"I have a page where clients can download PDF catalogues of our import/export
products. I also include an adjacent link where they can download Adobe
Acrobat Reader. However, I still receive complaints from customers who
say they can't download Acrobat Reader or the catalogues. What's the problem?
How to rectify this?" -- Cheah Wai Loon, CWL
Import Export Services, Malaysia
It's difficult to get accurate information on what percentage of Internet
users worldwide have installed the PDF Adobe Acrobat plug-in so they can
read PDF documents. I'm guessing that 50% to 75% of users can see PDF
documents, depending upon their geographical region.
Those who don't have the plug-in installed tend to be the less computer-savvy
users. They would need to download an 8 or 9 MB file -- a pretty hefty
size on a dial-up modem -- and then figure out how to install it. Some
people just don't possess the technical ability to do that.
I think that, at present, PDF is the correct format for catalogs
and business e-books. Since it isn't universally accessible, however,
consider making text versions of your catalogs available. They won't include
pictures, but would be better than nothing.
