Adobe Acrobat Reader Latest Version 2012

Acrobat Reader is a type of freeware developed by Adobe systems as a .pdf reader (Portable Document Format). Users can view, print and email .pdf documents along with newer premium features which include converting files to .pdf and vice versa and creating professional, interactive fillable forms such as questionnaires or application forms. Acrobat Reader automatically installs a plug-in for Netscape Navigator allowing users to view .pdf forms through their web browser. 

Acrobat Reader has been around since the early 90s and even though it had many competitors then and has many more even now, it stands out from the rest as the standard software for viewing PDFs. From the early versions which included only basic features it was not until version 3.0 when it became possible to view pdf files with web browsers and supported the form filling feature. Adobe worked through the years on improving security and stability, keeping each version very similar with only small UI changes; as mentioned before the more advanced features of this application come with an annual fee.

Adobe does not provide technical support or updates for any of its versions prior to the latest release; however, all earlier versions still work on Windows, make sure to check the table above for compatibility. The debate on which is the most stable version of Acrobat Reader goes on and on; what is clear is users have found later versions to be bloated and as each new version comes out they get even more and more slower. A survey by Avast (anti-virus program) revealed over 60% of its users still use older versions of Acrobat Reader, refusing to update to latest releases.

Pros: Free, reliable, visually good, simple to use, works with all web browsers. 
Cons: Later versions slow and bloated, 90% of features require a yearly payment, uses PC resources.