If there’s one type of file that’s become commonplace, it’s the PDF (short for Portable Document Format). It’s rare that you don’t see files that have the extension .pdf on the Web. In the workplace. And just about everywhere else.

The most popular piece of software for viewing and printing PDF files isAcrobat Reader from Adobe. But like much software out there, Acrobat Reader has gained a bit of flab over the years. The current Windows version weighs in at just over 25 MB, while the Mac OS and Linux version tip the scales at 41 MB and 43 MB.

Let’s face it: that’s pretty hefty for something that’s meant to display files. Sure, Acrobat Reader has some pretty nifty features but most people can live without them. Luckily, Acrobat Reader isn’t the only PDF viewing software around. There are some great alternatives to Acrobat Reader and this TechTip looks at three of them for Windows. (more…)