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PortableApps offers fully functional, fully portable versions of popular open source software. Its Sumatra PDF Portable is a lightweight version of the PDF file viewer. It's small enough to fit on just about any mobile device or storage medium, giving you the option of viewing PDF files on the go. As a portable application, it will run on any compatible Windows machine without installation and without leaving behind any personal information or changes to the registry.
The Sumatra PDF Portable "installer" copies the program's executable to a destination of your choice; the default destination is a new folder on your C drive, but we opted for a new folder on the desktop for convenience. You can move the program later and it'll run fine, as we demonstrated by copying it to a USB drive we use as a portable toolkit. Sumatra PDF Portable has the typical interface of a bare-bones PDF viewer, with a toolbar containing a page display and controls, zoom icons, and a search field. We browsed to a folder full of old product manuals and other PDFs we use for testing and clicked on a 61-page camera manual. Sumatra PDF Portable displayed the document with perfect clarity, even embedded photographs, with the document's table of contents displayed in a left-hand panel. The clarity and legibility was maintained throughout the zoom range, and while the highest zoom settings took a brief moment to render, they were just as clear as the document's content allowed. The Book View and Continuous View options let you display documents in a print-like format or see them all at once for rapid scanning. The HTML-based Help file is included in the download, so all you need to view it is a browser; you don't need an active Internet connection.
We just love portable applications, and we love those from PortableApps especially. Sumatra PDF Portable is yet another highly recommended, totally portable, and completely free program from its extensive list of portable freeware.
Publisher's Description
From PortableApps:
Sumatra PDF Portable is the lightweight Sumatra PDF packaged as a portable app, so you can view PDF files on the go. You can place it on your USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive, or a CD and use it on any computer, without leaving any personal information behind.
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 11 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Fast,simple,with a few features..even reads MOBI files."
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 2.1.1
Pros
i've installed Adobe,Foxit,Nitro,PDF-XChange over the last few years,but keep comming back to Sumatra...it's all i need.
Cons
not getting paid for this review.
Summary
This is what open source should be..functional,lightweight and reliable alternative to bloated,costly software.
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"OMG.. May God Bless the Dev!"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.9
Pros
It's really a pain in the a** when you merely need to read a PDF file but the program responds incredibly slow. Conversely that won't happen if you use this program, it has a simple feature, fast and does as described. This is exactly what I've been looking for! Thanks!
Cons
Negative! It's indeed a time-saver freeware.
Summary
Based on what it is designed for, it undoubtedly deserves 10 stars.
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"Very Handy"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.9
Pros
Small size
Light weight
Fast ExecutionCons
Haven't found anything yet.
Summary
I recommend this product.
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"Excellent alternative to Reader 9"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.7
Pros
Very fast, simple
Cons
Non so far, worked with every file I have tried
Summary
Excellent subsutute for Adobe reader, much faster without all the extras. Launches in seconds not minutes, works with all PDF I have tried in the past two weeks.
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"The fastest reader of PDF files"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.7
Pros
Easy interface, GOOD PROGRAM
Cons
No cons at all
Summary
For all users who wish a fast reader of PDF files
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"Easy to use, does all I need it to."
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.3
Pros
Easy to use, free..
Cons
None to mention.
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"I couldn't get it to run or install"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.2
Pros
It's supposed to run but it didn't - not much of a pro.
Cons
I couldn't get it to work.
Summary
I couldn't get it to work - thumbs down.
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"really useful portable application"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.1
Pros
first its portability. then other normal features of pdf
Cons
it does not have new document creation
Summary
a good pdf portable application good for all normal use
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"If you just want to view and print PDFs painlessly get"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.0.1
Pros
Small, FAST, and portable. What more do you want?
Cons
You have to manually (*pantpant*) reset your file association for PDFs
Summary
This will completely replace adobe acrobat in one year. Seriously, it's about ten times faster and simpler and smaller. I don't know how I've lived with acrobat for so long.
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"great and fast1"
Version: Sumatra PDF Portable 1.0.1
Pros
does what it's meant to and fast. views pdfs.
Cons
dont like internet browsers. gotta download pdf and open it.
Summary
its fast and its good at viewing pdfs. 100x lighter and faster than adobe reader!!
doesnt view pdfs as clear as adobe reader but very good nonetheless for a portable app
Updated on Feb 20, 2010
