I don't know why you're getting that message. You don't need to buy Adobe Acrobat to read a PDF document. You can just download the free Adobe Reader. The versions of Adobe Acrobat that you have to pay for are for those who want to create fancy PDF documents. Also, there are many other free PDF readers available. The one I prefer and use is Foxit Reader, which would works at least as well as Adobe Reader and has a program only about 1/10 the size. Here is a link that might be useful: Foxit

OpenOffice is probably the most well known. Another option is StarOffice. StarOffice is the parent of OpenOffice and contains some proprietary code. The two products share the same code base, but StarOffice adds some third party technologies. I haven't used eitehr very much recently, but in the past, StarOffice did a better job of converting MS Office files. If you use databases, StarOffice includes a licensed database, but OpenOffice does not. I've used both extensively in the past, but haven't used either very much recently. I think I'd be inclined to use StarOffice now. StarOffice is available for free as part of the Google pack. Another free Office suite is IBM's Lotus Symphony. I don't know much about this one. I know that OpenOffice and StarOffice can open MS Office password protected files that use older password protection, but can't open the newer types. Lotus Symphony can't open the newer types, but I don't know about the older ones.

..of those you mention, I probably use Windows Photo Viewer the most, but I also have Play Memories Home, which I think is a Sony thing...it came with my camera and I need it for that.... I also use Picasa Web Albums but less so these days.... ...it's good now that we can upload direct from our photo gallery so it dispenses with the need for an external hosting site if you want to post more than one photo at a time..... ...I hope you are finding your way around the forum... I'm probably out on my own here, but I find I prefer it now to the old site... I think it's important to get your settings just the way you want them and to make use of those that can be very useful to you, once you realise just how they work....

People are giving me a lot to think about. And I did broach the idea of a lift to DH. The lot is just over half an acre--150x160. For what it's worth, I've been watching the expanded northwest/west Chicago suburban area for homes with extra large garages (or both an attached and detached garage). There aren't many and they disappear fast. They will only appeal to a certain market, but to that market, they're in high demand. (Car collectors, people who have a hobby that requires a large workshop) As for garages in the neighborhood, the few existing homes have 2--several with an additional detached garage. The new homes mostly have 3--and a few have 4. I know it's not what everyone would do but that's one of the reasons to build instead of buy--because we can plan for the things that are important to us, even, or especially, if they're not commonly available. But when it comes right down to it, few of us only have as much house as we "need". I *need* a place to sit with a computer. I want it to be comfortable (desk with pullout keyboard tray), and I want a window to look out of, and I want to have nice furniture in it. I don't need any of those things (although my chiropractor might make an argument for the keyboard tray). But I want them and can't think of any reason why I shouldn't make them happen. We're all different--there are those on this board who prefer jack&jill bathrooms. I hate them. There are those who think a 2nd sink for a hall bathroom shared by kids is a waste of money. I disagree (and so would my kids)--but that's okay. We want a house with a large double shower and don't care at all about a soaking tub. Someone else wants that tub enough to devote 36 sq ft to it. That's all okay. Looking at houses on-line, I saw zillions of "newly remodeled kitchens" that I hated. Some were objectively bad designs. But most of them weren't--they were just finishes that I didn't like at all--and knew we'd pay a premium for that 'newly remodeled kitchen' even though I'd want to rip it all out. It's all part of why people build instead of buy. We want what we want--and some of us are fortunate enough to be able to make that happen.