Adobe Acrobat isnt aptly named for a software so simple to use no leaps or bounds required
Overall Satisfaction with Adobe Acrobat
As a creative agency within a corporation, we use the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not the free Reader) on a daily basis. For design layouts and proofs, even copy, it's the single-best, single-easiest way to gather and compile feedback of our stakeholders. Everyone can see each other's comments and reply directly. Additionally, unlike a Word document, we don't have to worry about our stakeholders changing anything.
Pros
- Leaving and replying to comments are extremely easy.
- In most cases, the PDF retains the designer's true work.
- Although you can make large files, Adobe Acrobat gives you the opportunity to generate smaller, compressed files for email systems with limited megabyte capability for attachments.
- Even if a recipient doesn't have Adobe Acrobat, they can download the free Reader for viewing.
- I especially like Adobe Acrobat's ability to handling pages, whether removing, switching around or even rotating. It couldn't be easier.
Cons
- Fonts can default (but not always) if the designer doesn't perform due diligence before generating PDFs.
- The one area Adobe Acrobat is not good at: generating PDFs straight from a website. The results are touch-and-go.
- The basic nav controls take a little getting used to. What I initially expected to be in one spot could only be found elsewhere.
- No worries about compatibility, as files created on PCs can be read on Macs, and vice versa. That has 100% saved us from having to find a workaround.
- While we still have people who like to print on physical paper, it's becoming less and less as they get used to the ease of reading PDFs on their monitor and storing them on the computer. I now rarely print any paper — maybe 5 pages a week, if any. For the designers, paper is printed only for live "proof of concept" presentations to leadership.
- In the rare cases we've had sensitive information within a PDF, locking it down and requiring a PIN to open is simple to set up. We've had 0% of those PDFs becoming breached.
- Cloud Solutions
- Scalability
- Integration with Other Systems
- Ease of Use
At this point, our group was born with Adobe products and tools — particularly Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator — in our office, so the Adobe brand is most important to us. We know it works, works well, and works well with those programs with which it shares a well-respected name.
On an earlier question, I touched upon cases in which we've been asked to "lock down" certain Adobe Acrobat files. These might contain "for your eyes only"-type information or sensitive data regarding an upcoming campaign — or even metrics of performance from a now-closed campaign. For those PDFs, it's a cinch to require the recipient to "unlock" (that is, "view") the document simply by setting a PIN. I've not been made aware of any PDFs like these being breached.
I've only tried two other PDF software offerings: WinZip for Windows and PDFgear. I find *all* software for Windows not intuitive and more difficult than it needs to be. PDFgear was much less frustrating, even on mobile use, but still lacking in overall functionality. That could be because it's free, unlike WinZip was, but this is case where you get what you pay for, meaning Acrobat is worth every penny. (And honestly, it's not that pricey.)
Do you think Adobe Acrobat delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with Adobe Acrobat's feature set?
Yes
Did Adobe Acrobat live up to sales and marketing promises?
I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process
Did implementation of Adobe Acrobat go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy Adobe Acrobat again?
Yes
Using Adobe Acrobat
While I can't speak for every single department in my organization, various teams in the marketing department use Adobe Acrobat regularly, including (but not at all limited to) the creative teams of writers, graphic designers, videographers and traffic managers, not to mention all the supervisors of these people. All other teams in marketing that are not part of marketing use it as well.
1 - I am uncertain of a dedicated number. We have one contact in the IT department who take care of our installation, usage and ongoing support of Adobe Acrobat (as well as other products in our Adobe Creative Suite, including but not at all limited to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign and more). I only ever see him when we require a software update. Otherwise, I never do and have never had an issue using Acrobat that would require his assistance. It's that easy.
- Accurate visuals for approval purposes
- Commenting functionality for capturing feedback
- Ease of file sharing, even with outside vendors
- Flexibility in file sizes, from print-ready to screen-only
- Using the interactive functionality to create checklists
- I don't know of extra ways, but it is flexible and scalable for our long-term needs
Evaluating Adobe Acrobat and Competitors
Actually, I would revolt against anyone even floating the idea of looking at an alternative to Adobe Acrobat. As the adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That certainly applies in our situation, as there is nothing needing fixing about it.
Adobe Acrobat Implementation
- Implemented in-house
Not sure - I was not involved with the implementation process, so I cannot answer this question.
- I was not involved with the implementation process, so I cannot answer this question.
Adobe Acrobat Training
- No Training
Adobe Acrobat is enormously easy to learn without training. It's incredibly intuitive — so much so that you could almost (again, I repeat: *almost*) use it just by looking at its icons. Now, that could be because I was already a long time user of Adobe products like Adobe Photoshop and especially Adobe InDesign, but I still believe most people can figure it out on their own.
Configuring Adobe Acrobat
I cannot really answer this one, either, because I have not had to configure Adobe Acrobat at all. If any configuration was performed on the software in my organization, I do not know about it. That said, I don't know what I would need or want to configure on it as is.
I have to answer no on this question as well, but only because I have not had to configure Adobe Acrobat at all. If it was done in my organization, I do not know about it. That said, I don't know what I would need or want to configure on it as is.
Adobe Acrobat Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Knowledgeable team Problems get solved No escalation required Support understands my problem Support cares about my success | None |
Our organization did purchase premium support. As a software company ourselves, that's just what we do: Buy the support, buy the number of seats as those who will actually use it.
I cannot describe such a time because I have never had to contact Adobe for support for Adobe Acrobat. It's just that easy to use and that reliable and does what it says.
Using Adobe Acrobat
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar | Not well integrated |
- Rearranging pages
- Deleting pages
- E-signature approvals
- Text replacement (in most cases)
- Commenting
- Text replacement with specialized fonts
Yes, but I don't use it
Adobe Acrobat Reliability
Integrating Adobe Acrobat
- I don't have that knowledge.
I don't have the knowledge to know if this was attempted in my organization and, if so, what its results were, successful or otherwise.
- I don't have this knowledge
I don't have the knowledge to know if my organization has plans for this one way or another. I have no involvement with planning systems integration for the company.
- Single Signon
I'm not qualified to answer this with confidence or know-how, based on my duties in my organization. I do not work on that side of things.
Relationship with Adobe
As I was not involved with purchasing, vetting or executing implementation of Adobe Acrobat (or other Adobe products in its creative suite), I am not qualified to answer this question. I would be surprised, however, if there were no negotiations regarding price per seat given the sheer amount of people using it at our workplace.
I am unable to share any tips or advice for effectively dealing with the vendor since I was not involved with purchasing, vetting or executing implementation of Adobe Acrobat (or other Adobe products in its creative suite). I'm simply a very satisfied daily user of the software.
Upgrading Adobe Acrobat
Yes - Upgrading to new versions of Adobe Acrobat have been seamless at my organization. They have happened in one of two ways: a download took just a few minutes from start to finish, or occurring overnight while I was not at work. Our company has moved toward the latter as a standard practice, but both ways have worked with no negative impacts.
- Seamless
- Instant or near-instant
- Zero negative impacts
- Continued seamlessness
- Ongoing consistency of ease
- No further negative impacts


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