I've taken to Firefox as my default pdf reader.

Also use it with EpubReader extension, nicest reader I've on Win platform, so far.

On 7/3/2026 at 8:20 AM, Ralf001 said:

I use Adobe Acrobat Pro daily, great program.

It is a great program but I won't pay for it.

I happen to have installed free (unbeknownst to me at the time) "iLovePDF" when I took my pc to a tech shop for a sound issue. Also while I can't scan a document to PDF via Brother scanner, with my Brother printer I can use "Microsoft Print to PDF" a document file to desk top.

On 7/2/2026 at 7:37 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

If Adobe, in it's full glory, might or might not be overkill, then does anyone anticipate an alternative?

Can we lobby Trump to do to Adobe what he did to Iran?

Or, is there really any hope for mankind, after all, given that monopolies will be monopolistic?

In the video, there are other alternative companies mentioned.

Is there no hope, as long as humans will be sheep?

Use Gimp. I understand there are some professional graphics people who find some of Adobe's esoteric features very helpful, but most of us never use them and don't benefit from them. There are lots of freeware or open source programs that work on Windows.

I do not need to file myself since I received my LTR-WP visa and I could liberate my ThB 800,000. from Bangkok Bank

I do help my wife file her required FinCEN 114 to report high balances in five Thai Bank accounts at three branches so we use a template to take the values in our finances spreadsheet. The FinCEN page is formatted to allow her to use a service after I am gone.

Could never manage to get Reader and Pro to coexist.

Hey ... who you calling a fool. I use Adobe LightRoom. Non subscription since a torrent copy. Saved many a photo of mine, and makes me look good. Usually just a quick clean up, very minor edit. Occasionally saves my butt with something I would normally delete.

Have DeNoise software I purchased, during great sale, and is excellent for quick clean up also. Both version are very old version, and haven't bothered researching what's new & available as quite happy with them, since not really needing that much help.

I am a professional after all 🙄

An extreme example of LR using the info in the file, to make me look good. Now a passable snap, instead of deleted, especially on small device.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by KhunLA

I did try Adobe but didn't like it. I don't believe it is worth the money they want for it.

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

I did try Adobe but didn't like it. I don't believe it is worth the money they want for it.

Its great for editing PDF's.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Its great for editing PDF's.

True but you can get free software or minimal cost software to do that.

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

True but you can get free software or minimal cost software to do that.

The company I work for does not allow free.

2 hours ago, Acharn said:

Use Gimp. I understand there are some professional graphics people who find some of Adobe's esoteric features very helpful, but most of us never use them and don't benefit from them. There are lots of freeware or open source programs that work on Windows.

I use GIMP for all my photo editing and it is very good. A pretty steep learning curve but excellent results once you get to know how to use it.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

The company I work for does not allow free.

Most companies only use Adobe I know.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Hey ... who you calling a fool. I use Adobe LightRoom. Non subscription since a torrent copy. Saved many a photo of mine, and makes me look good. Usually just a quick clean up, very minor edit. Occasionally saves my butt with something I would normally delete.

Have DeNoise software I purchased, during great sale, and is excellent for quick clean up also. Both version are very old version, and haven't bothered researching what's new & available as quite happy with them, since not really needing that much help.

I am a professional after all 🙄

An extreme example of LR using the info in the file, to make me look good. Now a passable snap, instead of deleted, especially on small device.

For RAW files I use Darktable. I find that give great results and it is free.

All the IT crooks trying to push to put any service on subscription and make you spend the rest of it's lifespan in paying subscriptions.....well they will just sink their companies as consumers are no longer the fools they used to be and be over needy on such software that rips off in requiring monthly subscriptions. They make you pay monthly for something you already paid at purchase ? then drop it and next...

5 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

For RAW files I use Darktable. I find that give great results and it is free.

RAW files are huge, and I'm not that patient, or want to buy a faster laptop. My editing needs are fairly minor, as I'm pretty good when my camera settings are correct for the situation.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by KhunLA

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Its great for editing PDF's.

Yes. It works quite well.

However, the ultra-high cost is NOT justified.

There are and will be alternatives because The Adobe Mafia will be put to death, soon enough.

Adobe is a parasite.

If you enjoy using it, then you are probably not the one paying every month to use it.

35 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Yes. It works quite well.

However, the ultra-high cost is NOT justified.

There are and will be alternatives because The Adobe Mafia will be put to death, soon enough.

Adobe is a parasite.

If you enjoy using it, then you are probably not the one paying every month to use it.

If it's part of your tools for a professional business, then $14 USD a month isn't going to break your bottom line. Probably one of your least business expenses.

Wife was trained on PS as graphic designer for clothing company that had international contracts. Don't think any subscription cost was an issue, or would be for any business.

If I only did photography part time for money, $8 a month wouldn't really matter, as it improves you work flow substantially. Editing is time consuming, and anyting that makes that easy, at a low cost is well worth it.

My inexpensive camera shoots 10 in focus frames a second, and if one setting is off a bit, and 50-100 snaps can be corrected with a slider adjustment and a one keystroke, before sorting through, that simple function is priceless.

Sony's new Alpha 9 III shoots 120 frames a second. Shooting wildlife or sporting event, and you want that perfect frame, need to adjust 100-500 snaps at once, yea, you work flow goes a lot faster.

You think that perfect snap was a one off lucky snap ... hell no.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by KhunLA

17 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

You think that perfect snap was a one off lucky snap ... hell no.

Even I want the pupil in the eye to be symetrical with the rest. The eye ring and correct light to see everything, nothing in the shadow. Or a slider to bring the shadows up a bit.

For those who may have missed the news:

Affinity has been free for everyone since 29 October 2025, when Canva launched the all-new Affinity for Windows and macOS as a single application combining vector design, photo editing and page layout. A free Canva account is required for activation.

Before that date, Affinity was generally sold under a perpetual-licence model. There had been earlier free access for certain schools and nonprofit organisations, but not for the general public.

So this is quite recent: less than a year as of July 2026. It is important not to give the impression that Affinity had always been free.

Btw. Adobe remains an American company, regardless of its CEO’s country of birth. Shantanu Narayen was born and educated initially in India, but has worked at Adobe since 1998 and has been CEO since 2007. In March 2026, he announced that he would step down once a successor is appointed; Adobe still currently identifies him as chair and CEO.

https://news.adobe.com/news/2026/03/leadership-update

The only feature I appreciate about Adobe is Lightroom cloud, as it provides an efficient way to back up my photos while traveling.

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Sony's new Alpha 9 III shoots 120 frames a second. Shooting wildlife or sporting event, and you want that perfect frame, need to adjust 100-500 snaps at once, yea, you work flow goes a lot faster.

My H2s can achieve 40 fps, but the number of photos quickly becomes overwhelming.

6 hours ago, Mr Awesome said:

My H2s can achieve 40 fps, but the number of photos quickly becomes overwhelming.

Agree, as when I first started, I'd take the card out, upload and have 100-200 snaps to go through to pick out the 10 best. OK when something in flight, but don't need that many when subject is stationary.

Learning curve on shutter speed and exposure. Now I'm good with about 5 snaps per subject matter, usually birds.

Notice the H2s uses a Sony sensor. Lots of advancements since I got my @6400 in 2019.

Edited July 12Jul 12 by KhunLA

12 hours ago, jacnl2000 said:

For those who may have missed the news:

Affinity has been free for everyone since 29 October 2025, when Canva launched the all-new Affinity for Windows and macOS as a single application combining vector design, photo editing and page layout. A free Canva account is required for activation.

Before that date, Affinity was generally sold under a perpetual-licence model. There had been earlier free access for certain schools and nonprofit organisations, but not for the general public.

So this is quite recent: less than a year as of July 2026. It is important not to give the impression that Affinity had always been free.

Btw. Adobe remains an American company, regardless of its CEO’s country of birth. Shantanu Narayen was born and educated initially in India, but has worked at Adobe since 1998 and has been CEO since 2007. In March 2026, he announced that he would step down once a successor is appointed; Adobe still currently identifies him as chair and CEO.

https://news.adobe.com/news/2026/03/leadership-update

It is impossible to beat out the Indian culture from an individual, once born in India, and having grown up with an indian mother and father.

And now that the damage has been done, the Indian CEO leaves, and lets Adobe continue to rot.

He did not do what was best for the company Adobe.

He destroyed the company, instead, by being one of the first to force the subscription model.

Now,other companies are following suit.

Even, the PC is vanishing.

We will now and in the future just have a simple low-power client, and do most computing on cloud servers, and pay every month for the pleasure.

There is far more money to be sucked out of lowly users by Billionaire IT Titans.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-death-of-pc-ownership-framework-computer-ceo-issues-chilling-warning

Cancel all your subscriptions.

PATEL is from....you guessed it.....INDIA.....

Edited July 12Jul 12 by GammaGlobulin

By the way: Nirav Patel is ....a....

GOOD Indian.

He established the company Framework and is a strong proponent of the RIGHT TO REPAIR MOVEMENT.....

You can learn more about Framework and Right to Repair HERE:

So, even a Laptop by Framework offers the DIY capability.

So, as I say, good old Nirav Patel is one of the GOOD Indians.

Yet, he is fighting a losing battle with his brothers who wish to destroy the PC, and make us pay and pay....

Evil Incarnate, IMHO....

Edited July 12Jul 12 by GammaGlobulin

23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

RAW files are huge, and I'm not that patient, or want to buy a faster laptop. My editing needs are fairly minor, as I'm pretty good when my camera settings are correct for the situation.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

For some reason I love editing photos

54 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

For some reason I love editing photos

When you edit photos, then you distort reality, and toy with history.

In a sense, you play god.

Is this the reason you love editing photos, do you think?

23 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

When you edit photos, then you distort reality, and toy with history.

In a sense, you play god.

Is this the reason you love editing photos, do you think?

No I enjoy it to improve a photo. You have a very weird mind

1 hour ago, Photoguy21 said:

No I enjoy it to improve a photo. You have a very weird mind

Yes. And, it is a mind which is both weird, as you say, as well as beautiful.

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

When you edit photos, then you distort reality, and toy with history.

In a sense, you play god.

Is this the reason you love editing photos, do you think

Not at all, simply bringing back to life what the camera sensor doesn't present or capture. Especially RAW files, as they look dull, and you really do need to bring things back to life.

Camera sensor is limited in it's ability sometimes, especially low light situations, depending on camera.

The info is in the file, just have to bring it out. When doing so, such as adding exposure/light, it adds noise, so you need software to get rid of that, or it will look blurry.

Some folks go a bit too vivid with the photo, but I never do, as prefer it back to as real as possible. Most of my edit is just clean up, seperation of colors, contrast, and taking out any noise that might have gotten added, or simply there do to low lighting and camera attempted to adjust it.

Zoom lenses, which I use, are notorious for smaller aperatures, unless spending big bucks. Lenses are expensive enough as they are. Larger aperaturs, large bucks. One lens starts at 5.6, another at 4. Your average smartphone starts at around 2, which is a huge advantage.

My stronger zoom 200-600mm @ F5.6 cost ~$2k USD

600mm @ F4 cost ~$13.8k USA (see below)

Advantage of my lenses, I have 55-600mm range, and on crop body, turns into 900mm reach. Far superior than any smartphone.

Good luck getting of the details, sharpness, of my wildlife or any photos I take, at a distance, with a smartphone ... and if I pay attention, may not need any editing at all.

Since wildlife, especially birds, doen't profile for you more that a few seconds at times, you'll need a minor edit.

I can also control the Bokeh effect to hightlight the subject matter from background. Along with creating optical illusion of crowded or open spaces, which news agencies use to present fake news. Making a few people look like a mass gathering or the opposite, for their spin.

For general knock around use, a smartphone is pretty damn handy, unless taking portraits of people, which can probably add effects afterwards, where I can do, with a simply turn of dial while shooting, without really going into the settings.

Edited July 12Jul 12 by KhunLA

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not at all, simply bringing back to life what the camera sensor doesn't present or capture. Especially RAW files, as they look dull, and you really do need to bring things back to life.

Camera sensor is limited in it's ability sometimes, especially low light situations, depending on camera.

The info is in the file, just have to bring it out. When doing so, such as adding exposure/light, it adds noise, so you need software to get rid of that, or it will look blurry.

Some folks go a bit too vivid with the photo, but I never do, as prefer it back to as real as possible. Most of my edit is just clean up, seperation of colors, contrast, and taking out any noise that might have gotten added, or simply there do to low lighting and camera attempted to adjust it.

Zoom lenses, which I use, are notorious for smaller aperatures, unless spending big bucks. Lenses are expensive enough as they are. Larger aperaturs, large bucks. One lens starts at 5.6, another at 4. Your average smartphone starts at around 2, which is a huge advantage.

My stronger zoom 200-600mm @ F5.6 cost ~$2k USD

600mm @ F4 cost ~$13.8k USA (see below)

Advantage of my lenses, I have 55-600mm range, and on crop body, turns into 900mm reach. Far superior than any smartphone.

Good luck getting of the details, sharpness, of my wildlife or any photos I take, at a distance, with a smartphone ... and if I pay attention, may not need any editing at all.

Since wildlife, especially birds, doen't profile for you more that a few seconds at times, you'll need a minor edit.

I can also control the Bokeh effect to hightlight the subject matter from background. Along with creating optical illusion of crowded or open spaces, which news agencies use to present fake news. Making a few people look like a mass gathering or the opposite, for their spin.

For general knock around use, a smartphone is pretty damn handy, unless taking portraits of people, which can probably add effects afterwards, where I can do, with a simply turn of dial while shooting, without really going into the settings.

Speaking about lens artifacts, this becomes crucial for astrophotography.

I am far more interested in astrophotography, since I love looking back in time.

Also, atrophotography is more beautiful.

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

When you edit photos, then you distort reality, and toy with history.

In a sense, you play god.

Is this the reason you love editing photos, do you think?

This is not true.