Cheapest way for full PDF solution?
 

A bit off topic...

I need to get a PDF solution (create/edit forms and PDF docs, as well as convert PDFs to Word/Excel/whatever) for my dad's office. There are 16 workstations that need the software.

Adobe wants $300 per license for Acrobat Standard, which is absurd. Nuance PDF is better, at $100 per license. I've used Nuance in the past and thought it to be a fine product. Still, $1600 for PDF software seems a bit much. Is there anything else that people recommend for a full-featured PDF software?

Thanks!

If you use MAC computers check out:
https://deals.macgasm.net/sales/pdf-editor-pro-for-mac

I don't use Macs. Windows 7, with a 2008 R2 server.

I'm not sure if I would call it a full PDF solution but I'd recommend the free Cute PDF software. It allows you to print to a PDF from any application.

Thanks, we already use BullZIP deployed on the network for creating PDFs. I need something that lets people edit them and create/edit PDF forms.

Do all 16 workstations need full time licenses? Maybe one of those vendors has some sort of floating license solution that would work. Maybe 4 or 5 active licenses?

joe

What kind of editing do you need? Does everyone really need the ability to fully edit, or do they just need to be able to create PDF's from Office?

We use Nitro PDF in our office, it's like $120 per seat. Not sure if we paid that or we got it through one of their non profit deals.

You need to balance what you are trying to do with the price. If you want a shareware version, you will get what you pay for, with edits easily visible to others who can undo them, etc. In the end going cheap may not be what you want.

Try Able2Extract to convert from PDF to MS Office

The $49.95 I paid for Cute PDF Pro was well worth it. Easy to use and flexible.

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/Pro.asp

I have two customers (construction companys) using Bluebeam Revu and both like it. http://www.bluebeam.com/
It's not a cheap product but is less expensive than Adobe.

Thanks all. I think I may go with Nuance PDF. I used them at one of my former employers and liked the software. Their shtick is that they have all the functionality of Acrobat for 33% of the cost. I spoke to one of their sales people today, and she said I could install the software on all 16 machines, and that any number of people can use it simultaneously to read PDFs. I only need licenses for users who want to edit - and they are $80 each, sold in packs of 5.

I've used CutePDF before and found it clunky. I still like Acrobat the best (it feels the most polished) but Nuance is very close and doesn't cost $300 per seat.

Try Desk PDF from Docudesk.
http://www.docudesk.com/deskpdf/pdf-creator

$35, one time fee.
I use it at home, and it works as well as the Adobe product I use at work.

Office 2010 lets you save as pdf too - just fyi, in case that's on the w7 machines you're running. lets you remove another app from the system if this is the case. won't edit pdf's though

Nuance looks good. A factor for me would be does a purchase give you the right to any future upgrades at no or reduced cost?