Why PDF takes so long to download

Why does one PDF take so long to download but another does not?

[sichen1234]

I just uploaded a new PDF to our site, and we are having some problems downloading it. It works fine if we right-click and use "Save Target As" to save the PDF as a file. If we try to click on it and download it straight, however, our browser goes crazy blinking back and forth and then gets stuck. I've never seen this problem before. Does anyone know why this happens?

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[edited by: tedster at 1:31 am (utc) on May 14, 2005]

[D_Blackwell]

No personal URLs allowed here, so the link will probably have to go.

The PDF is 1.3MB, which is a monster for many people. Probably a 4 minute download at 56K. I've got a rocket sled connection:)), but the poor dial up guy will choke on it.

It's a beautiful print brochure, and clearly designed for print. Sometimes that is perfectly appropriate, but oft times I don't want a print person anywhere near a web project.

[sichen1234]

So you were able to download it (even though it took a while)? That's good to know at least. Thanks for looking at it.

[katana_one]

You might do well to optimize your PDF by changing the settings in Acrobat to something other than "Print" or "Press" settings. Try using the ebook settings if you are not already doing so - that should reduce the size of the file to one more manageable for the average web user.

Also, if you are not already doing so, clearly label the link as a PDF and note the size of the file so there are no surprises for your visitor.

[Lord Majestic]

I think there is an option to optimise PDFs for web previews that presumably puts essential information in the begginng of the file so it can be displayed pretty quickly.