Feedback What happened to the small, fast and easy to use viewer?

[clemo]

When I started using Foxit Reader (10 years ago maybe?) it was exactly what I needed, a small and fast PDF viewer and it quickly became part of the tools that I installed by default on any PC I had to work with. But over time, with every update ("evolution"), Foxit Reader got worse. Yesterday I installed version 6.0.3.0524 after using an older version for quite a while and I was horrified by what I saw. I needed to spend time to figure out how to switch between PDFs, finally found an option to change the ribbon interface to the previous interface that was already horrible. Feature creep has finally gotten me to the point that not only I am taking the time to write this rant, but also that I will stop using Foxit Reader. What happened to the small, fast and easy to use viewer? Why couldn't you leave it alone? All I want is quickly view multiple PDFs, I don't need hundreds of options. Unfortunately I have lost the old usable versions of the reader, and I see no other option than to switch to the admittedly horrible Acrobat Reader but that will at least print correctly (one of the weak points of Foxit Reader). Please remove all the crap options and return to a usable tool.

And yes, I know, it is free, so I should keep my mouth shut, take it or leave it, etc., but this rant is out of frustration. Foxit is not the only company that managed to destroy a perfectly fine tool, way too many tools have been rendered unusable by feature creep. Stop Feature Creep!

Maybe someday I will come back to Foxit to see if things improved, but I have very little hope.

Farewell Foxit Reader.

Clemens

P.S. Your forum doesn't work properly in Chrome (Secret question? What secret question?), posted from IE.

[Sander]

Maybe there should be an light version as well. Or you could use an old version. But I do agree that Foxit is becoming larger and larger in size. Still beter and much smaller then Acrobat Reader.

[cherry]

Hi Clemo and Sander,

Thanks for your feedback. I've forwarded them to Reader PM team for processing. Feedback ID#: PMWQ-456. Compared with previous versions, Foxit Reader 6.0 has introduced many more new features as following:

1. PDF Creation Allows users to quickly and easily create PDF.
1) With one-click, create from Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel through the Foxit Reader plug-in.
2) High performance PDF conversion from hundreds of file types by:
a) Dragging and dropping the document into Foxit Reader.
b) Using the Foxit Reader create From File capability.
c) Right mouse clicking on the file.
3) Convert hardcopy documents into PDF with the create From Scanner functionality.
4) Extend any application with print capabilities to include PDF conversion through the included Foxit Reader PDF Printer (PDF print driver).
5) Cut and paste content via the Windows clipboard into a new PDF by using the From Clipboard feature.

2. Read and Search PDF Portfolios Open and read PDF portfolios and perform searches either within a single PDF file or across all the PDF files in the portfolio.

3. Whitelist Trusted URLs for Form Submission Enables users to create and maintain a whitelist of the trusted URLs when submitting form online to manage the file access.

4. Create and Insert Stamps Allows users to create and insert stamps into their PDF documents and forms, by selecting from a choice of pre-made stamps, creating static custom or dynamic stamps.

5. PDF Sign Allows users to sign documents with their own handwriting. Signatures can be created from an image of your signature or by writing it yourself on touch enabled desktop systems or tablets. Users can quickly and easily manage, place, and apply these signatures.

6. Plug-in Manager Adds plug-in Manager which shows a list of installed plug-ins and the relevant information.

[Alderin]

Hi Cherry,

I think what these frustrated users are saying is that they don't want or need the PDF Creation, the Office integration, Portfolios, Whitelists, Signatures, or Plug-ins. What they want is a continued, supported, kept-current and functional, minimal PDF Reader. In terms of hand tools: some people just want a hammer, but your hammer now has two knife blades, screwdriver bits, pliers and a monkey wrench head, plus in the handle you can find fishing hooks and fishing line, waterproof matches, tinder, and a sewing kit! They are leaving to look for: just a hammer. My advice is to give it to them, call it "Foxit Basic" or "Tiny Foxit" or something cute like "Kitfoxit" or "Foxit Kitten", all it does is view PDFs, allow form filling, and printing properly. No bells and whistles, loads fast, low overhead, little to go wrong ( = low support load).

I'm sure such a product would pull back those who are leaving due to perceived bloat.

I hope this helps, as I'd like to see Foxit continue to succeed.

[cherry]

Hi Alderin,

Thanks for your kind feedback. I've forwarded your comments to Reader PM team for processing. Feedback ID#: PMWQ-468.

[onetimeuserid]

Hi there.
Count me in as another dissatisfied user. All I want is a basic program to open PDF documents, and able to magnify/zoom in if the print is too small.

I agree with Clemo: The new menu/UI was confusing and bloated; I'm not too bad with computers, but yet it took me a while to figure out why the zoom tool was not on the menu, and how to get it back.

And Alderin, your hammer example hit the nail on the head perfectly.

Now, I gotta figure out how to get rid of the splash screen/advertising, or if I can't I will have to dump it and install something else...

[onetimeuserid]

Oh, as far as Sander's comment: I thought about downgrading to an older version ( I save every installer for all my app's ), but the problem with that, is that some of those older apps are insecure, and the only way to fix/patch it is to upgrade...

[cherry]

Hi Onetimeuserid,

I've forwarded your comments about Foxit Reader UI to Reader PM team for processing as well. For the mentioned splash screen/advertising, if what you meant is Start Page, you may open Foxit Reader->go to 'File'->'Preferences'->'General'->uncheck 'Show Start Page'. Thank you.

[danieldc]

Sorry! I'm another user going to search for a smaller freeware pdf reader.
I was fine using Foxit, but version 6... is so bloated and slow, and that ribons, it's evil's work (and why change ms-windows default min-max-close buttons?).

If you could, please, make a tiny-small version, only to read and print, that's all.

thanks, yours Daniel
from Brazil

[telvas]

Some year or two ago Foxit Reader update screwed up whole application and additionally all my settings... I went mad and thought I am not going to make this mistake again... Until today... I let the updater do it's sorcery... Results?
1. TOTALLY MESSED INTERFACE!!! Some bar with few BIG icons like for blind people... Colors and everything looks like Windows 3.11. Some single-color rectangles in 8-bit palette... Year 1995 welcomes... Fortunately this was easy to repair after searching this random bag of buttons called "ribbon" for a dedicated option to restore old interface... You can add as much new skins as you like, but why in the world you switch them arbitrary during installation?!
2. When I opend folder with PDFs to check this new version my PC started to work hard.. Why in the world anybody would have PDF thumbnail of files first page?! In my folder of some ~100 files (each in full color, with a lot of graphics, 50MB or more) EVERY SINGLE thumbnail was white square with some dots. Well, it's rather normal that a book, report or article has black text on white page, even on tittle page... I can't see any sense in stressing HDD and CPU just to parse the file for white square with some black dots. Of course some people may want to enable thumbnails, so that option is OK. Exactly - an OPTION, as currently it's not possible to fix this flaw in easy way, you have to tinker with Shell Extension and such things.
3. A cosmetic thing people probably don't care much, but I always get mad about it...Why did you change program icon without giving option to use old one? New one is like new interface - ugly, boring, borrowed from Win 3.11 and '90. Old one was quite ok and I got used to recognise my PDFs with it.
4. Bloatware. Stop adding useless things (without options to not enable then during installation/upgrade) to this once fast and small reader. I see Acrobat is your idol, but people change to Foxit because they want to get rid of Acrobat-like crapines.

Not sure if you try to get new users or get rid of old ones, but in case the former is your priority - try to not upset your long-term user with issues like these few I mentioned above...

[cherry]

Hi danieldc and telvas,

Your comments have been added to PMWQ-468 for Reader PM team's references as well. Thank you.

[Kikki]

Foxit PDF Reader, the program that many consider to be a faster, lighter, more able Windows alternative to Adobe Reader, has recently jumped to version 5.0. This newest release comes with many of the same solid features, a few new ones, and an upgraded interface. As with the previous version, the setup process is a bit cumbersome. First, watch out for the two check boxes that make Ask your browser default search provider and Ask.com your home page NIne Eagle Bravo RC Helicopter.Opt out as necessary. Then, toward the end of the installation process, be sure to read carefully and opt out of the Addin for Mozilla FireFox, Opera, Safari and Chrome--unless, of course, you're into bloated toolbars. Once you make it through the installation gauntlet, the rest should be smooth sailing.

[Kikki]

Foxit PDF Reader, the program that many consider to be a faster, lighter, more able Windows alternative to Adobe Reader, has recently jumped to version 5.0. This newest release comes with many of the same solid features, a few new ones, and an upgraded interface.As with the previous version, the setup process is a bit cumbersome. First, watch out for the two check boxes that make Ask your browser default search provider and Ask.com your home page. Opt out as necessary. Then, toward the end of the installation process, be sure to read carefully and opt out of the Addin for Mozilla FireFox, Opera, Safari and Chrome--unless, of course, you're into bloated toolbars. Once you make it through the installation gauntlet, the rest should be smooth sailing.
Foxit Reader is a small, lightning fast, and feature rich PDF viewer which allows you to open, view, sign, and print any PDF file. Foxit Reader is the only high volume PDF reader providing a complete PDF creation solution, providing the power of PDF creation to every desktop.Nine Eagle Bravo RC Helicopters come equipped with comprehensive protection against security vulnerabilities, keeping your system and company safe.
What's new in this version: Version 6.0.5.0618 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

[MalcolmC]

Agree with all this. With v 6.1.2 the "previous view" controls don't work at all, but thanks to this forum I found you can set it to "Classic" mode and then they work as before. I just need to be able to browse documents quickly and easily and print. How sad to find an update stops that being possible without joining a forum to find out a "fix"!

[MalcolmC]

Oh dear. "Previous view" has stopped working now even in Classic mode. It just takes me back to the first page of the document. I need that old version.