PPD: Adobe missing

Question

I'm following POD printer's instructions for creating a PDF. Rather than use the Adobe PDF output option of InDesign, the printers advise that a postscript file be created first, then processed in Acrobat Distiller for the final pdf.
The first step in printing the ps file from ID requires that in the print dialog box under PPD, an Adobe PDF be selected, however, the only option in the menu box is "Device Independent". What needs to be done?
A quick forum search returned similar but somewhat more complicated scenarios. I'm using CS3 and Windows 7. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Frankly, Distiller's function is not clear to me; I am merely followoing Ingram/Lightninig Source's instructions to the T, which print millions of books, literally, per year for smaller and larger clients (Harper Collins, Oxford Univeristy Press). Their instructions are below, and I'm quite sorry for the length here, but, and I'll leave it to you, the Adobe experts, to judge how misinformed they may be:
Exporting InDesign
In InDesign, first select FILE > Export
Select a location to save your PDF
Beside “Format” select Adobe PDF (Print)
Click “Save”
For “Adobe PDF Preset” choose PDF/X1a 2001
or PDF/X3 2002
Reviewing a PDF Before Submission
In the Acrobat menu bar select File > Properties
Select the “Descriptions” tab.
Near the bottom of the window, you will see a listing for
“Page Size:” followed by width and height dimensions.
Please, verify that the PDF document dimensions match
the dimensions necessary to comply with Lightning
Source requirements for the item you are uploading.
(My note: in their example, PDF Producer field shows Distiller)
Font Embedding
Within the same dialogue box select the “Fonts” tab.
Beside the name of each font you should see
(Embedded) or (Embedded Subset). If you do not see
those words your fonts are not correctly embedded and
Lightning Source will not be able to process your file.
Reviewing a PDF Before Submission
Color Mode And Resolution
In the Acrobat menu bar select:
Edit > Preflight (Acrobat 10)
Select the “Profiles” tab and scroll down to select “PDF
Analysis”.
• Click the arrow to expand the available options.
Select “List page objects, grouped by
type of object” and click “Analyze”.
A list of results will appear. Click on the triangle(s) next to
“Resolution of color and grayscale images” to view a
listing of all images present in the PDF.
For covers Lightning Source recommends CMYK 300ppi
images and for interiors recommends 1-bit black & white
line art at 600 ppi and 8-bit grayscale 300ppi continuous tone
images.
Checking for Spot Colors and Color Density
In the Acrobat menu bar select:
Windows > Tools > Print Production and select
Output Preview (v10)
This window will list all colors used in your document and
percentages of each color. The only colors that should be
present are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. If any spot
colors are used please return to the application used to
create your document and covert all colors to CMYK.
When the Output Preview window is open you can move
your cursor over the PDF and view the CMYK values in your
file. This is a good time to verify that the barcode used is
100% black only and that your cover does not have large
areas of color that exceed 240% Total Area Coverage.
If concerned about excessive color density you can select
the box at the bottom of the window labeled “Total Area
Coverage”, select a maximum limit and all offending areas
will be highlighted.