Features

• For 1 player
• Classic long-term strategy game
• Use combat, science and diplomacy to rule the world
• Watch out for multiple rivals developing nearby
• Includes three new maps and other special features

Reviews (9)

Fun and Addicting...sound familar??
If you liked civ 2, then civ 3 is right up your alley. All the little things that civ 2 lacked, civ 3 makes up for. The first day I bought this game I must have played for 14 hours straight its that addicting, the game actually keeps you from doing or thinking about anything else except the game... The game does not run slow at all, it runs at a speed comparable to civ2 if not a little bit faster, and the A.I. is much smarter and more challenging to contend with. If you remember Colonization and the original civilization this game has all the features you were wishing for years ago. More animation within the gameplay, not too much because that would take away from this classic strategy game, higher level of intricacy within the game engine, the game has become fully mind absorbing, you are constantly desring to improve your nation and the city improvements actually morph throughout different time periods, arial views of cities are much more appealing than we've seen before. But be warned its hard to stop playing once you start. I can't explain it, find out for yourself.

Awesome
This game was really good and that everyone who likes building armies should try it. It's only a little slow so don't let that stop you. I think that anyone who is really frustrated by the speed, probably has a problem with their computer.

Not impressed
Game of the year??This game has lots of bells and whistles (perhaps too many), but it lacks an important ingredient...fun.In many ways this game is a step backwards from Imperilism II.It follows many of the same ideas, but when it comes to battles this game is sorely lacking.One of the most interesting aspects of Imperialism was the ability to control multiple units in one battle.Here each unit simply goes one on one with another and the computer decides who wins.Additionally, the game is just too PC for its good.If you get attacked by someone else suddenly half of your cities erupt in civil unrest, making it very difficult to fight.The message seems to be that you should conquer the world by investing in the arts??

Excellent, highly addictive game with few reservations.
This is an incredibly absorbing and eerily lifelike game. When I made a deal with England knowing it was only to buy time so that I would attack them I actually felt guilty.

Some answers to the critics here... Boooring obviously never learned how to play. He should try researching and changing to a more productive form of government. Tank loses to spearmen. Actually that's rare but not unheard of in real life, too and he needs to remember that, although it's represented as a single figure each unit represents a squadron and a badly damaged squadron of tanks might well fall to a health squad of spearmen if they're smart enough to get inside their range and swarm them.

There are a lot of improvements over previous Civ's making the game worth buying. Particularly better trade, better graphics, many more diplomacy options, significant civilization style, attribute and strength differences.

Brickbats.
In many ways the port to Mac is REALLY bad carrying over all the Windows quirks and inconsistencies instead of porting it to a true Mac application e.g. writing their own dropdowns, eliminating the Mac menu and creating their own (with options missing) not using real windows, taking over the whole screen etc...

This game is so good that sooner or later you're going to want the upgrades, Conquests and Play the World and the likelyhood is that you won't be able to get them on the Mac.

Pretty Good---sort of.
Well the game is pretty cool, but there are a couple of problems i have faced:
1. the game speed is pretty slow, and i have a new computer, powerbook g4, and something like 500 MB(?) of space.

2. You cannot move your guy without holding down the 'fn' key in the lower left hand corner of the keyboard, because the game interprets the left arrow on a G4 powerbook as being a 'page up' key.What i have had to do is just use the mouse keypad for everything involving movement.

other than that, if you got a normal keyboard, the game should be cool.So definetly get this game if you have a desktop, and if you don't mind pointing and clicking, try your luck with a laptop. ... Read more

Features

• For kids ages 6 to 10
• Brain-building games teach problem-solving, reading, and logic
• 39 riddles; 2 fast-paced games; 7 unique ghosts to create
• 3 different ways out of the house, each filled with spooky surprises
• Fun learning includes a secret room to discover

Reviews (4)

Very Good Game
I liked this game alot but I would recommend I Spy Treasure Hunt if you want to try one of the I Spy games go with Treasure Hunt first. It is very enjoyable for all ages.

I Spy Wonderful Childrens Software
The box says for ages 6-10 but this game is the perfect challenge for my 4-year-old. Plus, the farther she gets in the game, the trickier the game gets, so she will be challenged with it for some time to come. The spooky (not scary) graphics are great and the game is both fun and educational. It is the best computer game we have purchased for her thus far. I enjoy playing it with her!

Great Teaching Tool
My five year old son loves this computer game.Most importantly, it teaches him patience and persistence.He practices problem-solving skills and logic while having fun at the same time.Great game for kids.

Great CD-ROM
My 6 year old son loves this CD-ROM. I actually had to tear him away from it to go to a birthday party. If your child enjoys the books then they will love this CD-ROM.Basically it is similar to the books where you find the objects listed below.Once you find them with your mouse the word is highlighted in red. Once you complete the page then you get a piece of the puzzle for the secret clue to help you get out of the spooky mansion. They can even come back to the page if they are unable to finish it or simply want to start another page. It is very well thought out with the sound effects, etc. In my opinion, a must have if your child enjoys the I Spy books. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A clever idea who's time has clearly come, the CardScan Executive 600c scans business cards in full color, connects to your PC via a USB port, and uploads the card into your database using the included CardScan software.

With simple plug-and-play installation, the machine is easy to use: simply feed a card into the slot, and then watch as the software deciphers the information on the card and categorizes it into the database. The machine can accurately read cards from United States, Canada, France, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, and others countries. The software also features AutoMap, expanded connectivity to synchronize with more handheld devices and mobile phones, and access to CardScan.Net, where users can access their business card database via any Web browser.

Small enough to fit in your hand but durable enough to take to trade shows and meetings, the CardScan Executive is an ideal way to organize the stacks of business cards that would otherwise clutter your briefcase, wallet, or desk. (Note that the CardScan Executive is just right for one person, but if you're looking for a unit that can help your whole team, consider the CardScan Office.) ... Read more

Features

• Supports Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98; USB powered interface
• Scans business cards in seconds, even in color
• Organizes cards for easy searching and sorting
• Eliminates typing; supports batch and 2-sided scanning
• Comes with CardScan version 6 software

Reviews (15)

Doesn't print pages as advertised.
The Cardscan Executive advertises that it will print in all the typical planner formats, Daytimer, Dayrunner, Franklin etc. It doesn't do what it says. The right edge of the page is cut off losing important information like half a phone number or half an email address. Technical Support was no help, they said "it's a defect with the program". None of the advertised formats on the pull down menu worked, or using the edit format feature. Users cannot change the width of the fields. Other than that it's a pretty cool product.

Great easy to use product
To the person who says it doesnt scan the graphics- it does.
It can store the image fromboth sides of the card and the english text from one side.
I find it easy to use and very useful. Mostly i dont bother to verify the cards as there is almost always enough data stored correctly.

Why only 4 stars

I would like easier ways to select which contacts to transfer into other programs (I scan everything since its so easy but i dont need a lot of the data on a daily basis so i dont want to transfer everything) and easier ways to split and merge databases by batch selection.It has these facilities but its too hard !

As someone who lives and travels in Asia many of my cards have the local language details on the back. You can scan the back you cant print it. Give a printed copy to a cab driver is an easy way to get to where i want to go when i cant speak the language.

Finally the copy and paste is fiddly.

But i use it every day and i have all my cards going back 7 years accessible by a simple text search.

Get those Business Cards under control
Do you have stacks of business cards sitting in boxes are wrapped up in rubber bands?Do you come back from a trade show or meeting with a pocket full of cards and never do anything with them?If so the Corex Cardscan is for you.

I've used it for over 6 months and love it.Installation was easy - follow the instructions - install software - plug in the USB cable.The scanner is very fast and very accurate. I normally don't have to make any corrections to the scanning results.Cards with very unusual fonts or layouts sometimes need correction. The included software works flawlessly with ACT! or outlook.Another cool feature is the link to the Cardscan.net site.This allows you to back-up/store and access your business card file on online. It is also very easy to use.Again I have found this to be a lifesaver for handling business cards and with many months of use I have had no problems.

Scans great, but problem with multiple users on XP
The scanner works great with execellent accuracy.
Unfortunately the software does not work under XP for users that do not have administrator privileges. Corex claims that this is not a "bug" but rather you must be a "power user" (aka administrator) to use this product. After two fruitless hours of experimentation with changing access rights to the program file directories, I relented and elevated my user's level to administrator. After that the cards scan fine.

Works great, but bug with multiple users on XP
The scanner works great with execellent accuracy.

Unfortunately the software does not work under XP for users that do not have administrator privileges.Corex claims that this is not a "bug" but rather you must be a "power user" (aka administrator) to use this product.After two fruitless hours of experimentation with changing access rights to the program file directories, I relented and elevated my user's level to administrator.After that the cards would scan ... Read more

Product Description

Filemaker FileMaker v.7.0 Server - Complete Product - Database Management - PC, MacFileMaker Server 7 is high-performance server software that efficiently manages shared database solutions.With ease-of-use breakthroughs in sharing and administration as well as advanced security features, FileMaker Server 7 gives you easy-to-use, yet powerful features that allow you to share databases with 2 to 250 users, increase performance over peer-to-peer database sharing, host and serve massive amounts of data more efficiently, administer databases locally or remotely and protect your data with additional security features. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theFilemaker F105CX00U - FILEMAKER SERVER 7 MUL MAC/WINand all other Filemaker Software - Misc ... Read more

Features

• Server software for sharing data with teams from 2 to 250 users
• Secure information with SSL data encryption
• Boost performance of peer-to-peer database sharing
• Store massive amounts of information on the network
• Host information on mixed Windows and Mac platforms

Product Description

Transform PDF files into Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure and reliable Adobe PDF documents. Generate Adobe PDF files that accurately represent the original document, and take advantage of robust tools for sharing information and commenting on electronic files.

Features:

• Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook Collect, convert, and organize Microsoft Outlook e-mails into searchable Adobe PDF documents. Include attachments, links, and bookmarks sorted by sender, date, or subject. (Windows® only)
• Enjoy improved performance With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
• Use enhanced headers, footers, and watermarks Easily add headers, footers, and watermarks.
• Enjoy improved attachment capabilities: Easily attach source files such as spreadsheets and images to an Adobe PDF document.
• Organize Adobe PDF documents: Quickly find Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. See them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.

Features

• Protect sensitive and confidential documents—control documents inside and outside the firewall, online and offline.
• Enjoy improved attachment capabilities—easily attach source files such as spreadsheets and images to an Adobe PDF document.
• Easily create Adobe PDF files—create PDF documents with one-button ease from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Enjoy improved performance—with improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
• Assemble documents—create a single Adobe PDF file from multiple sources—including Web pages and e-mail—to deliver one professional document that anyone can open using free Adobe Reader 7.0 software.

Features

• Real-time scanning and protection; easy to install and use
• Computer-protection software for safely detecting and removing spyware
• Detect and completely block further threats with Ad-Watch
• Automatic updates; extended registry; disk scanning
• Detailed scan statistics; removal and quarantine logs

Reviews (2)

Good product poor program version update system
I present this review in the form of an complaint email I sent to Lavasoft (one which I recived no response.)

"I've been with you for years but am now going to move to a competitor.The reason is your program update system--every time you create a new version the program, it stops working and I have to go to your web site.And the instructions are confusing and I can't find my registration info from a year ago and when I do it does not work.This has happend repeatedly.And so so 3-4 days ago I wrote to your tech support (a web system pain in itself) and no one got back to me.Well forget it, I've had enough.You should make your updates of the program automatic like the updates of the data, which work fine.I like your program and I hate your update and technical support service...a bitter sweet experence with you"

Well worth the upgrade from the free version.
I first used the free version of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE, and found it did a great job finding and removing ad-ware and spy-ware.The trouble was, I would find new spy-ware following each visit to the web.

By purchasing the "Plus" version, you get an additional feature, "Ad-Watch".Ad-Watch runs in the background similarly to an antivirus program.It stops ad-ware and spy-ware before they have an opportunity to work.Without Ad-Watch, any spy-ware or ad-ware will be active until you run Ad-Aware to remove it.

I still run Ad-Aware on occasion, but by allowing Ad-Watch to run, I have yet to find any spy-ware that has installed itself.Ad-Watch busts it before it has an opportunity to install and run.I enthusiastically recommend this product.
... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Microsoft Office 2001 builds on the excellence that Macintosh usersenjoyed in Office 98. In this latest version, Microsoft revamps the form andfunction of the Office suite to make it feel more at home on the Mac than everbefore.

A curvy new interface, which echoes the elegance of the upcoming Mac OS X,reveals improvements in each component. Word's versatile editing tools nowinclude instant access to Encarta dictionary definitions; and Excel now importsFileMaker databases, sorts and manages lists, and sports a new calculator thatsimplifies formula creation. PowerPoint's new Tri-Pane interface and textAutoFit feature make it easier to build presentations. Plus, the ability to savePowerPoint documents as QuickTime movies makes it easier to share them.

The most significant addition to Office 2001 is the new personal informationmanager. Dubbed Entourage, it will handle your e-mail (AutoFormat andAutoCorrect features that are borrowed from Word nicely refine composition),address book, to-do list, and calendar. Entourage can filter your e-mail andtasks quickly with color-coded categories and custom views, and sync seamlesslywith your Palm OS device, which helps to keep you organized.

Entourage's presence is felt throughout Office 2001--every application will letyou flag documents for follow-up and pass the reminder on to the calendar, andthe address book is accessible at any time, which is invaluable if you use Wordfor mail-merge tasks.

This integrated approach is key to Office 2001's appeal. A new FormattingPalette automatically shows tools that are relevant to the task at hand; theOffice Clipboard palette keeps track of multiple items that have been copiedfrom different Office applications; and the ubiquitous Office Assistant isalways on hand with tips and how-to advice.

Our advice? With features as wide-ranging as these, Office 2001 makes it easyfor you to create, manage, and present your documents like a real pro. --JackGardiner ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Too much Windoze; not enough Mac.
Like a good boy, I had been regularly purchasing various Microsoft-for-the-Mac upgrades for a very long time. How long has it been? It's been so long that my first copy of Excel (1.0, in 1985) was free, because at the time I possessed registered copies of MS Multiplan and MS Chart. That's a long time by anyone's measure.

My most recent Excel upgrade prior to MS Office for the Mac 2001 was Excel 95; I took a bye on Office 98 principally because I've never been particularly fond of MS Word (even in the Mac versions that had worked reasonably well). For most of the fifteen years or so that I've been using Macs almost exclusively, my word processor of choice has been WriteNow: Lean, mean, full of most of the features that I need, still running on OS 9.2.2, and, regrettably, discontinued (abandoned would be a more appropriate term) several years ago.

However, with the ever-increasing hegemony of Windoze-based business networks, and with the fact that Excel 95 cannot run on a G4 Mac with OS 9.0 or newer, I bit the bullet and purchased this Office 2001 package. And, while I've now pretty much climbed its learning curve, the experience hasn't exactly been one that I'd write home about.

Here are a few nits I choose to pick (some small, some not so small):

* Somewhere between Excel 95 and Office 2001, Microsoft programmers seem to have lost track of the fact that Macs have both "Return" and "Enter" keys. (Windoze machines have no "Return" key.) The "Return" key no longer functions as it did, scrolling down one cell in an Excel spreadsheet; it now does precisely the same thing the "Enter" key does (which is limited to whatever one chooses from the "Preferences" menu). Not very bright!

* In like fashion, the MS programmers decided to reassign several of the common "Command" key functions (Fill Down, Fill Across, Insert, Delete, Clear, etc.) to the "Control" key, again in some ill-founded effort at "cross-platform"compatibility. (Imagine my surprise when I first went to insert a row or column, only to find that my selection was formatted in italics!) In the process, the ergonomic superiority of the Mac keyboard, requiring less "stretch" effort to activate these keyboard shortcuts, has now been sacrificed to the Bill Gates God of Uniformity. And Microsoft continues to place the Font menu on a toolbar, not as a Mac-standard menu. Not very bright!

* While tools have been added to the toolbox library, the ability to customize toolbars for one's own use has actually been reduced! And the tools don't always load consistently, suggesting some bugginess that requires a Microsoft patch or two, not yet available. And, unlike previous Excel upgrades in my experience, this one appears to provide no additional chart types. Not very bright!

* Word is incompatible with RamDoubler 9.0 (another patch still not available). But, for once, my newest (G4) Mac has more memory than RamDoubler can deal with. Nevertheless: Not very bright!

* Word files - as always - are bloated for reasons that have little to do with content or formatting. (As a comparison, a 25-page file, containing a few tables and some minor formatting, which occupies 91K of HD space as a WriteNow 4.0 file and 96K as a WordPerfect 3.5e file, occupies 194K as a Word 2001 file.) If not "Not very bright!", then "Why?"

* The ubiquitous Windoze paperclip "Advisor" has been transmogrified to a less-than-winsome "flex-toy Mac." Gimmee a break!

* Entourage is incompatible with Outlook or Outlook Express. Its inclusion is specious at best, and one wonders how many will use this module.

* Once again, as far as a database module is concerned, Mac users are left in the lurch. Access continues to be notable by its absence (not that it is every database user's "dream program"), and FoxPro has long been history as far as Microsoft support is concerned. Moreover, a Mac port of SQL is just a fantasy. And VisualBasic is only present in crippled form, to support the modules that are VB-capable.

There are a few (very few, I'm sad to say) gains:

* PowerPoint works fine. But I have little need for it, save for the odd PP file that gets attached to my e-mail thanks to some chain letter or other.

* The modules run acceptably fast. But I think this has as much or more to do with G4 speed and available RAM as it does to "tight" coding by software engineers.

* Word works acceptably well (but not particularly great) as a platform for HTML coding.

* I've got the cross-platform compatibility that my business-related activities require.

For those G4 users needing a single module but not needing "full" cross-platform compatibility for other applications, my advice is to limit yourselves to just the Office 2001 module (saving some bucks), hang on to your WriteNow 4.0 program (it'll run just fine on OS 9.x G4's) or download a free copy of WordPerfect 3.5e, take a bye on Entourage (Outlook Express works just fine, and is bundled free with Explorer), and, if you need a database program, there's always FileMaker Pro.

Summary: A "forced" upgrade for G4 Mac users who must use Excel. More steps backward than forward for those of us who prefer Macs but need the cross-platform compatibility. At best, three stars, and then only with the greatest of reluctance.

Bob Zeidler

($$$)...
High priced, low grade programs. Apple needs to develop office programs of their own.

Very pleased with the PowerPoint improvements
Once you get over the learning curve of Office for Mac 2001, it is far superior to the Windows counterpart.They moved items around, came up with a new format window, and moved controls over to the left hand side of the screen.However, I am impressed with the overall flow and feel of the products.There isn't too much in the way of new functionality here, which was a bit of a disappointment.Resolution of imported graphics into PowerPoint has to be unbelievably high to get a good projection on a large screen.As a person who works with graphics and color quite a bit, the improved options for choosing almost any color you can think of is quite welcome.I haven't made the jump to OS-X yet, so I haven't experienced that version.But if you are still running 9.x - I highly recommend this version.

Very pleased with the PowerPoint improvements
Once you get over the learning curve of Office for Mac 2001, it is far superior to the Windows counterpart.They moved items around, came up with a new format window, and moved controls over to the left hand side of the screen.However, I am impressed with the overall flow and feel of the products.There isn't too much in the way of new functionality here, which was a bit of a disappointment.Resolution of imported graphics into PowerPoint has to be unbelievably high to get a good projection on a large screen.As a person who works with graphics and color quite a bit, the improved options for choosing almost any color you can think of is quite welcome.I haven't made the jump to OS-X yet, so I haven't experienced that version.But if you are still running 9.x - I highly recommend this version.

Why Make it More Complex?
Every time I upgrade, some features are better but many more have become over-complex.Lets face it - how many people are capable of using even a quarter of the features of Word?Who wants 150 templates?I never use them - I make my own.

There seem to be some serious problems with Word.Tables in Word on the Mac are a nightmare.Its all so unpredictable and can be very slow compared to a PC. For no apparent reason (usually when I've cut'n pasted a row - or reduced the font size using keystrokes rather than the mouse)it crashes.It even took Excel with it last time.

I hate the new drop-down autofill in Excel 2001.The old one was fine and quicker.Why "improve" something just for the sake of it?They have done something really odd to the sort function with numbering.At one time it sorted 2 after 20 ...another "improvement"?

As for the multilevel numbering.If only they would stop changing it.I just get my head round the latest version and they change it again!The contortions one has to go through to miss out a level ....

Overall I like the look of Office 2001 and some of the features are great.I even like Entourage - contrary to popular opinion.

Why isn't there a decent built-in fax facility? I am having a dreadful time with Symantec - it won't open with anything I posess!

In desperation I was going to try Appleworks but was put off by the reviews .... ... Read more

Features

• Advanced Registry tools repair, optimize, compact, defrag, and backup the system Registry.
• High-speed disk defragmentation and optimization with boot-time defragmentation options Anti-Virus protection from all viruses, worms, and trojans with integrated e-mail protection Ultra-Secure Internet Firewall protects your PC from Internet attacks
• Antivirus protection provided by Kaspersky AntiVirus Technology.
• Recover deleted files, documents, pictures, music, movies, and e-mail from any hard drive or media Software Uninstaller completely removes any program, even if it doesn't have its own uninstaller.
• Eliminate hazardous spyware and adware on your computer with Spython.

Reviews (7)

Not that good, but not bad either
I have been using this for a while now, I did not install the antivirus as I like trend micro's antivirus.
How ever I have used the other features and must of them can done by other programs for free.
You can get ad-aware and spybot for the adware and spyware scaning.
You can also get the registry and optimizer from other free programs. One I used and compaired it to this is a free program called easy cleaner.
Now the feature I do like that this program has is the ram opimizer, that does help a lot in speeding up my system. It also has a neat tool bar that shows you how much ram and cpu cycles you are using which I also like. That tool bar also shows network usage which is nice.
Now the defrag is the worst for this program. I like it run for a week and it never actually got done, guess that is what I get for a 280 gb hard drive.

The AntiVirus is just a trial.
I bought system mechanics 5 pro. After a week I just started my computer today and a window pop out to let me know that the antivirus was disabled, if I wanted to keep it running I would have to pay a "small fee", I click the button and it took me to the Kapersky website where the "small fee" was to pay for the whole program again. Nowhere in the website mentions how to "upgrade" the software. The window also asks you for the User ID and the Serial Number which I entered becuase I thought I bought the full product, I enter it and it didn't work. This software might be good to clean errors, but don't buy it for the antivirus because this software is misleading, and don't buy for the defrag
which I haven't tried but reading previous reviews kind of gives me an idea.

2005 Version is Buggy
Totally agree with other reviewers regarding the endless process of deframentation...a fully optimized defrag literally takes hours even on my home computer with a 2.8 Ghz processor and 1.0 Gb RAM.The 2005 model's "Maintenance Wizard" is buggy in that the routine that searches for and removes invalid registry entries identifies the entries but, at when the wizard is finished, reports that none were found and provides no opportunity to remove them.However, if you run the "Fix Registry Problems" as a stand-alone routine, it finds and reports invalid entries and lets you delete them.I've tested this by running the Maintenance Wizard and then immediately running the Fix Registry Problems; Wizard finds nothing but the other finds numerous.Iolo's solution to this problem is to uninstall and reinstall.I did that twice but the problem remains.

Buggy, with some usable features. Not worth the trouble
This software is only good if you are paying $5 or less. It has the worst defrag out there. As many reviews have mentioned, it takes endless hours to optomize defrag a disc. It runs and runs and runs. The nice components are the start-up manager, the memory defrag, and some of the other utilities. Out of the box , my software would not update. Re-installed twice to get the update to work. Many system reboots needed for basic changes. Serious geeks in need of a challenge may love this program, though I doubt it. I emailed tech support, and they have to get back to me. They get back(supposedly) within 48 hours. It has only been 24, so I will update you later. I switched from Norton due to its system hogging, but at least it worked. Avoid this unless you are endlessy amused paying lots and constantly repairing the program that is supposed to repair your computer. Get your act together iolo.

The potential to be great- but serious flaws!
ADDENDUM As you can see from my review below, I do not like this product as it stands, however I must point out that the review by Juan "Implacable" Rulfo is completely incorrect. When you first install SM5 Pro, you do indeed only get a 30 day trial of the antivirus and firewall software. If you follow the instructions, however, and register on line with Kapersky you get a key that is good fora full year. In fact the antivirus and firewall are probably the best part of this product, and if you can get it cheap enough, make it worth the purchase price. If this did not happen for Mr. Rulfo, he should contact Iolo directly to resolve the matter.

I only wish the description of the functions described by Hiro Protagonist were accurate. I very much want to like System Mechanic, unfortunately my experience has been very different. In a simple test I tried to defrag a disk with the following specs 40 Gigs, 25% full, 10% fragmentation to start) but had to stop it after 24 hours. The amount of fragmentation was not different at the finish than at the start. I think things like pagefiles cause serious problems with the System Mechanic defragger. I downloaded a trial version of Perfect Disk for comparison and in two hours it was done. Yes, it does what System Mechanic is trying to do: Move all the files to one side of the platter, leaving as much contigous free space as possible. Furthermore it puts the least used files down first, maximizing the likelihood that your disk will stay defragmented. As a further test, I purposely caused further fragmentation on my disk and reversed the order of the tests (Perfect Disk first, SM second). The results were similar. Something is seriously wrong with the defrag utility in system mechanic if in 24 hours time it can't do what Perfect Disk did in less than 2.

Yes System Mechanic has a spyware/malware tool, but the few hundred entries it checks against are nothing compared to the 20,000 that the free Spybot has in its data base. Somebody did not take the time to build up the spyware database before release Perhaps they should have given Kapersky this job, as they did they antivirus and firewall.

I do agree that the registry tools are good, and the Kapersky antivirus and firewall do a good job also. I will even say that the file recovery tools, although slightly buggy are strong. All in all, I think this suite has the potential to be great, but somebody was in too much of a hurry and they are doing themselves and their customers a diservice by releasing the product in its current state. ... Read more

Product Description

Knowledge Point Performance Now v.4.0 - Complete Product - Organizer - 1 User(s) Complete Product - Standard - PCPerformance Now 4.0 is the only software tool with built-in intelligence to help you track, manage and evaluate performance quickly and easily. KnowledgePoint's exclusive Intelli-Text technology automatically writes clear, meaningful text based on the information you provide. Flexible enough to adapt to your present review system, Performance Now helps you become a better manager and get the best from your employees. By setting goals, tracking performance year-round, and getting expert HR advice and coaching tips, you can easily move from monitoring performance to improving performance. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theKnowledge Adv PF4DVD - PERFORMANCE NOW .and all other Knowledge Adv Software - Office ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great language checker catches legally inappropriate wording
I use this product to track the progress of members of my team.It enables me to set goals, enter notes on situations (both positive and negative) that occur with members of my team, and then writes most of the performance reviews for me.I now realize how much my former methods of managing the performance of my team was flawed and left my company open to legal liabilities.Now everything is documented.My team members are happier, are communicating with me more regularly, and like the greater detail that is in their reviews. ... Read more

Product Description

Adobe InDesign CS2 - Upgrade - Graphics/Designing - 1 User(s) Product Upgrade - Standard - English - PCJoin the growing ranks of creative professionals discovering new levels of creative freedom and productivity using Adobe InDesign CS2 software. Tightly integrated with the Adobe applications you use most, InDesign CS2 delivers faster production workflows and a more fluid creative environment for designing professional layouts with sophisticated graphics and typography. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theAdobe 27510786 - UPG INDESIGN CS 2 V4.0 WIN ENG UP FROM PAGEMAKER and all other Adobe Software - Office ... Read more

Features

• Bonus 192-page illustrated book included
• Ideal introduction to astronomy
• Easy-to-use, point-and-click interface
• 50 interactive guided tours of the night sky
• Over an hour-and-a-half of original movies about space

Reviews (6)

Looking for something good for my kids...
I am constantly on the lookout for science software that's fun for my kids. When I saw that Children's Software Revue gave Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack 4.5 stars out of five and called it "the ideal package for either novice or expert astronomers who want to know a bit more about their backyard view of the universe," it was a must-buy for my household. My kids LOVE this program. They are on the computer all the time now looking at the planets and the sun or doing one of the guided tours. I totally recommend this!

Great Way to Pass on a Love for Astronomy
I pride myself on being a fairly experienced amateur astronomer and I've been a very happy and enthusiastic user of Starry Night Pro 4.5 for close to a year.My 10-year old niece got her hands on the "Atlas of the Sky" DVD and I was excited to see in her reaction the signs of the astronomer within.

I knew SM Pro was more than she needed, so I got her the Complete Space & Astronomy Pack for her birthday and it fit the bill exactly. The encyclopedia-like content is fabulous to feed her ever-growing curiosity and the visualization powers are just awesome and keep her coming back for more. She's hooked and now I've got a partner in crime.

This product gets high marks from a happy aunt.

Best Way to Learn About The Universe for Adults and Children
What can I say except - The Best!

I bought this for myself as a reintroduction to an old hobby.The package surpassed all other programs I'd ever seen.It was intuitive, informative and included material I'd never seen before.Needless to say, I'm considering buying a telescope now!

The depth of information on deep sky objects was my favorite feature.However, when my 5th grader got his hands on Starry Night, I couldn't get him to go to bed for a week straight.

The best software out there for all users.

Highly recommended!

Excellent, Fun, Easy to Use
This is a great product. Super easy to use, friendly interface, and rich, detailed information presented in a fun way.

As one with only a recent interest in astronomy, the product has been completely informative and advanced my knowledge greatly. I particularly like the guided tours which patiently explain all the constellations and nebulaes. A big favorite with my 8 year old is the 'spaceship', where you can travel the solar system and explore.

I liked this so much that I bought a copy for my brother, who has been interested in astronomy for several years. He gives the program high marks as well, despite being much more advanced in the hobby than me.

Overall, this is an excellent product.

Software Much Improved
Since writing my first review of this product, Starry Nights has taken considerable steps toward addressing and resolving issues I observed in this product. I'm happy to note it is now very much improved.

It says a great deal about a company when they listen to their customers and respond as proactively as did the folks who create and offer Complete Space & Astronomy Pack.

Apparent bugs in the program when first I used it now appear to have been addressed. Updates are now accurate and timely.

Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack in particular will provide the budding astronomer with a wealth of stellar, planetary and other objects to fill a night's viewing -- and then some. And when nights are cloudy or one's skies are filled with urban light, paying a visit to Starry Night's Complete Space & Astronomy Pack simply cannot be beat.For that matter the young stargazer may very well find this software to be even more compelling!If you are looking for a gift that will continue to inspire and expand the mind of a son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, nephew or niece, this is definitely the ticket.

It does not appear that I'm able to improve the initial rating (it doesn't reflect software issues that have now been resolved).On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the best, I'd now give Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack five stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Learn a new language with the award-winning method used by the U.S. State Department to train diplomats. Proven effective by NASA astronauts, Peace Corps volunteers, and millions of students worldwide, the Rosetta Stone Language Library teaches new languages faster and easier than ever before.

We all learn our childhood language by associating new words and phrases with the world around us. The Rosetta Stone method replicates this process by presenting vivid, real-life images to convey the meaning of each new phrase. Instead of translating, memorizing, and studying rules of grammar, you actually learn to think in the new language. Vocabulary and grammar are integrated systematically, leading to everyday proficiency.

The Rosetta Stone Level I program offers a comprehensive course of study for beginning learners, leading to intermediate proficiency. The program contains over 3,500 real-life images and phrases in 92 lessons and more than 250 hours of mastery instruction in listening comprehension, reading, speaking, and writing. Systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills. There are reviews, exercises, and tests for every lesson with automated tutorials throughout the program. (Ages 6 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pretty good, but use other references too!
I have to say that I agree with pretty much all of the reviews of this product on amazon.com (4 at the time I'm writing this).These reviews have ranged from 1 star to 5 stars and I believe that this simply reflects differential weighting of different elements by different reviewers with different needs/expectations.For me, here are the points I think are the most salient for discussion:

1.The pictures-based method of learning is obviously very powerful and should be commended.Having the visual representation there helps immensely with remembering vocabulary words.Similarly, it is incredibly convenient to be able to toggle between the romaji, hiragana/katakana, and kana+kanji representations of the text.Finally, the audio is excellent with the speakers speaking at a realistic pace (i.e. not speaking exceedingly slowly like some of the other language CDs while still maintaining excellent enunciation and pronunciation).The combination of these three elements -- pictures, words, and audio is fantastic.

2. Having said that, I could not agree more with the reviewer who wants an explicit English translation of each word/phrase/sentence!It is often not clear exactly what the meaning of the phrase/sentence is, even after reviewing all the other examples in the lesson/unit.This is especially true for certain verbs, grammar concepts, and the use of the different particles.It seems like it would have been trivial to include and it would have reduced the frustration level quite a bit.I understand that it may have detracted a little bit from the immersion.I think it'd be worth it because I'd estimate that in about 30% of cases, a more complex concept/word/grammar point was trying to be conveyed than is possible from a single picture (which often has been used many times before for other words/concepts!).

From my own personal experience, I feel that this is a useful program for absorbing the language.However, I did not tackle the problem of learning Japanese solely from this program and I think that was a wise decision.Coupling this program with more traditional Japanese textbooks (I'm using "An Introduction to Modern Japanese" by Mizutani) has been much more helpful than having just the program by itself.I have also started tackling actually learning the hiragana/katakana and the Rosetta program has been reasonably good to aid in that process but again I find the pronunciation guides from other textbooks indispensable.(I have also ordered a mnemonics-based guide to remembering the hiragana/katakana -- I will review that after I get it).Also, I have an extensive recognition of the Kanji characters because I am fairly fluent in Mandarin Chinese (which is a significant, if limited, help in learning japanese Kanji), but if you are a beginner in that regard as well then I think it'd be advisable to also purchase a book that helps you learn/write the Kanji.

Overall, I invested about 3 times the amount of money in the Rosetta software as all my other learning aids combined.I'd have to say the bang for the buck is not that great, but the overall expenditure (if budget is not an issue) is still fairly modest compared to the benefits of learning a language quicker and easier.There's something that just feels nice about interacting with a language graphically compared to rote study of textbooks or through audio dialogues.Hence, a 3-star review.

One final note: I am using the Macintosh version of the software (v. 2.0.6) under MacOS X and there is one annoying bug/feature: the CPU usage while using the program, even if it's sitting there doing nothing, goes to 100%.On a Powerbook this eventually makes the CPU fan come on and stay on and the computer gets hot, which is annoying.The only other programs that behave like this are graphics-intensive games so I'd have to assume that this is something that should be fixable, but to date nothing has happened.My solution to this is to limit my sessions to about an hour max on the Rosetta software and I turn to the other textbooks in between.

YOURE PAYING FOR A LOT OF CONFUSION.
This is a well meaning program that will leave you with nothing but doubt and unanswered questions.

Fairfield uses a "picture to words to sound" method for teaching different languages.This is an excellent way to teach a language.It lets the user hear proper pronunciation while seeing the proper spelling (romanized or japanese) for the word. They also slap a picture of the subject so you can achieve a visual connection with the word or words mentioned.That's it, and thats where lies the problem. There is no confirmation in English to what you just learned.This leads to doubt because you don't know if the picture matches the word 100%. You cant make the vital connection between the Japanese word and the English one.To make matters worse not all the picture are crystal clear as to what is being refered to.Anyone who has studied Japanese knows what a difficult language it is to grasp and Fairfield thinks that you can just jump into it with this poorly thought out program. I don't know how well this method works in other languages but it fails in Japanese without that English reasurance.So in closing :

1. Dont be fooled by the "impressive" list of users of this program.
2. The poor structure of this program will leave you confused and reaching for your dictionary more than you'll be able to stand.
3. The price of this software package is ridiculous for what you get. It doesn't make $en$e.

Will not give you proper education
You learn the language through immersion.The software immediately presents you with a set of pictures, along with their japanese text and pronounciation, and you have to match the text with the pictures.The text are available in romanji, kana, and kanji.There are no english explanations at all.

First, if you're serious about learning japanese, you have to learn how to read and write kana, and this product gives you nothing in terms of learning kana/kanji. If you leave the text set at kana or kanji, you will be hopelessly lost. If you set the text at romanji, you will be looking at the romanized version of the japanese text, which is useless because you won't see romanji anywhere in Tokyo.

Second, you can pretty much guess at the right answer by process of elimination.The software isn't "smart" enough to deduce that you've actually understood the images presented to you. Also, some of the images are ambiguous. It's possible that you misinterpret the picture and end up with the wrong definition.

Third, this software is horribly slow. You will learn very little after hours of use, and in the end, you will have little or no grammatical knowledge at all.

Given the price of this product, I do not recommend it at all.I suggest you spend your money on the Pimsleur series.They are also expensive, but they will give you a solid foundation to speaking japanese properly.I suggest buying the Japanese for Busy people Kana workbook for learning Kana.

Great Software but takes Patience
You know that a child doesn't learn a language overnight. However they do learn their first language with out anyone really explaing to them what this word or that word means.

This program uses the same concept of learning. You learn by looking at pictures and actions, and you try to understand what is going on and attribute that to the sound that you hear.

Overall this is great!! It works, and is very comprehensive however it takes alot of patience and work.

If you want to learn a language fast and don't need to know so many words then this program is not for you. However if you don't mind waiting and going through many lessons, and getting a comprehensive understand of the language then this program is for you.

In the end it really depends on your needs.

Best language software I have seen so far
The way this software works is simple.It shows you four pictures and gives you a word or phrase describing each.Then it will ask you to match up pictures and phrases.Later sets of pictures build on vocabulary learned in earlier lessons to build up more complex phrases.

The user interface is one of the easiest to use I've seen, and the sound and picture quality are better than I've seen from other language software.The reason I really like this software though is that it is the easiest and most effective learning method I've found.Rather than trying to memorize words, you hear them used in a bunch of different contexts until their use becomes natural.Also, this method is much better for developing listening comprehension than other methods, which are often mostly visual.

This software doesn't explain any grammar rules.It merely tries to provide enough examples that they can be inferred from use.I find that having a grammar reference that I can refer to in addition to this software really helps with the trickier bits of the Japanese language, although for many things it is unnecessary.

Overall, this software is expensive, but if you are serious about learning Japanese, I would say it is definitely worth the price. ... Read more

Product Description

Website Pros introduces the newest version of NetObjects Fusion—The legendary Web building software that has become the standard in user-friendly Web design. NetObjects Fusion is simply the easiest, most complete way to build, manage, and promote Web sites on the market. ... Read more

Features

• WYSIWYG design layouts; cutting-edge tools; e-commerce enabled
• Web building software for user-friendly Web design
• Easily build, manage, and promote sophisticated Web sites
• Drag-and-drop simplicity; no HTML knowledge required
• Designed for novice users as well as experienced Web developers

Reviews (6)

Netobjects Fusion 8 - Just awesome!
This program has a short learning curve.The interface is intuitive to users at all levels.This software is much improved from the earlier releases.I'm not going to repeat the stuffs that are listed on the netobjects.com, but you should really checkout this product.The site wizard is not bad either.I give it a 5 stars rating.

Long Learning Curve
This is not an easy program to learn. I am a previous user of FrontPage, so I don't consider myself a beginner. You can build a great website with this program, but it will take you forever to do it. There also quite a few bugs with the software that haven't been worked out.

Long Time User of NetObjects
I've used NetObjects for web development projects since the first product launched back in the mid-1990s.It's come a long way and is a lot less expensive, much easier to use, provides leaner code, and development capabilities right up there with the gold standard (Dreamweaver).I've used several other products over the years including Dreamweaver MX, Go Live and Front Page, Nothing can compare to the production speed and flexibility provided for both novice and experienced web developers that NetObjects has consistently provided for a decade.

Still the fastest way to develop good Web sites
I tried Frontpage and DreamWeaver but found it easier to use html. I then discovered NOF for free with a magazine. No need for manuals or even bulletin boards. NOF gives you dead accurate placement of your site components utterly intuitively. Because of this ease of use NOF has the reputation of being a very limited root to Web site development. This is not the case, unless you choose to use the standard styles. But this argument also applies to any other WYSIWYG tool. With very little extra effort you can use NOF to give your site exactly the look you want, in a fraction of the time taken using any other method. This latest version is easily the best yet, with masses of extras such as support for developing e-commerce sites. The only caveat I have is that the support from a knowledgeable and extensive user base is being a little slow to catch up. For once the advertising hype is true - NOF 8 is the cheapest and fastest route to professional-looking Web sites.

The Best
There's no need to use anything else.NetObjects Fusion 8 already has everything built right in.It's easy to learn, easy to use, and completely bug free.Plus, its technical support team is always there, ready to answer your questions and provide help.

Forget all other web development programs; stick with NetObjects! ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Money 2005 Standard is the personal finance solution that provides fast current answers to your basic financial questions by automatically consolidating all your online financial information.* Get fast answers Money works with your bank s Web site to access your account balancesand transactions automatically--no more visiting multiple sites withmultiple passwords.* Focus on what is important to you Money fits your own financial management style whether you want to seethe big picture at a glance or quickly drill down to details.* Get automatic spending analysis Transactions are automatically categorized so you can easily track yourspending.* Take care of bills automatically Know what is paid and what is due pay bills online and get updatedaccount balances.* Your budget your way Watch a few expenses--such as dining out or utilities--create a completebudget or see all your financial details. REQUIREMENTS- Multimedia PC with Pentium 166 or faster processor (or compatible); Pentium II 266 (or compatible) processor required for Windows XP (Pentium II 300 recommended).Windows XP: 64 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended); Windows 2000 or Windows 98 SE: 32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended).130 MB of available hard-disk space plus 60 MB for Internet Explorer 6 SP1 (if not already installed) plus an additional 200 MB while installing product updates.2x or faster CD-ROM drive Super VGA color monitor with minimum 256 colors capable of displaying 800 x 600 resolution 16-bit color recommended.Windows XP Windows 2000 SP3 or later or Windows 98 SE or later.Most online features require Microsoft .NET Passport; for more information see the Microsoft Money 2005 Internet-based services policy.Super VGA graphics card or compatible video graphics adapter.Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device.28.8 Kbps or faster modem; Internet functionality requires an Internet Service Provider (ISP); local and long distance telephone toll charges may apply. www.microsoft.com ... Read more

Features

• View the big picture or quickly drill down to details
• Easy-to-use personal finance software
• Automatically consolidates online financial information
• Works with bank Web site to access account info
• Create budgets; track expenses; pay bills online

Reviews (33)

This Product is AWFUL
Be warned....DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT....especially if you have business accounts that you need to keep separate from personal accounts.When the program updates from the bank, it downloads every account with that User ID....Unlike 2004 or earlier versions, you cannot pick and choose which accounts to download...and if you try to delete one account, you get a message saying deleting one will delete ALL....You CAN set the account to closed...but the stupid program downloads it anyway....

Truly Terrible "Upgrade"
I'm not sure it gets much worse than this, I should have stuck with 2004.When it "converted" my 2004 Money file none of the totals were right.It didn't carry over the starting balances listed in the account settings for each of the accounts, it took me days to figure out that is what the problem was.Occasionally this will happen again when it has trouble connecting to the online services at your bank, it just wipes everything out and starts all over.

Had I known it was going to be this bad I would have never touched it.

Not Ready For Beta Testing
Imagine if Microsoft Word crashed every time a period or capital letter was used or when opening saved documents some of the paragraphs appeared twice.Such is the state of affairs of Microsoft Money 2005.I have been using Microsoft Money since 1996; while it was never perfect, it basically did what it promised.I have also used the portfolio manager on the MSN website which is a subset of the Money program with a similar interface. Others have written about problems downloading bank and credit card statements; this review will focus on the portfolio manager.

The portfolio manager is the part of Money that keeps track of investment accounts. It is not unusual for multiple income families to own quite complicated investment portfolios including 401Ks, IRAs and college savings accounts.Something went very wrong in the fall of 2004 when Microsoft upgraded their software to Money 2005.Gone is the ability to analyze a single account or groups of accounts; you are forced to analyze your entire portfolio. When entering new equity transactions, Money used to allow you to simply enter the trading symbol and it would quickly find the name of the company and other information, now you must follow a wizard and enter the information manually.Previously, you could enter a back dated transaction and it would guess a price using the closing price for the day (this is very useful for watch accounts); now you must manually enter the information.

The worse part has been the removal of the associated cash accounts.I never really appreciated the separate cash accounts until Microsoft removed them.For those unfamiliar with software, here is the basic concept.Say you own an account with a discount broker like Fidelity or Vanguard that holds six mutual funds.Associated with that account is a cash account in which you add and remove cash, collect dividends and conduct other transactions into and out of the account.When you sell a mutual fund, the proceeds are put into the cash account; similarly, cash is taken from the account when you buy shares of an investment.Prior versions of Money created a distinct cash account associated with a specific investment account.You could open the account, view the transaction history and correct any errors.In Money 2005, when you create a new account it simply asks for the initial cash balance.Money then automatically mismanages this account by recording dividends twice and mishandling sales proceeds.Furthermore, money will not allow you to record interest dividends, contributions or redemptions.There is no way to view the history at all; Money simply gives you the current value in a little box.When errors occur, the fix from Microsoft is to simply change the amount in the little box to the correct value.If you access the cash account too often it begins to create multiple cash accounts labeled #2, #3 leading to cash account nightmare.

Microsoft did an upgrade to the software this weekend (May 20, 2005).They have added more features and unfortunately more bugs; I have not noticed anything that has been fixed.New problems include: 1) updates are no longer stored on the MSN server preventing you from accessing up-to-date account information from multiple computers (this may be a temporary problem); 2) investments that lack a trading symbol, such as specialty funds available through certain 401Ks or 529 plans, are no longer supported.You can see the investment in your portfolio but you cannot record "buys" or other transactions; 3) information contained in watch accounts, such as year-to-date performance was lost after the upgrade.

I hope once Microsoft is finished adding features to their Money 2005 software they will work on bringing it from Alpha to Beta quality.Perhaps, after a year or two of Beta testing, Microsoft will be ready to release Money 2005 (or 2008) for general sale.Until then, I do not see how they can legally be selling software that fails to perform its basic functions.

Stick w/ 2004
I've had 2005 on the shelf for a while and finally upgraded from 2004.I've been happy w/ every upgrade since 2001, until now.First, it doesn't upgrade the 2004 installation, it installs separately. In the end, this turns out to be the best feature of 2005, because when you inevitably uninstall 2005, you don't have to reinstall 2004!

The most annoying items for me were:
1.The toolbars at the top take too much space due to an internet navigation toolbar that cannot be turned off.Every other MS product has fully customizable toolbars, what happened here!

2.In many cases, when clicking on something to get to some aspect of your financial info, you are first taken to an MSN MoneyCentral website, which is very intrusive!

3.There is a more complex and nested arrangement of menus for features which makes it harder to find and get to stuff.


I didn't use it much beyond that.#2 was really hard to accept.

Incredibly Disappointing "Upgrade"
First, let me say that I have been an avid fan, user, and recommender of the Microsoft Money products since I first became acquainted with them after the 1998 version release of the product.

Words cannot express how greatly disappointed I am with the product itself and Microsoft as a company for unleashing this grossly inept, buggy, and endlessly frustrating piece of trash upon its previously contended users.

I have spent countless hours trying to fix problems that Money 2005 has created in my personal financial records, and even more hours with their support people communicating with them via e-mail (a journey in frustration itself - you have to format your messages a certain way for it to even get to them).

I am, as of today, sending a request to Microsoft for a refund of my purchase price and am going to try one of the Quicken products. I've never even used ANY of the Quicken products before, and am already convinced that they are surely head and shoulders above this latest version of Money.

Shame on Microsoft for thinking that nobody would be willing to jump ship and take their business elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description

OmniPage Pro 14 Office is an extremely powerful productivity tool that delivers the most accurate and precise document conversion available today. ... Read more

Features

• Precision OCR technology ensures over 99% accurate
• Advanced layout retention; edited text flows naturally
• Create PDF files from any application, simply print to PDF
• Use your voice to edit documents and activate workflows
• Digital signatures and encryption ensure file security and authenticity

Reviews (3)

Must be holding my mouth right
I have been using Omnipage Pro 12 for quite some time with windows XP and have had no problems. However there is no good reason not to use the latest of a product. I have not needed support but I figure if I ever did at least it will not be because I upgraded. It is interesting to notice that the voice recognition is awfully similar to that of the Office XP.
I have yet to try the PDF conversions but this function removes the need to have a conversion package that is double the price of the upgrade.

OmniPage Pro 14 is amazing
I have been an OmniPage user for several years and find version 14 by far the easiest and most powerful version.Its ease of busting .pdf files is incredible.Although it took me a few hours of playing with the software to understand some of its nuances, I find that I can scan, edit, and transfer into Word with ease.If I'm scanning a clean copy of a document, with my adf on my scanner, I can very easily scan in a multipage document, OCR it, organize it, and save to Word.Once in Word it is easy to convert the .rtf to .doc, and wham! it is ready to go.

I have some difficulty in editing graphics linked to text in multiple columns once it is in Word, but it is becaue I don't understand the complexities of how Word does formatting, not because of any deficiencies in OmniPage 14.

Yes, there is a learning curve with the program, but that is to be expected when purchasing or upgrading any software, isn't it?

Significantly better than prior versions.
Over the years, Scansoft has developed an ugly reputation for shipping software before its prime (Omnipage Pro 12 locked up under Windows XP), but this version runs clean out of the box and the accuracy is excellent.

The interface is still not user-friendly, so you'll spend a lot of time trying to understand it. The translation from PDF into Word works sporadically. In some cases, I had to translate from PDF into TIFF and then back into Word using OCR.

All in all, a useful program, but could be better. ... Read more