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Adobe Reader 8 has just been released, and so of course, I have to look at it to see how I'll be installing it on my network.
Do the initial download hoping Adobe had gotten over that stupid "MUST USE OUR DOWNLOAD MANGER" idiocy.
Nope. Okay, but hey, the initial download is an Apple Installer Package.
Dare I hope?
Dare I?
<whitney houston>
Oh HELL no
</whitney houston>
Now it's some wierd - assed thing from Netopsystems. Specifically, it's their NOS-Installer, aka "The Real Web Installer". It's also a PPC application, even though I specified Intel. Sigh. So, of course, while the Acrobat team has tons of info for distributing the Windows versions of Reader, (Seven. No information on eight yet.), it's...of course...Windows only. Thanks. Yes, I know, there could be information about mass deploying Reader 8 on Macs. From the Acrobat team, who still thinks that Macs are only graphics toys, and evidently have no IT use anywhere? Pardon me if I'm pessimistic about the odds on that.
Realizing that expecting the Acrobat team to have Mac IT information is about as likely as Uma Thurman landing in my lap in the next second...(pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease)...damn, I go the Netopsystems site. No tech info, they don't support the end users installing it, only the middlemen.
I look at the package contents for an installer log. Hell no. Anything in the readme? Hell no.
Even nicer, I have Acrobat 8 Pro. Don't want reader. But of course to get Reader, I have to do the whole "OMGTHISISSOMUCHBETTERTHANDMGANDAPPLEINSTALLER!!!!111" dance. I do what I always do, decline the license to kill the install. Since I didn't finish, it never installed, right?
WRONG
There it is, in /Applications. Reader 8. The product I aborted the installation for. What, now I'm not able to make a decision on this? Guys, if I decline the license, I don't want the product. I, not you, make that decision. As it turns out, that first part, where it looks like the installer is getting ready to install? Yeah, it's copying files at that point. So by the time you get to the license agreement, it's installed. Way to go. But even then, no install log that I could find. Microsoft may use lamer VISE installers, but at least I get a nice, detailed install log so I can repackage things myself if I need to.
But here's the thing that fries me. They're not saving anyone any time. This overblown non-deployable installer? I still have to download it, I still have to install it, only now, instead of being a drag and drop install via Apple Remote Desktop, or a package install via ARD, it's a 100% manual install via New Balance. Short of snapshotting, I have no way to create a remote installer package here, and based on Adobe's past history, they're not going to come up with how to mass deploy the Mac version, because in the world of the Acrobat team, there's no such thing as mass-deploying on a Mac.
You know, I harp on Acrobat Pro, but at least that's mostly a drag and drop install, other than the licensing. For a free product to be this much of a pain in the ass is just stupid, and inexcusable.
(Yes, I know, the Acrobat team will have lots of reasons why using this opaque installer is a very good thing. For them. But you know what? I don't care. Installers are important, and they shouldn't suck, and when they do suck, I'm going to call bullshit on it. Anytime the Acrobat team wants to prove to me that they don't regard Macs as toys, I'm more than willing to see that proof, but right now, i can count on the fingers of one hand all the Acrobat people I know with a clue about the Mac market. When I see deeds, not words, I'll stop smacking them about it. Until then, well, don't make me hit you, and I won't.)
Update not twenty minutes later.
Oh, it gets EVEN BETTER. The installer may be PPC, but is Reader a Universal application?
<whitney houston>
Oh HELL no
</whitney houston>
It's an Intel only application, at least according to the Get Info window.
Joy
Rapture
Let the dancing and celebration begin, for not only do I now have to deal with this lame installer, but I get to keep TWO versions for the Macs, along with the Windows version.
WHEEEEEEEE!!!
If it gets any better, I may have to change my shorts.
Some time later...
It did indeed get better, but in a good way.
Thanks to a reader, Jeff, we have links, links, links to the direct downloads:
Along with the links, Jeff had some kind words, so thank you Jeff, it's much appreciated.
Technorati Tags: Acrobat, Adobe, Adobe Applications, Installers, TEH STOOPUD
Posted by John C. Welch at 13:17 | Permalink
Comments
Did you ever successfully deploy Reader 8 in a managed environment?
Posted by: Joe | June 26, 2007 2:33 PM
Is Adobe Reader 8.0, or 8.1 not compatible with Japanese fonts as is Adobe Reader 7.0?
I have been moving some PDF magazine articles in Japanese into MS Word using 7.0, but 8.0 will not copy and paste as does 7.0.
What do I need to add to 8.0 to get the Japanese to copy and paste?
Thanks,
Keith Arnold
Posted by: Keith Arnold | June 27, 2007 9:09 AM
Joe, not as such. You pretty much resign yourself to building custom installers or using Adobe's craptacular setup. It's easier by far on OS X than windows, but both suck.
Keith, no earthly idea.
Posted by: John C. Welch | June 27, 2007 5:12 PM
I have to ask W-DA-F do I need a 2.12 GB installed bloated POS software package for anyway? Mac or Winders, Winders for me but at 2.12 GIGS of space and a freaking hour long install on a decent system.
Going to find an older version of Acrobat.
Thanks
Posted by: Kenjunior | July 11, 2007 12:25 AM
I found a bug/crash involving Safari 3 and Acrobat 8.
Acrobat 8 is installed on my Mac (Intel), but not for me as a user.
When Safari comes across a pdf, it launches Acrobat 8. The Acrobat installer begins. If one declines the Adobe user agreement at this point, Safari will crash. Every. time.
STINK!
(If I had admin rights, Acrobat would not be on my computer.)
Posted by:
saiwrujo 
|
April 18, 2008 7:00 PM
