Home > Tips > One of the Smallest and Fastest pdf reader SumatraPDF

One of the Smallest and Fastest pdf reader SumatraPDF

August 3rd, 2009 Author: Categories: Tips

toolsEvery time I setup a new machine I have to make sure to remind myself to install adobe reader or some other kind of pdf reader like it or else my clients will invariably call me as soon as I’m out their door wondering why some (pdf) files they have does not load up. If you have a MAC, Preview will take care of all your pdf needs and more. Until Windows include one too, please read on.

For years that meant going to adobe.com and searching for that ever elusive ‘get adobe reader’ button. And for a while that has worked pretty well…until a few years ago. They started bundling google toolbar which made me have to read and uncheck this F#$%en ‘feature’ before I download. Not only was it annoying to be asked to install something you didn’t want but also to add insult to injury, it meant the file will be bigger and take you longer to download it. What finally made me give up completely on adobe reader was some time last year they started installing adobe.com and adobe air with every installation of adobe reader. Sure you can uninstall them AFTER you are done installing but they should have given you an option to not install it in the first place. Better yet they should have done what they did with the google toolbar and given you an opt-out option BEFORE you download reader. I’m sure these two forced-down-your-throat ‘features’ added over 10mb to the already bloated 90mb-ish download.

I started looking for alternative solutions and stumble upon foxit reader. This program was exactly what I wanted until recently they started catching the adobe bug and made the program bloated and user unfriendly. So now, I’m singing the songs of Sumatra PDF. They are what foxit use to be before becoming such a commercially centered product. You simply download the program and it will run from where you clicked on it. You can permanently install it by moving it somewhere like ‘program files’ or even in your ‘documents’ directory.

Here is the link to the main site:
http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/download.html

This is to an installer if you’re inclined:
http://kjkpub.s3.amazonaws.com/sumatrapdf/rel/SumatraPDF-0.9.4-install.exe

This is to just the executable file:
http://kjkpub.s3.amazonaws.com/sumatrapdf/rel/SumatraPDF-0.9.4.zip

I would like to know what you guys use as an alternative to Adobe PDF Reader. Who knows, maybe we can put them on the track and race them…as long as Michael Vick is not around. He’ll just bring on the fed’s mojo.

  1. September 10th, 2009 at 14:09 | #1

    I am looking for a VERY powerful PDF reader for the iPod Touch (2G, 3.0). I would (if possible) like the ability to save them to my iPod via Windows PC, the ability to edit and create PDF’s and other formats, and the ability to pull PDF’s off the web.

  2. March 25th, 2010 at 02:14 | #2

    UK-based PDF security specialist, today announced the launch of its superfast, low memory usage secure PDF reader. The reader is compatible with all current versions of the PDF specs and is believed to be the smallest and fastest such reader available.

  3. April 1st, 2010 at 08:09 | #3

    Smallest of all is Cool PDF reader. It can view, print, and convert PDF files to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS, and the Standard installer is only a 896KB download! What I didn’t like about Cool PDF Reader is that I got a few error messages while trying to open some of my PDF files, but the other ones I tried worked fine. Another thing that bothered me is that page contents do not get updated while the scroll bar is dragged, and loading pages can sometimes get glitchy. All in all, this is a slim reader that does what Adobe Reader does with alot less resources.

  4. April 5th, 2010 at 23:08 | #4

    It copies everything covered by the yellow area, regardless of words or lines, so you’ll have to carefully avoid getting to close to characters you don’t want to be copied.

  5. May 5th, 2010 at 13:07 | #5

    I played around with it for a while, and wanted to add my 2 cents. Dont’ get this…it is great 85% of the time, but every now and then it doesn’t work with a particular PDF. That 15% will drive you nuts.

  6. May 11th, 2010 at 21:26 | #6

    My only con is that it does not allow you to select an area and zoom to that area, like most other PDF readers do, but this one thing is minor compared to its speed and small footprint.

  7. May 31st, 2010 at 09:04 | #7

    Smallest of all is Cool PDF reader. It can view, print, and convert PDF files to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS, and the Standard installer is only a 896KB download! What I didn’t like about Cool PDF Reader is that I got a few error messages while trying to open some of my PDF files, but the other ones I tried worked fine. Another thing that bothered me is that page contents do not get updated while the scroll bar is dragged, and loading pages can sometimes get glitchy. All in all, this is a slim reader that does what Adobe Reader does with alot less resources.
    +1

  8. August 31st, 2010 at 22:34 | #8

    I want a replacement total for my adobe acrobat. I want just not a simple reader but a piece of software that converts web pages, doc files in pdf format.This kind of sofware is available?

  9. September 14th, 2010 at 09:36 | #9

    I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post.

  10. September 16th, 2010 at 22:09 | #10

    Thanks for it all collection is very coll i love this blog very much keep it always in top.

  11. November 3rd, 2010 at 21:13 | #11

    The reader is compatible with all current versions of the PDF specs and is believed to be the smallest and fastest such reader available.

  12. January 2nd, 2011 at 09:33 | #12

    This is a great way to promote a product, I will have to check this. It seems like it will work much better then pay per click.

  13. January 5th, 2011 at 10:46 | #13

    Your perspective is very excellent. Thanks for put on view this valuable information. I have the benefit of stay.

  14. February 2nd, 2011 at 10:18 | #14

    Really SumatraPDF is also wonderful tool to read the pdf files. I used Acrobat reader before it but now onwards using it nice and easy really…

  15. February 13th, 2011 at 23:56 | #15

    To change the language of Sumatra PDF Portable, just click the Language option from the main menu and select the language of your choice.Thanks…

  16. March 26th, 2011 at 09:59 | #16

    This is good I think. Any person who want to start business they will get benefits. Every one should know about this.

  17. April 1st, 2011 at 00:52 | #17

    Thai, thanks a lot and its good for me. well said Thai

  18. April 26th, 2011 at 02:36 | #18

    Every computer user needs a good PDF reader, but many users make the mistake of thinking Adobe Reader is the best and/or only option. It’s not. In fact, I’d say it’s overkill for most folks, offering features you don’t need, plodding performance, and enough resource-hogging bloat that it can actually make your system run slower.

  19. April 28th, 2011 at 21:48 | #19

    The PDF Reader is a powerful alternative to Adobe Reader, offering additional features. You can export pages from PDFs as images and modify the resolution. And unlike Adobe Reader, you can save filled forms.

  20. June 3rd, 2011 at 02:34 | #20

    It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not that good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he enjoyed it as well!

  21. July 2nd, 2011 at 00:24 | #21

    Since the Sumatra PDF viewer doesn’t have to be installed, you can’t open PDF files by just double clicking on them. Thus, you first have to launch the PDF reader, and then open the PDF files from its user interface.

  22. July 21st, 2011 at 02:15 | #22

    It allows PDF annotation and thankfully leaves the annotated copy free of validation marks. It also allows you to fill and save Adobe PDF forms, extract text and images, magnify text and export PDF pages or documents to BMP….

  23. July 23rd, 2011 at 01:34 | #23

    PDF XChange Viewer is an advance PDF Reader developed by Tracker Software Products. It loads fast, can print PDFs, allows basic annotation and comments with no watermaks, high clarity text, allows Adobe PDF forms fills….

  24. August 20th, 2011 at 02:18 | #24

    aaand SumatraPDF supports synctex, which is really really helpful if you have to work much with LaTeX. (TexnicCenter natively supports SumatraPDFs with autogenerated profiles for using the synctex feature…

  25. August 20th, 2011 at 02:22 | #25

    If you’re a fan of running programs from a flash drive, make sure to grab the portable version of Sumatra PDF; it can run directly from an executable, meaning there’s nothing to install…..

  26. September 6th, 2011 at 22:40 | #26

    i want a good pdf reader for my phone i got one but it limits the size to 300 kb while all e books i have are atleast 1 to 2 mb i want a pdf reader with good interface and fast scrolling……

  27. September 6th, 2011 at 22:43 | #27

    iTouch is actually not designed for reading purpose. I’ve given my opinion about reading on the iPod and real ebook / pdf reader in a previous answer here, guess it’ll help you decide which to choose:

  28. October 3rd, 2011 at 21:38 | #28

    Sumatra PDF is a slim, free, open-source PDF viewer for Windows. Sumatra has a minimalistic design. Simplicity has a higher priority than a lot of features. It’s small and starts up very fast. It’s designed for portable use: it’s just one file with no external dependencies so you can easily run it from external USB drive.

    Read more: Sumatra PDF Viewer – Free software downloads and software reviews – CNET Download.com http://download.cnet.com/Sumatra-PDF-Viewer/3000-10743_4-10698785.html#ixzz1ZmiCh1jQ

  29. December 3rd, 2011 at 02:37 | #29

    Sumatra PDF is a slim, free, open-source PDF viewer for Windows. Sumatra has a minimalistic design. Simplicity has a higher priority than a lot of features. It’s small and starts up very fast. It’s designed for portable use: it’s just one file with no external dependencies so you can easily run it from external USB drive.

  30. December 3rd, 2011 at 04:41 | #30

    For pdf files reading I always use Adobe pdf reader.I will check SumatraPDF also and will use always if it has some extra features than Adobe.Nice information.

  31. February 8th, 2012 at 10:40 | #31

    I installed it on my smartphone and its working f9.SumatraPDF is truly lightweight and fast.

  32. February 8th, 2012 at 10:45 | #32

    After Adobe reader I like it a lot.very lightweight and superb accessing in less time.

  33. February 8th, 2012 at 11:03 | #33

    Thanks that you performed the good research close to this post. But, to opt for the perfect writing service, you should know about written essays.

  34. February 11th, 2012 at 04:27 | #34

    I will have to check this. It seems like it will work much better then pay per click…

  35. February 11th, 2012 at 04:28 | #35

    Better yet they should have done what they did with the google toolbar and given you an opt-out option BEFORE you download reader.

  36. February 21st, 2012 at 00:27 | #36

    I want to know what PDF reader is the best for viewing files offline and has the best interface. I have used some PDF reader that have had slightly blurry pages, and was hard on my eyes so make sure it isn’t.

  37. February 21st, 2012 at 01:21 | #37

    the data on c drive(mother drive) will be deleted,so just take backup of all your data from c drive & desktop to other drive(s), & its all safe

  38. March 30th, 2012 at 21:33 | #38

    Adobe is the most common pdf reader so that would be the best place to start learning how to use a reader.

  39. April 4th, 2012 at 04:09 | #39

    Smallest of all is Cool PDF reader. It can view, print, and convert PDF files to TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF, EMF, EPS, and the Standard installer is only a 896KB download!  What I didn’t like about Cool PDF Reader is that I got a few error messages while trying to open some of my PDF files, but the other ones I tried worked fine. Another thing that bothered me is that page contents do not get updated while the scroll bar is dragged, and loading pages can sometimes get glitchy. All in all, this is a slim reader that does what Adobe Reader does with alot less resources.

  40. April 17th, 2012 at 22:48 | #40

    My aunt once ramsacked our house after she couldn’t find her keys after visiting us. Turned out they were in our fridge. Doubt she was just employing this trick, though. Guess she got hungry and had her hands full or something.

  41. May 2nd, 2012 at 22:48 | #41

    In my opinion, I would back-up your data on an external hard-drive or DVD or USB drive… then install Fresh.

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