Differences

pdf-viewers [2011-07-28 17:20 UTC] rm		pdf-viewers [2011-08-26 06:00 UTC] (current) rm
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	====== In search of a lightweight PDF viewer to use on a netbook ======		====== In search of a lightweight PDF viewer to use on a netbook ======
		+	// Initially published on 2011-07-28.//
		+
	// Based on an IRC rant/conversation while trying out some of those. Under construction. //		// Based on an IRC rant/conversation while trying out some of those. Under construction. //
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	===== apvlv =====		===== apvlv =====
-	* "PDF viewer with Vim-like behaviour".	+	* A "PDF viewer with Vim-like behaviour". Another one. At least this one seemed to support PageUp/PageDown (unlike zathura);
	* Despite minimalism, very slow:		* Despite minimalism, very slow:
	* 4 seconds to turn a page;		* 4 seconds to turn a page;
-	* Lock-up (or many minutes) on trying to merely "zoom to window width".	+	* Lock-up (or many minutes) on trying to merely "zoom to window width";
	===== epdfview =====		===== epdfview =====
	* WHY on Earth enabling "Fullscreen" also automatically switches from "Fit width" to "Fit whole page"?!		* WHY on Earth enabling "Fullscreen" also automatically switches from "Fit width" to "Fit whole page"?!
-	* ...with no way to switch back: no pop-up menus or anything while in the Fullscreen mode;	+	* ...with no way to switch back: no pop-up menus or anything while in the Fullscreen mode;
-	* Possible workaround: do not use the built-in Fullscreen mode, use Xfce4's universal Fullscreen mode via Alt+F11.	+	* Possible workaround: do not use the built-in Fullscreen mode, use Xfce4's universal Fullscreen mode via Alt+F11.
-		+
-	Other impressions:	+
	* Scrolling around the document works OK, not jerky, pretty fast;		* Scrolling around the document works OK, not jerky, pretty fast;
	* However loading the next page does take noticeable time;		* However loading the next page does take noticeable time;
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	===== evince =====		===== evince =====
-	* Can't scroll around by clicking and dragging the document;	+	* Can't scroll around by left-clicking and dragging the document;
		+	* ...this can't be configured, because nothing in GNOME is configurable and the GNOME devs know better what I need anyway;
	* "Fit Page Width" is broken in Continuous mode: only the first page is fitted as requested, the rest are not;		* "Fit Page Width" is broken in Continuous mode: only the first page is fitted as requested, the rest are not;
	* For some unknown reason after loading a PDF it starts with displaying the last page, not the first;		* For some unknown reason after loading a PDF it starts with displaying the last page, not the first;
-	* A lot slower than epdfview: scrolling is jerkier, "loading" next page takes more time;	+	* A lot slower than epdfview: scrolling is jerkier, "loading" the next page takes more time;
-	* ...so, deemed unusable due to slowness;	+	* ...so, deemed unusable just due to slowness alone;
	* Also, too many dependencies:		* Also, too many dependencies:
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	* Slow;		* Slow;
	* Way too basic, controlled only by hotkeys, and the default hotkeys are insufferable;		* Way too basic, controlled only by hotkeys, and the default hotkeys are insufferable;
-	* ...I mean: Shift+K/Shift-J arethe only way to do the most frequently used operation in a PDF reader, namely to turn pages;	+	* Shift+K/Shift-J as the only way to do the most frequently used operation in a PDF reader, namely to turn pages;
-	* Someone please tell the author that there are keys labeled "Page Up" and "Page Down" on the freaking PC keyboards since maybe 1980s, and he should look into supporting those;	+	* Someone please tell the author that there are keys labeled "Page Up" and "Page Down" on the freaking PC keyboards since maybe 1980s, and he should look into supporting those;
-	* The man page tells us this can be 'configured' by editing "config.h", which means getting the source code and recompiling the program just to redefine hotkeys. Seriously.	+	* The man page tells us this can be 'configured' by editing "config.h", which means getting the source code and recompiling the program just to redefine hotkeys. Seriously.
	===== The winner so far =====		===== The winner so far =====
	xpdf. Its worst problem is the rusty ancient-looking GUI toolkit and that horizontal scrollbar.		xpdf. Its worst problem is the rusty ancient-looking GUI toolkit and that horizontal scrollbar.