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Enough Is Enough! Goodbye Adobe Acrobat! Hello PDF-XChange!

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

GoodbyeEnough Is Enough!  Goodbye Adobe Acrobat!  Hello PDF-XChange!

PDF files are an essential part of our business and we've been using Adobe Acrobat Professional 7 for a few years.  Yes, we know X is the latest version, but frankly, we're not hardcore creators of forms and comment sharing. 

We need a few basic functionalities:

  • Convert documents from whatever format we're in to PDF, and print to PDF as needed.
  • Open and read PDF documents.
  • Combine PDF documents into one document.
  • Extract individual pages out of a larger PDF document.
  • Have a typewriter style function that allows us to type onto existing PDF documents (think filling in contracts, etc. instead of handwriting everything).
  • Convert a PDF into a Word document (not often a need, but sometimes it comes up).

Beyond that, most of the functionality of Adobe Acrobat Professional 7 was overkill for us.  And the resource drain to our old computer was extreme.  A long delay to launch, and don't count on doing too much else simultaneously...and don't forget the hard drive space needed and the significant $$$ to purchase.

So when we got our new Dell a few weeks ago, we reinstalled our copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro 7 to our new computer.  Apparently Adobe doesn't LIKE you using your own software on your own computer without first following a sequence that they like...unbeknownst to us!  We should have first told it to "transfer activation" from our old PC so our license code would be eligible on our new laptop (that sequence FAILS when tried on the old laptop).  On our new laptop, initially we kept getting "Activation needed" alerts after we installed the software, and we'd click the update button and we'd be fine for a bit.  And then the Activation Alert would come back, repeat Activation, then come back a few minutes later!!!

Calls to the Helpless Desk for Adobe only got us "your software is incompatible with Windows 7, please purchase a new version!"  Nothing that addressed the issue that OTHER than the Activation message EVERYTHING else worked fine...besides, we'd bought Windows 7 with XP mode just in case we had software compatibility issues.


So after searching the net for a solution, and pointless conversations with Adobe...we're moving on.  We're not spending almost $500 for a new suite or $184 for an upgrade download!  Those dollars are better spent on building our business, NOT paying for a new version of software we already own.

Solution?  PDF-XChange!  Full version costs $75, does everything we need and MUCH more, AND it's faster!  You can trial the free version for two weeks if you'd like, click PDF-XChange TRIAL VERSION link if you'd like to take it for a spin.  We're SOLD and this will be our new program.  Adobe, say hello to my leetle friend, the UNINSTALL button!!

By the way, we are NOT paid sponsors of PDF-XChange and have no affiliation with them.  We'd just like to offer you a comparable alternative software for a MUCH lower cost.  And by the way, there are different versions of the software, so depending on your needs you may find something even less costly than $75!

Hope this helps!

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

Posted by

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

Search Homes:  Https://WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com

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Comments(26)

Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

Thanks for the information.  That sounds like something that I have been looking for, and I don't want to spend a bunch of money.  I have been using a freeware program to convert documents to PDF called CutePDF, it sounds like Primo PDF, I use it all the time.

Mar 10, 2011 07:55 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Jim, I've heard good things about CutePDF also, we just stumbled across Primo PDF first and it worked for us, so it's still there as a print option.

Mar 10, 2011 08:03 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

It's always good to have choices, especially cheaper ones.  Thanks for the software tip BLiz.

Mar 10, 2011 08:42 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

BLiz - I'm going to need a new computer soon and started thinking about a Mac just this morning. I'm a PC person, never even touched a Mac, but I'm starting to warm up to them. I didn't see a Mac version of PDF-Exchange when I followed your link to their site. A PDF program like AA, which I have now, is a must with a new system ... just trying to figure this all out. Thanks for the info!

Mar 10, 2011 09:04 AM
Dan and Amy Schuman
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH
Luxury Home Specialists

I'm about to get a new computer as well and will definitely consider PDF X-Change. Thanks for sharing.

Mar 10, 2011 09:27 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 

 

Sadly, I feel your pain and decided to dump PC's years ago. IMHO, Microsoft is all about the money and penalizes users. OSX comes with a built-in PDF writer built into the OS. Upgrades from one version to another is cheap. I purchased a 5 license upgrade for all my MACS for $50.

 

 

Mar 10, 2011 10:08 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Anita, Glad to share what we've found! :)

Cynthia, See Michael's comment, maybe your Mac comes with software.  Also, check this link for more possibilities including some MAC programs: 

 

http://ca.lifehacker.com/5777213/five-best-pdf-tools

Dan and Amy, Certainly more economical than the A.A. software.

Michael, I don't see us moving to Macs, and in this case I can't blame Microsoft.  I think the Adobe people personally might have not been trying very hard to solve my problem..  They follow their flow chart...all the way to the box that says "buy new version!". :)

Mar 10, 2011 10:49 AM
Laraine Shape
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Glendale, OH
Selling Cincinnati...one kitchen at a time

Please god, please don't make me need to get a new computer soon. 

Mar 10, 2011 11:04 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

R/L, We managed to get about 8 years out of our last one via some heroic measures along the way.  Should have probably gotten a new one LONG before then!

Mar 10, 2011 11:14 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Wow, I use PDF Creator for an even better price - FREE. I've been using it I think now when I had the same problem & said screw it to the constant upgrades.  It has worked fine so far.

Mar 10, 2011 11:45 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Lyn, I hadn't found anything that gave us full edit of existing PDFs and the ability to typewrite on them also.  If PDF Creator does that for FREE, even better! :)

Mar 10, 2011 11:48 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Liz and Bill, I've been using Cutepdf for several years now.  Since I can convert word docs to pdf by sending them to my transaction desk (where all my files are stored), Sounds like you found a good product.

Mar 10, 2011 01:38 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Kay, We just needed that little bit extra beyond straight conversion to get us to what helps us run our business better.  Perhaps someday will consider taking it a bit further, but don't need more yet.

Mar 10, 2011 02:00 PM
Leslie Ebersole
Swanepoel T3 Group - Saint Charles, IL
I help brokers build businesses they love.

Could I just send you my stuff? You seem to have this mastered!

Mar 10, 2011 03:55 PM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

"Calls to the Helpless Desk"

ROTFL

Mar 10, 2011 04:47 PM
Gail C. Harris
Resource Network, LLC SFR, AHWD, ACRE, SMAR Board Director - Chesapeake Beach, MD
Reach the BEACH with Gail C. Harris (cell: 703.868

PDF/X. Or rather, PDF/X-1, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3 and Adobe Acrobat, it's all a blur to me!!  I like Donna's ROFL guy!! LOL  I'll check it out.  Thanks so much, Gail

ROTFL I couldn't resist adding it... Love it.  :)

Mar 10, 2011 05:59 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Leslie, We've learned a few things that are good for our business.  One of the reasons Liz employs an engineer/REALTOR/husband on her team :)   I'm not sure of the order of priorities in her mind!  LOL....

Donne, Incompetence irritates me....and that's what I felt between the actual phone conversation AND the online chat session with their "support" people.

Gail, They can call it anything they want as long as it does the job :)

 

Mar 10, 2011 10:24 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

BLiz, i'm glad i checked this out...it looks like a good alternative although i will try cute PDF first...i've had the same issues with my new PC and adobe!! thank you

Mar 10, 2011 10:58 PM
Tish Lloyd
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

Boy, oh, Boy, have I ever been out of the loop -- had to lean on this one and really love the information!!! My kind of reaction -- positive!!!!!!

Mar 11, 2011 02:09 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Ginny, It's amazing how often something we're thinking about pops up on one of the blogs!

Tish, Just putting our tech skills to work for others :)

Mar 11, 2011 02:30 AM