Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 same User Interface as DC?

[msg9]

We're trying to determine whether to purchase Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 or get on the subscription path with Adobe Pro DC.

Do these both share the same user interface, or do they look/work differently?

I was trying to find a trial of 2017 to try, but not finding anything.

[Adorobat]

Hi msg9,

As per the description mentioned above, you want to know if Acrobat Pro 2017 has same functionality/UI as Acrobat Pro DC, is that correct?

Please use the following link to compare the two versions of Acrobat using this link: Plans and pricing: Compare versions | Adobe Acrobat DC

Also, please find below the screenshots for the UI for both the versions:

Acrobat Pro DC:

Acrobat 2017:

Let us know if you have any further query.

Shivam

[msg9]

Hi Adorobat, thanks very much.  Yes, this is what I was looking for.  So they look pretty much the same.  We were wondering whether Acrobat Pro 2017 was going to look and work like the earlier XI on the off chance, and not have relatively the same presentation as DC.

I ended up installing trial versions of each last night on a couple of computers to check out, prior to your response.  Hehe, I did think to go looking for screenshots, but still wanted to get trials running so we could feel our way through.  Thank you for confirming here.  This is helpful.  Until one's spent some time delving into the product offerings, the options and versions and naming can be a bit confusing.

[Test Screen Name]

The subscription product continues to change all the time, while the permanent products stay the same. So, when Acrobat 2017 was launched it was the same as the subscription version, but now they are different. One day there will be a new permanent product (maybe Acrobat 2019 or 2020), and it will be an upgrade Acrobat 2017 users can buy; it will probably freeze the subscription product from one future day.

[msg9]

TSN - thanks for the additional info.  Indeed, that does make sense with the product changes.  Similar to the way software subscriptions work in general these days, re: always changing, always current.  Pros and cons to this, and depending on preference of course. 

I found the different pages comparing versions and such, but my client, as do/did others, really prefer(red) the interface of the XI version the best of all.  They've used the DC product in the past, and didn't like it.  They're still having a "hard time" moving forward with the newer versions given the drastic change to the UI.  They also like to buy and own, so, yes, the info regarding the differences in versions is helpful.

Re: "freeze the subscription product" -  sorry, how do you mean here?

Another PDF product I've used offers a classic toolbar option.  As an IT person, I've always thought this would be helpful, and a really nice option for the users.  I do see that these current versions of Acrobat offer toolbar customization of a sort, but it's still not the same as previous UIs, where the control elements and presentation were much smaller and tighter.  Some users greatly prefer this, but hey, evolution.

[Test Screen Name]

"freeze the subscription product..." What has happened in the past, and we can only guess it will happen in the future, is that one day Adobe make a new permanent version. Let's call it "Acrobat 2020". That day it will include most things in the subscription product (except the subscription-only features). Next, soon, there will be updates to Acrobat DC (subscription), but these will not be applied to "Acrobat 2020". Instead it is frozen, the same as the subscription app that day.

Both versions will continue to get major bug fixes and security fixes, until the next permanent version is shipped.

There is no longer any supported product with the Acrobat XI look and feel; all are end-of-life and will not get even security fixes.

[ProDesignTools]

This new version comparison guide may also be helpful in contrasting the two products and making your decision:

What's the Difference Between Adobe Acrobat 2017 vs. Acrobat DC 2019?

[try67]

I find this part of your comparison table confusing:

Quarterly releases w/ new & improved product features : DC (X) 2017 ( )

In fact, Acrobat DC is updated much more frequently than that, and Acrobat 2017 is typically updated less frequently, although not really on a quarterly basis, either.

[try67]

This one is also not very accurate:

Turn Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign files into PDFs : DC (X) 2017 ( )

Acrobat 2017 can certainly do that.

[ProDesignTools]

Hi Gilad, thanks for your feedback!

The first one came directly from Adobe technical materials. The key term is "new & improved features." Acrobat DC gets those on a regular basis, pretty much quarterly. Acrobat 2017 gets ongoing bug fixes and security updates, but many fewer features, and only sporadically.

I'll change it to "Regular releases" instead, because the new features not always every quarter for DC:

What’s new in Acrobat | Adobe Acrobat DC​

The second one was originally a DC-only feature (and came from this page), but it looks to now be possible in Acrobat 2017 as well.

So the list has now been updated, and I also added a couple more items as well.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and the feedback!

[try67]

PS. I forgot to mention that it's a great resource, and something Adobe should have done themselves, so well done!

[ProDesignTools]

Appreciate it, thanks!

Trying to help fill a hole/need/void, as you aptly noticed.