished (to my delight) in version 9.

7. Overall stability is MUCH improved.

This is very much worth the upgrade price.

Finally someone who's actually TRIED it chimes in.

 

[live4ever]

This upgrade is worth it, as far as what I've found. I purchased it and downloaded it today and gave it a spin. I'm not an Acrobat expert, but it's indispensable in my situation. Here's what I found so far that's improved over version 8:

1. A bug in version 8 when combining multiple files has gone away completely. This is worth it alone.

2. On my Intel iMac, it seems to work quite a bit faster than version 8. (MUCH MUCH faster than version 7 was since 9 is also a universal binary).

3. Printing is also MUCH improved in this new version.

4. When switching from version 8 to 9 while in the middle of a project, the files made with version 9 appear to be a bit smaller and leaner with no loss of quality.

5. The crash/error messages I used to get when quitting version 8 about a third of the time have vanished. Version 9 quits faster with no fuss.

6. The little watch that replaces my cursor when I start version 8 has vanished (to my delight) in version 9.

7. Overall stability is MUCH improved.

This is very much worth the upgrade price.

How's the batch processing to remove text/objects/annotations in 100s of PDFs?

What I'm referring to is mentioned here:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/forums/aucbb/viewtopic.php?pid=27180#p27180

 

[l'homme]

Adobe is getting into a more Windows role

"The software is available as a stand-alone product in Standard, Pro, and Extended versions (only the Pro version is Mac compatible)"

I'll be a lot happier when Apple loose a design suite competitive to Adobe CS series.

I'm starting to see Adobe tendencies of divorcing Mac.

I enjoy too much using Aperture, hoping to get someday a similar experience with Apple's version of Photshop & Illustrator.
______________________

Waiting for Snow Leopard

 

[opeter]

I'm starting to see Adobe tendencies of divorcing Mac.

And thats why i'm not using Macs anymore. Quite happy with my Windows PC.

 

[Darkroom]

APPL should buy ADBE

apple doesn't care about software and macs anymore... it's iPhone FTW...

 

[cwhitmer]

Acrobat 9 Pro

How's the batch processing to remove text/objects/annotations in 100s of PDFs?

What I'm referring to is mentioned here:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/forums/aucbb/viewtopic.php?pid=27180#p27180

I wish I had an answer for this, but I've never tried this as that's something I never learned to do or to try.

 

[Digitalclips]

And thats why i'm not using Macs anymore. Quite happy with my Windows PC.

Perhaps you need to change forums now too. Bye

Seriously, you are a rare person. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[137489]

Quote:
Originally Posted by l'homme
I'm starting to see Adobe tendencies of divorcing Mac.

And thats why i'm not using Macs anymore. Quite happy with my Windows PC.

Well being a recent switcher (ok, I switched in April - but after using PC's since the 1980's when does one not consider himself a recent switcher) I find macs are the best. Maybe they were not always this way (ouch I feel a flambasting coming on), but for situations like this - there is always VM Fusion and Parallels (ok bootcamp is an option; but I am not one to keep rebooting my machine just to switch applications).

I think Steve Jobs knows that not every software companies will embrace mac (until mac starts becoming more the mainstream - then if the software companies want to stay in business they will have no choice but to embrace mac) and thus one of the reasons why the switch to Intel. Jobs also gave us bootcamp for that reason and he is also adding exchange support in Snow Leopard for that reason. I also agree with some that if Apple offers a mid tower, and a sub $1000 machine that is better than the mini more people would opt in.

However:

I would not be surprised if Ballmer is spreading lies and coercing companies to divorce mac; in order to try to keep MS alive. I know they ticked off a lot of people with Vista and many are not waiting around until 2010 (almost another 2 years) for Windows 7. Also one better watch out, I see a trend where MS is focusing on enterprise solutions only. Look how much they took away for the home and small business user and started charging more for it. Vista Home and Ultimate is just another Media Center (they said so themselves - Vista is media center on Server 2003). Server 2003 was not made to use external devices and run media products - thus the glitches.

they also said Vista was a rush out the door because longhorn was not ready, they are hoping that Windows 7 is the much anticipated longhorn and thus why they rushed Vista to buy time.

I would not give up my mac just because what I need is not a mac. I bought a mac for the better hardware, cheaper better software, and the fact it is quicker and easier to use. I run parallels for the stuff I need in Windows (I heard fusion works better, but parallels came free with my machine).

Also Adobe has been slow to switch to Universal Binary, so maybe by the time CS4 is out - then they will support mac more and maybe Acrobeat Pro Extended will be mac ready. If not, there is alway Xp on Parallels.

Don't give up your mac just because of one software company. Use an alternative (and if not one, then use Parallels, VM, or boot camp). I am a switcher and I already see the benefits of a mac and am ditching a lot of my MS products (heck I just divorced myself from MS Onenote for Circus Ponies Notebook; I just divorced myself from MS Access (which has not been improved on in years) for Bento; Office 2008 for the mac and Office 2007 for Windows are crappy releases - so I am moving to iwork; I am still running a combination of Adobe Premier Elements [I can run circle around that software] in Windows and Final Cut Express (I have not fully learned FC yet), but FC offers more functionality.

Mac is just better all around. And No I am not a fanboy - but I can see why Apple could make me one.

 

[137489]

oh and one other thing, from what I seen in aperature. Aperature runs circles around photoshop and is easier to use. well, at least what I use it for. but then again I can do about 70% of what I need in iphoto which is FREE when you buy a mac. ilife comes free and iwork is only $79.

what comes free with a PC - nothing. the price is bloated for the operating system and then is bogged down with trial software that does not even have functionaility enough to try it. the trial software most of the time is so stripped down, I cannot get a good sense of whether I should buy it or not. All software you have to buy extra. MAC OS X and macs come with alot already loaded and full versions. you can take a mac out of the box and begin using it from day 1. Take a PC out of the box and then the fun begins of having to find software and paying more.

 

[Poll Smoker]

This upgrade is worth it, as far as what I've found. I purchased it and downloaded it today and gave it a spin. I'm not an Acrobat expert, but it's indispensable in my situation. Here's what I found so far that's improved over version 8:

1. A bug in version 8 when combining multiple files has gone away completely. This is worth it alone.

2. On my Intel iMac, it seems to work quite a bit faster than version 8. (MUCH MUCH faster than version 7 was since 9 is also a universal binary).

3. Printing is also MUCH improved in this new version.

4. When switching from version 8 to 9 while in the middle of a project, the files made with version 9 appear to be a bit smaller and leaner with no loss of quality.

5. The crash/error messages I used to get when quitting version 8 about a third of the time have vanished. Version 9 quits faster with no fuss.

6. The little watch that replaces my cursor when I start version 8 has vanished (to my delight) in version 9.

7. Overall stability is MUCH improved.

This is very much worth the upgrade price.

Adobe has to lover suckers like you who will pay for an "upgrade" that simply fixes preexisting bugs.

 

[Poll Smoker]

oh and one other thing, from what I seen in aperature. Aperature runs circles around photoshop and is easier to use. .

All this says is that you know little about "Aperature", and less about Photoshop.

 

[benpatient]

This upgrade is worth it, as far as what I've found. I purchased it and downloaded it today and gave it a spin. I'm not an Acrobat expert, but it's indispensable in my situation. Here's what I found so far that's improved over version 8:

1. A bug in version 8 when combining multiple files has gone away completely. This is worth it alone.
2. On my Intel iMac, it seems to work quite a bit faster than version 8. (MUCH MUCH faster than version 7 was since 9 is also a universal binary).
3. Printing is also MUCH improved in this new version.
4. When switching from version 8 to 9 while in the middle of a project, the files made with version 9 appear to be a bit smaller and leaner with no loss of quality.
5. The crash/error messages I used to get when quitting version 8 about a third of the time have vanished. Version 9 quits faster with no fuss.
6. The little watch that replaces my cursor when I start version 8 has vanished (to my delight) in version 9.
7. Overall stability is MUCH improved.

This is very much worth the upgrade price.

You see, the problem is you describe a bunch of bug fixes for Leopard, basically. of your 7 "improvements" that are "worth the price," 6 of them are fixes for things that are broken in Pro 8. Broken. So three months ago when I bought an 08 Mac Pro and a copy of the Creative Suite with Acrobat Pro 8, what exactly was I buying? A beta version of Acrobat 9? Why should I have to pay 169 dollars for bug fixes in an application that I just paid over 2,000 dollars for? I have constant problems with Acrobat Pro 8 and Leopard that I didn't have with 10.4. Unfortunately, going back to 10.4 isn't a workable option when you're using an `08 Mac Pro.

oh and one other thing, from what I seen in aperature. Aperature runs circles around photoshop and is easier to use. well, at least what I use it for. but then again I can do about 70% of what I need in iphoto which is FREE when you buy a mac. ilife comes free and iwork is only $79.

what comes free with a PC - nothing. the price is bloated for the operating system and then is bogged down with trial software that does not even have functionaility enough to try it. the trial software most of the time is so stripped down, I cannot get a good sense of whether I should buy it or not. All software you have to buy extra. MAC OS X and macs come with alot already loaded and full versions. you can take a mac out of the box and begin using it from day 1. Take a PC out of the box and then the fun begins of having to find software and paying more.

I think you're getting things confused....

1. Aperture's competition is Lightroom, not Photoshop. If Aperture does everything you need it to do, then you don't need photoshop and you shouldn't waste your money. I use photoshop every day for things that Aperture doesn't even have a file format to handle. That's fine, because Aperture is not supposed to do what Photoshop does.

2. What comes with a PC? If you buy one without an OS and you buy/install windows yourself, then yes, windows costs more than OS X. Although if you've bought every OS X update since Windows XP came out, you've spent just as much money. If you do a clean install of windows, there are not any "trial versions" of software filling it up. That is what Dell and HP and the other pre-built PC makers put on their machines. Windows itself is fine. Macs used to come with trial software pre-installed, too. Up until very recently, every new Mac shipped with a trial of Microsoft office, if you can believe that. now it's a trial of iwork. How about that...trial software!

3. 95% of the things you would ever want to do with a computer you can do with freeware applications readily available for Windows. They aren't usually as slick as Apple's software, but they are free. Name a common task that you need to do and I'll point you towards a freeware app that does the job, and usually more efficiently than the "big name" equivalent software. Of course there are even better freeware or shareware apps for the Mac, but that's not what you were talking about.

 

[happydude]

double you tea eff?!

for those of us that paid over a grand for CS3, we seriously need to pay $160 for an upgrade to ONE of the products instead of getting it as a software update? That's seriously lame.

yes, this is the way the Adobe monopoly works . . .

 

[jblakeh1]

This is almost offensive. I could never get the CS3 version to install after countless attempts at installing and reinstalling. I finally just wiped it off my drive and started using Preview.

Providing a downloadable trial might have alleviated the installer issue but they only release Windows version.

Over it! Why does Adobe think it's ok to sell $1K software packages that have such convolted installers the software can't even be used?

 

[Toe]

I'm starting to see Adobe tendencies of divorcing Mac.

Have a look at some history. Adobe took over most of print publishing, not just with Photoshop and Illustrator (and to a lesser extent InDesign), but also with PostScript and its children (Acrobat, PDF, and postscript fonts).

They thought they could do the same with the web, building off of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, they added Dreamweaver and more importantly Flash and all of its relatives.

Macs were great for Adobe when they were the dominant lifeform in print publishing. But now that Adobe is looking at the web, they have no need for Macs. They are just building their platform and trying to force people to use it... even if it means using Windows.

But what Adobe forgot to notice is that

1. The web isn't for computers anymore. People want their web in their pocket... and Adobe technologies are too heavy to carry on an ARM processor.
2. People don't want to use Windows. Especially not now that new computers come with Vista.

Apple's webkit platform (and more broadly, AJAX) competes with Adobe's Flash platform, but needs no special tools to make or to use. It can run on an underpowered iPhone, a MacPro, a Linux workstation, and a Windows PC without anyone having to configure anything.

 

[morespce54]

Can anyone recommend freeware that does this well?

It's probably been mentioned already but: Paparazzi

http://www.derailer.org/paparazzi/

Can't live without it (and the main reason I won't upgrade Acrobat! )

 

[Toe]

Over it! Why does Adobe think it's ok to sell $1K software packages that have such convolted installers the software can't even be used?

They have come up with a unified platform for all of their applications.

The result, they believe, is that all of their programs have the same look and feel, and they all can leverage each others' features. Adobe can improve one component of one system and leverage that improvement through all their applications.

The result, in actuality, is that they have basically built an entire extra abstraction layer... essentially another operating system, for their software to run on, on top of your existing OS. So you can kinda think of this latest software as "Acrobat for Windows (for Mac)." Have you ever noticed how many gigabytes CS3 takes on your hard drive, as compared to any other applications?

This unified, behemoth platform that Adobe has created adds multiple layers of overhead to everything they do. Not only is their an additional application layer for everything to have to travel through, but there is a sort of inertia created by the code. Nothing can be changed until it is changed and tested for every application on every platform. That is why they have been so incredibly, inexcusably slow in releasing updates first for Intel, and then for Leopard. Like they didn't see Leopard coming? No, they simply can't do anything quickly because their architecture is too complex.

It also means they have to do everything themselves, and everything has to be complex. Every little freeware app I download seems to have a little "Check for Updates" function that works very quickly and very efficiently. By comparison, the Adobe update checker consumes all of my computer's resources, is extremely slow, is horribly written (many, many dialogs with no explanation), and rarely even works.

Apple has taken the opposite approach, making a completely distributed architecture that can be called from other applications. That's why little, cheap/free apps like pixelmator and ImageWell can compete with gigantic, incredibly expensive apps like Photoshop.

 

[Blue Velvet]

That's why little, cheap/free apps like pixelmator and ImageWell can compete with gigantic, incredibly expensive apps like Photoshop.

But they don't, they're not even in the same league. With Pixelmator, can I produce a proper duotone that's going to separate properly? No.

This constant refrain I hear from people implying that these small apps are a direct replacement for Photoshop, misunderstand what the application does, what you can do with it and ultimately, who it's aimed at.

However, the rest of your post I agree with. Some of it made me chuckle.

 

[skellener]

APPL should buy ADBE

I sure hope not. Years ago, maybe. Now...why? Adobe's stuff is slow, bloated and expensive. They ignore Apple's core technology. Apple may have needed Adobe in the past, but nowadays it's just not worth it. Adobe is MS for the new millennium. Many people have moved on and are not looking back at Adobe.