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Simple and streamlined, this is a useful application--if you don't mind being pestered with pop-ups. PDF995 uses the open-source GNU Ghostscript utility to convert any document file into PDF format. During testing, we were impressed with the program's conversion speed and the quality of the converted documents. The program works seamlessly, installing a "virtual" printer for converting documents. When you want to convert, you simply choose "Print" in any application (Microsoft Word, for example) and the application converts the document. PDF995 does not allow you to configure settings to your preference, however, such as security or compression options.
Another frustrating "feature" is the two-part download that requires separate installations of the printer driver and free converter. The slew of advertisements and pop-ups also get pesky during use. As freeware, PDF995 isn't a bad choice for those who need a standard tool for PDF conversion and don't mind a bit of advertising bother.
Publisher's Description
From pdf995:
Create PDF files from any application by simply selecting the print command. It is easy to customize your PDF995 output: preview documents, combine files, change page orientation, add "Confidential" stamps, create PDF stationery, adjust image resolution, summarize documents, convert PDFs to several image file formats, create batch print jobs from Microsoft Office applications, and choose from several file-naming methods. With PDF995, you can easily encrypt or digitally sign your PDF documents. PDF995 uses Microsoft Cryptographic technologies to give you 128-bit DES encryption, offering a high level of protection for all your Internet communications, including legal documents and financial transactions. Signature995 employs Microsoft digital certificate technologies to create and validate digital signatures.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 66 votes
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Current version:
3.3 starsout of 7 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-7 of 7
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"Amazing. Good for Small business. Very usefull"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
users friendly
Cons
Maby the adds in the free version
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"Well worth it, even if you pay for the ad-free version"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
I've been using this to create PDFs for several years and love it. It's fast and efficient. Besides making great PDFs it also has a fantastic set of features, such as the "extract pages" feature and the "combine PDF" feature.
Cons
In the free version the pop-up ads are a minor nuisance, but still a small price to pay for the otherwise free program.
Summary
I suppose you could pay hundreds for Acrobat and get the bells and whistles that come with that, especially the forms utility. For basic PDF creation, combining PDFs, and extracting pages from PDFs, though, you simply can't go wrong with PDF995.
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"Works well, I have used this since it was put on cnet."
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
Works as a printer driver which makes things easy.
Cons
Sometimes I have to set this driver as the preferred printer. Minor issue at best.
Summary
Try it out, well worth it. I have a small business and use this daily. I was on here looking for a converter to get from pdf to tiff and saw this listing. I felt the need to make a comment on my experience since I am a daily user.
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"Worst Product & bad customer/technical support"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
Only works if you install locally on a client...
Cons
Does not work as a Shared Network Printer from the Printer Server. You are better off with novaPDF for using PDF Creation as a Shared Network Printer.
Summary
Having to install Adobe Acrobat Professional on each workstation is costly from Adobe.
Our organization's goal is to centralize PDF Creation onto our new Printer Server on Windows 2008 (x64) and clients mainly on Windows 7.
It seems that all the so-called PDF Virtual Printers will not work for Windows 2008 and Windows 7 in a multi-user environment despite their claim.
I've gone through all of them: Trial and Freeware...All of them sucked big time. The only ones that appear to work in our favor is novaPDF. -
"Doesn't uninstall"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
Unknown if any
Cons
Does not uninstall. Gives error code
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"2nd best image quality out of all the PDF printers"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
provides the 2nd best image quality out of the 4 PDF printers I tested
Cons
pop-up ads, but they're not that bad considering the price is free
Summary
I tested PDF995, Bullzip PDF printer, PDF converter and PrimoPDF. PrimoPDF provided the best image quality out of the three but also the largest image sizes by choosing the highest quality "Prepress" option. PDF995 is a close second by default without choosing any options.
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"Does just what its supposed to, with some avoidable ads"
Version: PDF995 Printer Driver 9.2
Pros
Works fast, makes perfect copies of Word documents in PDF
Cons
The Ads were somewhat burdensome even after I made some of the popups go away, it would be nice to be able to toggle on/off the auto-open-file feature
Summary
This is great for anyone who wants a word document to be in PDF format, it is so much easier than trying to manually recreate it. Plus the software is very user friendly, you just have to choose the printer from the print dialog box in Word, or you can set it as default in control panel.
*TIP* - If you have Zone Alarm or other firewall protection software you can block internet access to "pdflib" to keep the printer from opening up internet explorer everytime you convert a file :)
Results 1-7 of 7
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