CNET Editors' review
To put it gently, Adobe Reader is a real pain in the hindquarters.
It's monstrously large, slow to load, and includes many features most users will hardly ever need. Foxit PDF Reader 2.0 omits these widgets and throws in some neat features, such as annotation tools, while still allowing you to read PDF documents.
The interface mimics Adobe's, so you won't have to change your reading habits. In our test, the text readability wasn't much inferior to Acrobat's. The 1.6MB program starts surprisingly fast compared to Acrobat. You might need to fiddle a bit to get it to work with your Internet browser, but you can find help on Foxit's support forums. It's a nice touch that it opens PDFs from the Internet in their own Foxit window, instead of sucking resources from within the browser.
Foxit's biggest flaw in the old version was hogging memory and that has been corrected. We did find it incredibly irritating that URL hyperlinks were unclickable, and that some features were secretly blocked in the evaluation copy.
Publisher's Description
From Foxit Software:
Foxit PDF Reader is an alternative viewer/reader for PDF documents. Foxit PDF Reader is less than 1MB to download and doesn't need lengthy installation (just download, unzip, and run). It works with all types of PDF documents you might have, with high display quality. Supports different languages including most Asian languages. You can zoom in/zoom out or rotate page display, copy text information to other application, search text in PDF document, and print PDF documents.
Version 1.2 build 0201 supports document color configurations.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 1,710 votes
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Current version:
4.7 starsout of 59 votes
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My rating:
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"best pdf viewer"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
very small, very fast, free pdf viewer; tested it for myself against other pdf viewers (including acrobat reader 5 & 7, brava! reader, expert pdf reader), found it to be extremly light (only 5 megs in ram), and fast (opens huge .pdf files in a snap)
Cons
none; if you want a more recent version, go to the foxit software homepage, select downloads, there is a foxit reader installer on that list
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"Much better than Adobe PDF Reader"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
Its free.
It is MUCH lighter on RAM usage than Adobe.
Loads MUCH faster than Adobe.
Works fine in Internet Explorer, just like Adobe.
Requires no install. Can be copied to a USB flash drive and used anywhere.
Cons
Doesn't work in any other browser except Internet Explorer. Sure you can download the PDF's and read them in the program, but you can't assoicate the PDF filetype with Foxit and then have Foxit open WITHIN FireFox or Opera. It only does that for Internet Explorer.
No installation. The program comes in a zip...one file. I would prefer there to be an installer to copy the file to the Program Files folder for me, and associate the PDF filetype with the program.
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"What can I say!"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
If there ever was an example of "less is sometimes more" the Foxit PDF reader is it. I've uninstalled Adobe's (70 mb+) resource hog and gone with Foxit's PDF. No install required. Drop anywhere you want to read a pdf and click the icon, you got a full blown PDF reader.
Cons
None so far.
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"Happy to say Farewell to Adobe"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
Try it, You wont regret it.
Cons
Nothing what could bother me.
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"At last a decent alternative!"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
No install
Quick to load
No sodding splash screen (unlike adobe)
Cons
Might need an "install" for the thick computer users among us :)
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"Download this ASAP!"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
I love the product! I've been reading a lot of ebooks lately and I noticed that Adobe Reader was using a lot of system resources. For a 1.23 MB PDF, Adobe was using 23MB of memory!! Then I thought to myself, this is so not right. So I searched for an alternative and look what I found! FOXIT PDF READER! Small, fast and freeware to boot! I opened the same PDF in Foxit and it's only using 8MB!
There is no comparison between these products for me since I just mostly read PDF. So I made it into my default reader. I also enabled it in Mozilla Firefox to read PDF there directly.
Fantastic product! I love it!
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"Great!!!"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
It's easy of use and faster.
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"excellent product"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
small file size, excellent pdf reading speed, big buttons for easy visibility. unlike other pdf reader software which will let you download the software after downloading a download file, this software doesn't need to be installed at all. Great product!
Cons
no cons
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"Small footprint and Fast -Version 1.3 build1209"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
I have been using for a year now and do not plan on going back to the Other Big name pdf reader. reason- this Foxit is Fast, small footprint(arounf 1ng) and has typewriter featue allowing you to enter Data on Any and all pdf forms- wow- Any form-
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"Great, very functional for general internet users"
Version: Foxit PDF Reader 1.2 build 0201
Pros
I downloaded Adobe, and since I have dial up, it took 3 HOURS! This handy little program finish in 2-3 MINUTES and I don't need to make any PDF files, I just need to view, and print. FOXIT has GOT IT! Like I said, this is perfect for a general internet viewer/printer.
Cons
NOTHING
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