Bad Adobe!

No, nothing wrong with the walls. It's the software dammit! After a long delay (because I knew something like this would happen) I gave in to the nagging and allowed Adobe Reader to download the latest version. Now there is nothing wrong with Adobe Reader - its a wonderful product, and the PDF standard is and was a huge benefit. However, like so many other companies, they now have marketing deals with other companies, bundling add-ons with their free downloads. In this case I was given no option - I would install Google Toolbar, whether I like it or not. (They thoughtfully give you uninstall instructions on their web page if you don't like the fact that they forced it on you in the first place). Fortunately, I have blocking software installed (WinPatrol) that prevented this high-handed operation. I now have the new Adobe, sans Google Toolbar.

I know all these companies have to make money - and there's no money in 'free'. But really - forcing me to install software I don't want to get something that has become an industry standard for web browsing is just bad business.

And as for the install process - well, let's just say there are ways to get around forcing a user to close every damned application they are running to get your product installed. (A slight overstatement - but why did I have to close the six other IE windows I had open? Couldn't Adobe have done what most products do, and delayed the complete install until I next open IE?). And a final irony - the download program left itself open on my desktop, and then the installer displayed an error saying I had to close the download window! It didn't even offer to do this for me. And then - the download window complained that if I closed it the installation may not finish! Duh!!!

Anyway, the new Adobe is now installed, and looks pretty. I guess that's all that counts in the end.