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Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet)
ZDNet covers
the latest commercial software releases from Adobe, including version 7 of
Adobe Reader, a freely downloadable PDF viewing application.
"The Linux beta version for Adobe Reader 7 isn't a surprise. Adobe is becoming more active in desktop Linux. The San Jose, Calif.-based company had released a version of Acrobat Reader 5 for Linux but skipped version 6."
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Linux Beta Posted Jan 6, 2005 19:41 UTC (Thu) by Stu (subscriber, #1761) [Link] Anyone know where to get the linux beta?
Linux Beta Posted Jan 6, 2005 19:47 UTC (Thu) by jwb (guest, #15467) [Link] You can sign up for it on their site. Apparently it's a closed beta. You must supply substantial identifying information (name, address, phone) and agree to an agreement, the terms of which are actually reasonable (non-transfer of the beta software to any individual person not affiliated with your company, and non-disclosure of information about the product until it is released).
I signed up for it but I doubt they'll pick my 64-bit Debian system.
Linux Beta Posted Jan 6, 2005 19:54 UTC (Thu) by Stu (subscriber, #1761) [Link] I guess I didn't look to hard. I'd be happy with a 32 bit version (that's what I asked for), though I run a Gentoo 64bit dual opteron box.
Linux Beta Posted Jan 6, 2005 19:47 UTC (Thu) by chohman (guest, #5519) [Link] Looks like you need to sign up for a pre-release program??
Linux Beta Posted Jan 7, 2005 4:25 UTC (Fri) by deatrich (subscriber, #25) [Link] Yes, the link is in the second paragraph on that page.I gave it a quick testdrive on FC 2 - it seems to work okay, though it is a bit of a memory hog. I haven't fully tested it yet though.
Windows users also complained about the resource usage, at least they did for version 6 :-) It's pretty slick though...
Linux Beta Posted Jan 7, 2005 7:31 UTC (Fri) by ametlwn (subscriber, #10544) [Link] I gave it a quick testdrive on FC 2Could you tell me what license they used? Is it the same one as with acroread5 which forbids packaging as rpm or deb ("however, you may not otherwise alter or modify the installer program or create a new installer for any of such software")?
Linux Beta Posted Jan 7, 2005 8:35 UTC (Fri) by deatrich (subscriber, #25) [Link] As far as I can see the included license file 'AdobeReader/LICREAD.TXT' contains the usual acrobat reader requirements:2.2.2 For information on how to distribute the Software on tangible media or through an internal network please refer to the sections entitled "How to Distribute Adobe Reader" at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/distribute.html
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 6, 2005 21:01 UTC (Thu) by pjs (guest, #10927) [Link] They fully released the free reader and paid suite for Windows, and now they're offering a BETA test of only the free reader for Linux (no sign of the full suite for Linux), only AFTER the windows version is released.
Yeah, that's "becoming more active in desktop Linux". Not a full release on Linux, and not even a free reader available at the same time as Windows.
But if you go to the free acrobat download page and select Linux, you'll be offered version 5.0.10, whereas you'll get version 7.0 if you select Windows XP. So perhaps even offering a beta test of what's already fully released on windows is "more active in desktop Linux" than their recent history of simply skipping version 6 altogether.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 6, 2005 23:45 UTC (Thu) by Junior_Samples (guest, #26737) [Link] It is very likely that Adobe and Microsoft have some sort of behind the scenes "gentleman's agreement" which keeps Adobe from supporting Linux. For example, a few years ago Adobe was getting set to release PageMaker for Linux.At the time, Adobe had a free Linux PageMaker beta which anyone could download. It worked quite well. Then at the last minute Adobe pulled the plug and said that they weren't going to release PageMaker for Linux. Now recall that Adobe was very strong in the Unix market. As many of Adobe's customers transitioned to Linux, it would be only natural that Adobe support should follow. After all, Linux is the most prominent player in the Unix market. What happened? Probably some subtle threats from Microsoft along the lines of "Remember what happened to WordPerfect . . ." In other words, Microsoft won't tread on Adobe's turf as long as Linux is treated like the redheaded stepchild.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 6, 2005 23:50 UTC (Thu) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link] Some backroom pressure from Apple probably wouldn't be unheard of either... can you imagine all the graphic arts users switching to Linux? Nightmare for Mr. Jobs!
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 1:45 UTC (Fri) by dhess (subscriber, #7827) [Link] What happened? Probably some subtle threats from Microsoft along the lines of "Remember what happened to WordPerfect . . ." In other words, Microsoft won't tread on Adobe's turf as long as Linux is treated like the redheaded stepchild. I remember the aborted release of PageMaker, but I don't think it follows that Microsoft had anything to do with it. This happened years ago (back in 1998 or 1999?), long before Microsoft perceived desktop GNU/Linux as a credible threat. And PageMaker doesn't really compete with any of Microsoft's offerings, anyway; it's not aimed at the same market as Word.
I really doubt that. I've spoken to an Adobe product manager about Adobe's interest in GNU/Linux, off the record, and what I inferred from that conversation is that Adobe is simply trying to figure out whether there will be enough (paying) customers for GNU/Linux proudcts to justify the development cost. They're genuinely interested in the GNU/Linux creative content market, at least. And there's no love lost between Adobe and Microsoft, so I doubt they have a "gentleman's agreement" on anything, at least not on product lines. I think the upcoming release of Acrobat 7 is a good sign. I'm pretty optimistic that we'll see the Adobe Creative Suite on GNU/Linux in the near future. Crossing my fingers, anyway... Adobe's support would "legitimize" the GNU/Linux desktop overnight.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 19, 2005 2:32 UTC (Wed) by grouch (guest, #27289) [Link] Adobe's support would "legitimize" the GNU/Linux desktop overnight. Personally, I'm not interested in anything from Adobe and I have a legitimate GNU/Linux desktop that has served me well for six years or so.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 5:03 UTC (Fri) by jabby (subscriber, #2648) [Link] I also remember that brief flirtation of Adobe with Linux. I also remember what followed...
Then CEO of Adobe, John Warnock, defended Microsoft in its antitrust trial. He came out as a staunch opponent of Free Software and GNU/Linux in particular. It seemed obvious at the time that Adobe would never make its applications available on a Free/Libre platform. Adobe became a member of the BSA. Their CEO hated Free Software and testified on Microsoft's behalf. They pulled their only Linux beta project.
Given this record, it doesn't seem like there would be the need for any backroom deal. The company was openly hostile toward GNU/Linux.
Fast forward to today and Warnock is no longer the CEO. He was one of the founders of the company, however, and probably doesn't want to let go completely. He is still Chairman of the Board. The new CEO is Bruce Chizen.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/56833/adobe-experimenting-wit...
According to these articles from last year, Adobe is indeed planning a full Linux release of Acrobat (not just Reader). Adobe has joined OSDL and is active in the desktop Linux working group. It is hiring a "director of Linux market development" and a computer scientist to "become maintainer and/or architect for one or more Adobe-sponsored open-source projects." This doesn't even sound like the same company.
Perhaps this renewed interest in Linux is a sign of Warnock's decreasing influence over his company. Perhaps Chizen sees the writing on the wall that GNU/Linux is going to be one of the top three major desktop platforms. Maybe they see The GIMP improving quickly and they're hedging their bets.
I'm not sure how seriously to take them. They're a big proprietary software company. Their motivations are certainly not derived from any sense of community. Perhaps they are simply being pragmatic. That would be a step forward from the old days of open hostility.
Jason
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 6:57 UTC (Fri) by deatrich (subscriber, #25) [Link] Well said, Jason. I remember the Framemaker rumours ( the beta link is still there), and how disappointed I was when Adobe turned its back on Linux.Until Adobe joined OSDL I always thought that Microsoft had a way better basic understanding of the potential of Linux than Adobe (and I mean Microsoft the Business Machine and not Microsoft the Marketing Machine). I think that Adobe's OSDL initiative is indicative of something real this time.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 6, 2005 23:47 UTC (Thu) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link] Considering the relative market size of each platform, I wouldn't be surprised if their developer numbers differ by an order of magnitude or two. So the fact that the Linux package is a bit behind is perhaps not surprising as well.
That being said, I do agree that 'becoming more active in desktop Linux' needs more action than they're showing presently to be considered a real effort rather than a token. Now if they came out with InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop for Linux (all using a reasonable toolkit, not the horrid-ugly Motif stuff that Reader 5 used), now that would be something to blow their trumpet about. But... as my granddad used to say, the devil ain't gettin his overcoat on anytime soon...
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 7:34 UTC (Fri) by aleXXX (subscriber, #2742) [Link] Does anybody know which toolkit they use for the reader beta ?
Alex
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 9:53 UTC (Fri) by pivot (guest, #588) [Link] If it's still Motif then I'll stay away at least. And what is this stupid idea that you need to click TWICE in the upper right close window icon to actually close an open acroreader window???
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 17:15 UTC (Fri) by meme (guest, #27060) [Link] It's gtk2 and closes with one click. Everyone can check:http://home.balticom.lv/mihails/AdbeRdr70_linux_enu.0.bet...
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 18:34 UTC (Fri) by jmalcolm (guest, #8876) [Link] Thanks for the spirit of sharing. Is it ok under the beta agreement to distribute (or post) this here? I assumed the reader would be zero-cost but not free in other ways.
I would not like to compromise the integrity of LWN with dubious links. Also, if we want Adobe to open up we should not encourage them to view us as a bunch of lawless pirates.
If it is ok, then thank you very much. It is too bad we cannot all share more openly without having to worry about such issues.
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet). Posted Jan 7, 2005 19:45 UTC (Fri) by meme (guest, #27060) [Link] > Is it ok under the beta agreement to distribute (or post) this here?I don't know for sure, but guess that it is prohibited by the agreement :-(
> Also, if we want Adobe to open up we should not encourage them
> It is too bad we cannot all share more openly without having to worry about such issues.
> I would not like to compromise the integrity of LWN with dubious links
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 19:46 UTC (Fri) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link] From the Adobe beta page: "ii) The User ID and password you may be issued are for your personal use only . Do not share them with anyone, either inside or outside your organization. You will be prompted for your User ID and password every time you access this Pre-Release web site."
Doesn't sound like it's okay to me... could someone from LWN remove that link please?
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 8, 2005 0:13 UTC (Sat) by andyrock (guest, #20337) [Link] This app has gtk widgets, but feels like a wine application!
Even the mouse pointer switches to white with black border over acroread (just like emulated windows apps).
Also, the application refresh rates are slow as those wine-apps.
Mouse scroll doesn't work - just like acroread 5.0x.
Crashed once (ok it's beta)
Anyway... Nice to have an up-to-date Adobe Reader :)
Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 8, 2005 9:10 UTC (Sat) by primorec (guest, #2740) [Link] no WINE involved... see "ldd" output on stock RH 8.0
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Adobe releases Acrobat 7 with Linux reader support (ZDNet) Posted Jan 7, 2005 13:34 UTC (Fri) by nedrichards (subscriber, #23295) [Link] I don't know about the reader but Adobe Photoshop Album on Windows uses QT.
Acrobat 5 experience - xpdf was as good or better. Posted Jan 13, 2005 16:33 UTC (Thu) by TxtEdMacs (subscriber, #5983) [Link] That was my experience (or subjective response). Indeed, loading Linux on a newly rebuilt machine, I opted not even to bother downloading a copy of Acrobat. I will keep an open mind, however, and if I hear favorable comments I might take another look.
I know that the application is just a reader, however, I was stunned when I found it impossible to copy text (actually code) to emacs.
[My complaint above may not be the fault of Acrobat, since while I was able to save a portion of text into a Linux file using xpdf I could not transfer that text to another file using a bash command. Moreover, examining that file I was shocked at its size (thinking I copied a small sample). I probably have an entire book's chapter of text that is complexly formatted!]
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