Online file and unit converters

When you don’t have adequate software to open an unknown file extension, then what application should you install to be able to use it? One solution today is to use an online file converter, for example to convert a word file to pdf.
As for converting seconds to hours or dollars to euros, the method is pretty much the same, but this time you are converting units.

The advantages of online converters are numerous. For occasionally opening files received by email, converters are a lot cheaper then the purchase of commercial software or the installation of an application supporting the format. Also, if you receive a PowerPoint file, there is not a lot of use in installing the Pack Office or competing suite just to open it once. If you export an image in high resolution to the Adobe Illustrator EPS or PS format, then you don’t need to invest in these expensive products… Examples like these are infinite.

We can always think that a lot of free or open programs support proprietary formats and that their conversion can be done in this way. But, in practice, there is often compatibility or saving anomalies. You can always read a Photoshop (PSD) with Paint.NET or The Gimp. At the same time, it’s not as sure that you will be able to fully utilise the formats full potential (missing calks, incomplete PSD, etc). By using a file converter, there is a better chance that the file will be compatible.