Display PDF Graphics on Your PDA

The ability to read text-only documents on a Palm's small screen is nothing new. But how about viewing documents with their images still intact? Until now, that was just a fantasy.

Enter the new Acrobat Reader for Palm OS from Adobe Systems. This program does an admirable though imperfect job of extrapolating each element on a page and reproducing those elements--pictures and all--in a single-column form.

Using a beta version of the free software, I found that the concept underlying Adobe's Portable Document Format files--to allow documents to retain the look and feel of their original form, right down to the layout and fonts--translated surprisingly well.

Installation was reasonably straightforward: I downloaded a desktop application to my PC (the system you use must have Microsoft Windows 98 or higher or Windows NT 4 or higher) and used Hot Syncing to link the reader component to my Handspring Visor Deluxe (the program is compatible with Palm OS version 3.0.1 or higher). I then launched the PC software and added PDF files to the transfer queue, deciding whether to save space by removing the images.

Though the resulting display was not an exact replica, the gist of my magazine pages was largely retained, and the resulting single-column translations were easy to read. You can enlarge images to see small portions at a time.

Glitches may arise when you view files not created using Acrobat 5--which embeds information for reconstructing a document into the PDF file. I encountered misplaced hyphens, misidentified headlines and titles, and misinterpreted text elements that Acrobat Reader recognized and displayed as graphics instead.

A second limitation: You can't view encrypted PDFs, such as those on some product spec sheets or prescription drug inserts. Even so, Acrobat Reader is a useful and worthwhile addition to your handheld's repertoire of software for the Palm OS.

SUMMARY

Acrobat Reader for Palm OS PRO: View most PDF documents with incorporated graphics on your Palm-based handheld. CON: Not all formatting is retained, particularly with files not created using Acrobat 5. VALUE: The price is right. Free Adobe Systems 800/833-6687 www.adobe.com