Since Adobe Systems introduced the PDF format in 1993, it has quickly become the number one universal document format on the Internet. Not without reason, as there is a growing demand for such a universal format that allows people to share their ideas and work digitally on the Internet. The number of different software programs keeps growing and growing, from fantastic organizers, to spreadsheet programs to photo-editing software – they all tend to make our lives easier, but they often forget one important point: the ability to let the user share his/her work! The so-called web 2.0 is already a fact, and the internet is becoming a place to create and share your own ideas and works.
The popular PDF format solved this problem by presenting itself as a universal system-wide format: almost anyone on any computer system can open a PDF file these days. People have clearly discovered some advantages of PDF files, but only a few are actively creating PDF files themselves. So why should you consider creating your own PDF documents? Here are the 10 main advantages of this popular format:
- 1. Cross-platform compatibility
- 2. Compact and small
- 3. Can be created from any source document/application
- 4. Securable, prevent people from modifying and redistributing your work
- 5. Safe, almost no chance of getting infected with viruses.
- 6. Easy and fast to create when using the right software
- 7. The software to view PDF files is completely free
- 8. Viewable in most web browsers
- 9. PDF files meet legal document requirements.
- 10. Compatible with modern portable reader systems
From Windows, Mac, Linux, to modern mobile phones and PDAs – PDF files can be opened on basically any system! You don’t have to worry that your coworkers, students, family members, or anyone you’re sharing your work with won’t be able to open your files.
When you convert an existing document to a PDF file, it will automatically be highly optimized making it much smaller in size without losing quality. Note that you can often combine and merge multiple documents into a single PDF as well: spreadsheets, Word documents, photos, etc. – you can merge them all into a single PDF file!
The powerful technology behind the PDF format allows you to convert almost any document, from any application, to a PDF file. With a decent PDF Creator, your PDF file will look like you printed your file on high-quality paper.
Protect your PDF file and prevent users from printing, duplicating, or even opening your work. Encrypted protection makes it possible to share your work, without having to worry about various fatal scenarios.
There’s almost no chance of a PDF file being infected with something like a virus or Trojan, making it a safe and reliable way to share your work.
You’ll find a ton of different PDF conversion programs on the internet, one that looks even fancier than the other, with prices ranging from $30 to $4000. However, most of them are pretty easy to use and of course You can usually convert your documents to PDF with just a few clicks. Choosing a good software solution is another story, but you can find some tips in my other PDF Creator article.
Software like Acrobat Reader to open PDF files is free to download and already installed on most computers. Often, it will be installed in combination with other software that you have purchased on CD-Rom. (Many companies deliver their documentation in PDF files).
You can simply open and view PDF files in your favorite web browser. You can simply click a link whenever someone links to a PDF file on a website, and the file will open automatically.
A document must be kept in a format that cannot be changed or altered without leaving traces if it is to be admissible in a court of law. A created PDF file cannot be modified and generally meets these legal requirements. (Contact legal counsel for more information.)
This is a completely new but powerful phenomenon: several companies like Sony are working on paper pads digitally. Not much bigger than a normal book, these flat screens allow you to upload your PDF files to the device, so you can read the information like a normal book. It sounds like science fiction, but you can already buy these devices for +- $299. Prices are guaranteed to drop for years to come, and it’s a great way to save literally loads of paper!
