You have to give Adobe credit. There aren’t
many companies that have managed to
change the world once, let alone twice. In
1985, Adobe introduced PostScript, which
became the rock on which the entire electronic
publishing industry was built; they
forever changed the world of professional
printing. In 1994, Adobe launched the first
version of Acrobat, whose file format, PDF,
is now the basis for modern electronic distribution
of all manner of documents.
PDF files are used by everyone who creates
or receives documents in the modern
world. CEOs, secretaries, artists, railwaystation
managers, hemp-wearing individuals
who create crystal-based healing jewelry;
everybody with a computer sends and
receives documents as PDF, and uses some
flavor of Adobe software to read them.
Acrobat X is the newest incarnation of
Adobe Systems’ software for viewing,
managing, and manipulating PDF files.
This version of Acrobat reflects years and
years (and years!) of Adobe’s technological
development and end-user experience.
The emphasis in this version of Acrobat
is usability. Adobe has rethought much
of Acrobat’s interface to make it more
streamlined and easily explored. Creating
forms, sending files out for review, and
combining PDF files into a single document
is smoother and easier than ever.
In addition, it is easier to discover features
of Acrobat X that you never knew existed.
Did you know that you can measure distances
and areas on scale drawings, or that
you can conduct a live video conference to
discuss a document? Adobe also provides
a free online service, Acrobat.com, to let
you share any kind of file—not just PDFs—
with other people.
Acrobat X is designed to ensure that if you
need a feature, you will find it. “Do what
you need to, faster and easier” was clearly
a primary design goal for this newest Acrobat.
For my taste, this is the easiest-to-use
Acrobat to come along for years.
