Adobe Reader 7.0 install rant

As software developers, we almost always want to keep quality of our work high. But, it isn't enough that just the code is good. Your application must also be easy to install *and* update. Here's a rant regarding Adobe Reader 7.0 and also a perfect example how you should not build your installation routines. In fact, I ran into this situation exactly today, so here goes the play.

Act I. I'm helping to set up a W2K3 server from scratch. I need to open some PDF files on the server. Customer doesn't have yet have Internet connection (new location), so I go to my laptop to download Adobe Reader 7. Problem 1: Adobe only provides a 500k "smart installer", which obviously requires an Internet connection to fetch the rest of the files. Show stopper.

I spent 15 minutes on their web site looking for a network/full install package, but just can't find it. I conclude I must be blind and resort to installing Adobe Reader 7.0.0 from an older CD that I happened to have.

Act II. The server now has an Internet connection. Reader starts to complain about missing 7.0.8 update. Okay, I believe in keeping computers up to date, so I say okay. Problem 2: The updates are not cumulative, so I need to install 7.0.5, 7.0.7 and then finally 7.0.8. Luckily, this is automatic, so good so far.

Problem 3: The installation of 7.0.5 requires a reboot. This sucks! I reboot, 'cause what else can I do? Well, server is again up (booting a AD PDC takes ages!) and the installation resumes. Problem 4: update 7.0.7 also requires a reboot. This sucks big time! Problem 5 after 2nd reboot: update 7.0.8 still requires a reboot!!

Does Adobe really think I can reboot a production server three times just to get updates to their software? And, what on earth can there be that requires a reboot? Or, that they don't give me the full install file on their web pages?

No more Adobe products for me, thank you!