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This is Ryan Damico from crocodoc (YC Winter 2010), an online app for marking up and reviewing PDF files (as well as other document types). One of the reasons

by rdamico 16y ago

This is Ryan Damico from crocodoc (YC Winter 2010), an online app for marking up and reviewing PDF files (as well as other document types). One of the reasons we started crocodoc is that Adobe's tools for working with PDF files (including Reader) are way behind the times (e.g. slow, desktop based, difficult to collaborate). That said, crocodoc is still early in development and has some kinks of its own we're working on, but we think there's a lot of room for innovation in this space. Would love to hear any feedback! crocodoc demo: http://crocodoc.com/demo http://crocodoc.com/demo

10ren 16y ago
Cool concept, marking-up documents is big business. Legal depts we negotiated licenses with would always do it by emailing a Word doc, with its diff/review feature that looks very nice, and comments. My book publisher also used it for reviewer feedback. Unsolicited feedback: It looks beautiful! It's much slower than google gview and scribd (but they don't allow annotations, so it's apples/oranges... but still). Why don't you pre-scan the demo document? I know it's cheating, but it gives a better first impression (and, to me, it would feel reasonable if my own document took a few moments longer to process than the demo. Best foot forward etc). I wish you'd have an "upload doc" textfield prominently on the demo page - without it, I assumed you had to open an account; it was just luck that I happened to read the FAQ saying that you could. But it didn't say how, so I'm scratching my head. Luckily, I tried going to the front page, there it was. You're making me think too much, just to get started, which is an easy place to lose someone: I think you're losing trials by not having it on the demo page either - that's the natural place for a "load" document. Also, Your style of upload file/URL form is popular, but I really think there must be a better way! Perhaps one textfield, with two buttons (upload and file browse). You enter your doc, file or web, and the uploader sorts it out; the file browser is just a convenience. Maybe also have a google search, if people don't have the URL immediately on hand (must be a common case).
- rdamico 16y ago
  Thanks for the constructive feedback -- your comments are very helpful. If you ever feel like telling us more about what we can do to make crocodoc a no-brainer to use, drop us an email through our site :)
vladoh 16y ago
I looks very good, but maybe you should consider a HTML5 version and not (only) Flash.
pyre 16y ago
> way behind the times (e.g. ... desktop based You're totally right. Google needs to really step up to the plate and finally make a web-based version of Chrome/Chromium...
timtadh 16y ago
I am sure you software is great, but kicking me out because i am running flash player 9 tells me you don't want me as a customer.
gz 16y ago
Ryan, that's great. I have been working on something similar for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Check this out: http:/www.pdfamigo.com I think you may find it interesting.

by rdamico 16y ago

10ren 16y ago

Cool concept, marking-up documents is big business. Legal depts we negotiated licenses with would always do it by emailing a Word doc, with its diff/review feature that looks very nice, and comments. My book publisher also used it for reviewer feedback. Unsolicited feedback: It looks beautiful! It's much slower than google gview and scribd (but they don't allow annotations, so it's apples/oranges... but still). Why don't you pre-scan the demo document? I know it's cheating, but it gives a better first impression (and, to me, it would feel reasonable if my own document took a few moments longer to process than the demo. Best foot forward etc). I wish you'd have an "upload doc" textfield prominently on the demo page - without it, I assumed you had to open an account; it was just luck that I happened to read the FAQ saying that you could. But it didn't say how, so I'm scratching my head. Luckily, I tried going to the front page, there it was. You're making me think too much, just to get started, which is an easy place to lose someone: I think you're losing trials by not having it on the demo page either - that's the natural place for a "load" document. Also, Your style of upload file/URL form is popular, but I really think there must be a better way! Perhaps one textfield, with two buttons (upload and file browse). You enter your doc, file or web, and the uploader sorts it out; the file browser is just a convenience. Maybe also have a google search, if people don't have the URL immediately on hand (must be a common case).

rdamico 16y ago
Thanks for the constructive feedback -- your comments are very helpful. If you ever feel like telling us more about what we can do to make crocodoc a no-brainer to use, drop us an email through our site :)

vladoh 16y ago

I looks very good, but maybe you should consider a HTML5 version and not (only) Flash.

pyre 16y ago

> way behind the times (e.g. ... desktop based You're totally right. Google needs to really step up to the plate and finally make a web-based version of Chrome/Chromium...

timtadh 16y ago

I am sure you software is great, but kicking me out because i am running flash player 9 tells me you don't want me as a customer.

gz 16y ago

Ryan, that's great. I have been working on something similar for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Check this out: http:/www.pdfamigo.com I think you may find it interesting.